This week we’re celebrating the difference that can be made when a regional government supports its people and businesses in taking climate action. Get inspired by impactful local initiatives in Muskoka, Ontario, like:

• the Climate Hero Program, which awards individuals and businesses Bronze, Silver, and Gold rankings for the climate-friendly actions they take (including planting a pollinator garden!)
• the Muskoka EnvironHub website packed with resources
• the Muskoka GeoHub, an online web mapping portal featuring floodplain mapping, real-time water levels, shoreline videos, and more
• a Community Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan
• and, importantly, a Corporate Greenhouse Gas Initiative since the onus for change cannot be on residents alone.

Our guest, Lauren Saville, is the Community Climate Initiatives Coordinator in Muskoka. Her work takes her into the heart of a cottage-country community where “the environment is the economy and the economy is the environment.” She helps residents understand how the changing climate is impacting their wallets and ways of life, and offers them opportunities to make real change. She gives presentations to schools and to the public, inspiring and equipping them to take action in their own lives. And she’s involved with a huge range of initiatives that make life better for people AND the planet. 

Listen now and get motivated by the interconnectedness of environment, economy, and community well-being. 

Access Muskoka’s excellent community resources:

The Climate Hero Program: https://www.engagemuskoka.ca/climate-heroes

The Muskoka EnviroHub: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/environment/EnviroHub.aspx

Upcoming Outreach and Education Events with Lauren: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/environment/outreach-and-education.aspx 

The Muskoka GeoHub: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/environment/maps.aspx 

segment?Email us, reach out over social media, or get Q&A priority by supporting us on Patreon. 

Discord: https://discord.gg/K6wF9dY4Ja

Bluesky: @plantsalwayswin.com

TikTok:@plantsalwayswinpodcast

YouTube: @plantsalwayswinpodcast

Website: www.plantsalwayswin.com 

Credits

Website Design and Illustration by Sophia Alladin

Intro and Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/when-my-ukulele-plays

License code: GWOIMMBAS15FG6PH

Timestamps

00:50 Introducing Lauren Saville, Community Climate Initiatives Coordinator

02:20 Tackling Climate Change at the Community and Corporate Levels

06:43 Insurers are Motivated to Mitigate Climate Change

07:51 How the Community Responds

09:37 Climate Complacency: When Nature’s Beauty Backfires

11:10 Sean Joins the Climate Hero Program

15:04 Lauren’s Community and School Talks

18:58 Pollinator Plants, Shoreline Greening, and Love Your Lake

23:30 Partnering with Other Organizations Drives Change!

25:48 What Is a Watershed?

27:03 What Lauren Loves About her Job

32:15 Love for Muskoka, Love for Nature

33:55 Lauren’s Home Garden Projects

35:15 Find Muskoka’s EnviroHub and Stewardship Outreach

36:22 We Can All Make Change

38:25 Outro and Contact Us