Niagara’s two largest environmental non-profit organizations have joined forces for environmental sustainability. This merger became effective March 1, 2017, after months of negotiation between the Board of Directors of both Greening Niagara and Niagara Sustainability Initiative (NSI). As such, Greening Niagara’s programs will now be offered under the umbrella of NSI. Going forward, the organization will maintain the name “Niagara Sustainability Initiative”.

This merger establishes NSI as the largest independent environmental non-profit organization in the Niagara region. In time, this partnership will create new opportunities for intersectional collaboration between the public and private sector, community groups and residents who want to see targeted improvement in Niagara’s environmental sustainability.

John Bacher from the Greening Niagara Board said “The Board of Greening Niagara is pleased to work with Niagara Sustainability Initiative to enhance our work to protect Mother Earth in the Niagara Region. We will work together with the good mind to ensure that seven generations from now, the natural wonders we delight in today, will still be a source of inspiration.”

Here is what Tikvah Mindorff, Executive Director of Niagara Sustainability Initiative, has to say about this new partnership:

“In the past year, Niagara Sustainability Initiative has experienced transformative change. We have built a dynamic strategic plan that critically examined our mission, our values and our goals. Following this plan, we entered a formal partnership with Niagara’s oldest environmental non-profit organization, Greening Niagara, in order to offer intersectional and community-based sustainability initiatives. We have created new membership tiers with customizable options, so that everyone has the opportunity to be an Environmental Leader.”

Niagara Sustainability Initiative unveiled the merger, as well as new programs and membership opportunities at the 6th Annual Evening of Recognition on May 25, 2017 at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa. Eighty-five guests registered to attend this event. The evening’s theme was “Guiding Communities: Committing to a Sustainable Future”. The event also coincided with the release of our Annual Report of the same name. The evening featured a traditional opening ceremony, guest speakers, and an award ceremony recognizing the efforts of Carbon Project members, volunteers, and Board Members.

Award recipients included:

• Best Green Team: presented to the member with the most active Green Team, awarded to Beatties Basics.
• Most Engaged Member: presented to the member that most actively participated in NSI opportunities, awarded to Niagara College.
• Sustainability Champion: presented to an individual that has demonstrated leadership and drive for progressing sustainability in the workplace, awarded to Mark Green, City of St. Catharines.
• Greatest Greenhouse Gas Reduction (percentage): presented to the member with the highest reduction in the Carbon Project proportional to size, awarded to Alectra Utilities with a 13.5% reduction in emissions fro 2015 to 2016.
• Greatest Greenhouse Gas Reduction (total tonnes): presented to the member with the greatest absolute reduction in tonnes of the Carbon Project members, awarded to General Motors of Canada Company with 1281.29 tonnes of CO2e reduced from 2015 to 2016.

Photos from the Evening of Recognition are posted on our Facebook page.

About Niagara Sustainability Initiative
Niagara is a not-for-profit organization that engages and connects government, industry, community and academia to advance environmental and economic performance in the Niagara Region. Through the Carbon Project, a voluntary program whereby member organizations voluntarily commit to measuring, managing and reducing organizational greenhouse gas emissions, NSI facilitates profitable sustainability in the Niagara Region.

About Greening Niagara
Formed in 2007, Greening Niagara was a grassroots environmental organization that focused on eco-education in action. Greening Niagara programs offered many opportunities for the community to learn about environmental sustainability through hands-on activities such as community gardens, tree planting, ECO-Fest and food security workshops.

Niagara Sustainability Initiative (NSI) is supporting a thriving Niagara through education, outreach and support services for the environmental sustainability of our community.

CONTACT:
Tikvah Mindorff, Executive Director
info@niagarasustainability.org
Work: 289-786-0970
@SustainNiagara
niagarasustainability.org