Dear Friend,



This past year, through my work with York Region Environmental Alliance, and my years of environmental engagement that preceded it, I was honoured with the King Charles  III Coronation Medal award and the certificate below outlining my public activism. Receiving this award made me reflect on YREA's role & served to reinforce my belief in the importance of inspiring individual actions to create collective change. This is why community outreach is so important so that people like you are motivated to implement positive actions. Every little bit helps.

Speaking of small gestures, my pollinator patch shown above, will provide food, seeds & shelter for birds this winter and has inspired a few residents to follow with their own rewilding. Consequently, there have been more bees this year and I noted 10 different species of butterflies. I harvested milkweed seeds, sharing at community events. Small deeds do add up. With the loss of meadow ecosystems, if more of us converted lawn areas in our medians & roadsides to meadows, we could all help restore these vital habitats, starting with municipalities updating bylaws by axing the 20cm/8" grass height bylaw. Defund the lawn police, I say!

As the Winter Solstice approaches with longer, brighter days to come, let us be optimistic that wiser thinking will prevail. All of us at YREA send our very best wishes to you. Remember that EVERYONE can contribute to a greener planet.

For the betterment of nature and people, let's keep at it,

Gloria Marsh, Executive Director