Council Receives Annual Update on Resilient Loyalist Township Climate Action Progress

Loyalist Township Council has received and passed the 2025 Resilient Loyalist Township Annual Climate Action Update, which details important progress made in 2024 toward the community’s climate goals. The update showcases how departments across the Township are working collaboratively to achieve the ambitious targets laid out in the Climate Action Plan—reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 49% and community-wide emissions by 25% by 2031.

The 2024 update demonstrates Loyalist Township’s commitment to sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and innovation, while fostering vibrant community participation. By aligning with the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, the Climate Action Plan continues to support priority areas such as Sustainable Land Use, Transportation, Waste Reduction, Buildings, and Water & Wastewater.



Key initiatives reflect Loyalist Township’s leadership in building a low-carbon, resilient community, with a range of practical, impactful projects delivered over the past year:



• REALice System: The W.J. Henderson Recreation Centre installed the innovative REALice system, eliminating the need for hot water when resurfacing ice. This switch reduces natural gas consumption, saves energy, cuts operational costs, and even improves ice quality—aligning perfectly with the Township’s goals for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction in municipal facilities.
• Bike Repair Stations: Loyalist Township expanded its active transportation network by installing new bike repair stations in Bath and Amherstview. Developed in partnership with local organizations, these stations help make cycling safer and more convenient, encouraging low-emission travel options for residents and visitors alike.
• Community Tree Initiative: Through the Neighbourhood Tree Planting Program, 127 Township residents received native trees at reduced cost, thanks to a $15,000 community grant. This program is part of Loyalist Township’s broader commitment to planting 20,000 trees over ten years, increasing canopy cover, enhancing biodiversity, and capturing carbon.

Community Tree Update: Council Green Lights Program Expansion

In July, Loyalist Township Council reviewed the outcomes of the 2025 Community Tree Initiative Pilot Program and considered it a success. The pilot, launched in March 2025, offered 125 mature, native trees to township property owners at a deeply discounted price of $25 each. The program was made possible through a $15,000 Community Grant awarded in 2024, helping offset the standard retail price of $165–$175 per tree. Residents responded enthusiastically, all trees sold out in under 10 minutes, and survey feedback showed satisfaction with pricing, quality, and community benefit.

At its July 8, 2025, meeting, Council passed Resolution 2025-149, to continue the program, consider expanding it, and bring forward a funding proposal through the 2026 operating budget.

The initiative supports Loyalist’s long-term climate goals, including the planting of 20,000 new trees by 2034 to help reduce greenhouse gases, improve air quality, and create healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods.

Stay tuned for updates in early 2026 as staff develop plans to offer even more trees to residents next year, continuing to grow both our tree canopy and our community pride. Sign up to stay informed about the Community Tree Initiative by joining a project-specific email list here: 

Protecting Our Waters: CD3 Boat Cleaning Station at Finkle's Shore

From July 30 to August 6, 2025, Loyalist Township partnered with the Bath Lions Club and Quinte Conservation to host the CD3 Wayside Solar Trailer Boat Cleaning Station at the Finkle's Shore Boat Launch. This initiative supported both local environmental stewardship and the goals outlined in the Resilient Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan, which calls for protecting natural assets, building climate resilience, and fostering community action.

The CD3 trailer, provided by the Invasive Species Centre, was part of a collaborative regional effort to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, plants, animals, and algae that threaten ecosystems, outcompete native species, and diminish recreational activities like boating, fishing, and swimming. Invasive vegetation such as dense mats of water soldier can also alter water flow, impact fish habitat, and disrupt the ecological balance of our waterways.

By providing boaters with air-powered tools to clean, drain, and dry their vessels before moving between water bodies, the trailer helped reduce the risk of spreading invasive species. It required no power, no water, and no municipal staffing, making it a low-carbon, low-resource solution aligned with climate adaptation principles.

Ontario’s Invasive Species Act now regulates watercraft and watercraft equipment as carriers of invasive species. By using the CD3 station, boaters not only met these legal requirements but also directly contributed to climate action by helping preserve the integrity of local ecosystems. Healthy, resilient water systems support biodiversity, maintain natural carbon storage, and enhance our community’s ability to adapt to a changing climate.

This project demonstrated the power of partnerships, municipal government, community organizations, and conservation authorities, working together toward shared environmental goals. It also highlighted that climate action isn’t just about reducing emissions; it’s about protecting the natural systems we depend on.

For more on how Loyalist Township is building resilience and protecting the environment, visit the Resilient Loyalist Township Climate Action Plan page.

Loyalist Link - Feedback

The Loyalist Link pilot program is rolling through the Township!

This pilot program launched on November 4, 2024, and aims to enhance transportation options for residents of additional communities in the Township, including Bath, Odessa, and the Amherst Island Ferry Terminal in Millhaven.

The service provides a vital public transportation link to workplaces in the Taylor-Kidd Industrial Park and the Loyalist East Business Park and is provided by Loyalist Township under contract with Stock Transportation.

The pilot is set to run until December 31, 2025, and is being funded in part through a $192,000 Community Transportation Grant from the Province's Community Connection Funding through Lennox and Addington County and Provincial Gas Tax funding. Users can ride the Loyalist Link with Kingston Transit fares.

Check out the schedule, fare prices, and plan your trip!

Small Fill Station - Level 1 Low Water Condition

As of August 18th, Loyalist Township will be operating a Small Potable Water Fill Station at the Township Booster Station, located at 243 County Road 6.

This convenient new option is ideal for homeowners and small businesses who need access to clean, safe drinking water without requiring a bulk delivery. Whether you're filling a pool, hot tub, storage tank, or water tote, the small fill station helps you meet your water needs without putting extra strain on your home water system.

The station is designed for filling containers up to 1 cubic metre (1,000 litres).

Currently, a Level 1 Low Water Condition has been declared for the Cataraqui Region, following lower-than-normal rainfall in July. Residents using groundwater systems or drawing from inland lakes or streams are being asked to voluntarily conserve water and adopt water-saving practices. Using the small fill station is a smart, sustainable solution to access potable water without impacting your private well or local water sources.

For those with larger water requirements, a bulk water station is also available at the same location.