Climate action participants busy at work planting native saplings and shrubs at the Grey County Administration site in Owen Sound.

More than 50 community members joined Grey County and NeighbourWoods North Saturday, Oct. 15, in taking climate action with tree planting at the Grey County Administration Building in Owen Sound.

The planting is phase one of work to naturalize the property. Twenty young, native species of saplings were planted along with a mixture of shrubs and plants to support biodiversity and sequester carbon.

“Climate change impacts all of us, and Grey County’s climate change action plan, Going Green in Grey, is our strategy for reducing our emissions,” explained Grey County Warden Selwyn Hicks. “One of the 21 actions of the plan is to plant one million trees by 2030 and 5 million by 2045. This initial planting may be small, but it symbolizes our much larger commitment, and we will be reminded of it every time we pass by these beautiful new gardens.”

Lori Kewaquom leads an Indigenous teaching prior to the tree plantings.

The event was more than just a tree planting. Grey County welcomed Lori Kewaquom, a member of the Saugeen First Nation, who spoke of the importance of our connection to the land and led a drum song prayer. As well, prior to putting shovels in the ground, participants had an opportunity to visit a number of booths to learn about community organizations, such as NeighbourWoods North and Master Gardeners.

Grey County approved Going Green in Grey in April. The plan highlights activities that contribute to climate change and outlines realistic and actionable steps the County and residents can take to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and its harmful effects.

Linda Swanston, Grey County manager of climate change initiatives, was ready for rain.

The plan has the goal of reducing community greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 and working towards net-zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, Grey County as a corporation is aiming for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from county operations by 2030, and net-zero emissions by 2045.

Going Green in Grey can be viewed online here.

source: media release