We help businesses, not-for-profits, and the broader public sector reduce carbon emissions each year. Our affordable and tailored program helps you set and meet sustainability targets. Services include carbon measurement & reporting, energy auditing, action planning, and project support.
Green Economy North is a membership-based sustainable business program of reThink Green and the Northern Ontario hub of Green Economy Canada.
our milestone process
Become a Green Economy North member and join the transition to a low carbon future.
We guide members through our tried-and-tested “milestone process”.
Milestone 1: Get Engaged
Milestone 2: Measure your footprint
Perform a baseline energy walk-through, produce an emissions report with our Impact Tracking Tool, and understand where there is room for improvement.
Milestone 3: Set a target
Mobilize your Green Team, outline your emission reduction goals and pathways, and commit to an action plan.
Milestone 4: Achieve results
Save money, build connections, and demonstrate leadership! Participate in quarterly check-ins and stay up to date with new resources, incentives, and opportunities to succeed.
By working through these checkpoints, Green Economy North members receive the necessary top-class, science-backed training, tools, and resources to help them succeed in our low carbon economy. The program also offers opportunities to form new connections and collaborations across Canada; all while doing great work for the planet, improving your bottom line, and demonstrating leadership!
As an affiliated Hub of Green Economy Canada, we know that this program can also increase members’ productivity and market competitiveness. Broader social and economic benefits include the attraction, engagement, and retention of talented employees, and connecting with customers who value a green brand.
To learn more about the program, please feel free to email simon.blakeley@rethinkgreen.ca or schedule a 30-minute appointment with Simon Blakeley, Program Director, using this scheduling tool.
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sign up - membership inquiry form
For those interested in joining future cohorts, please complete this form. The information you enter below will be used to provide your quote for annual membership.
Cohort 1 - Members
Cambrian College includes a vibrant community of more than 11 000 learners spread across three campus locations in: Sudbury, Espanola, and Little Current / Manitoulin Island.
Cambrian has made considerable progress in recent years, improving the energy efficiency of its existing building envelope, plant and equipment, and installation of solar and geothermal systems among other measures.
Cambrian is seeking support understanding all aspects of its operations so it can produce up-to-date baselines of their emissions, develop a sustainability action plan, and produce science-based targets to guide their transition to Net Zero emissions
CDM Agency is an authorized agent for Eco-Growth Environmental a Calgary-based technology company which provides green solutions to organic waste streams, by converting excess materials to clean energy.
The systems used by Eco-Growth Environmental include the EGOR, which is an organic reactor that dehydrates organic waste – reducing its weight by 80%. They also provide shredding equipment to handle cardboard, and bio-gas boilers as a renewable/alternative energy source.
Alarmed at the dust clouds forming within his premises, the organization’s Founder and President, Rick Morin, recognized there was a need to transform his operations more than 15 years ago.
He was determined to play his part to clean-up his industrial operations for future generations, and set about building a state-of-the-art facility, to reduce the environmental impact of sandblasting among other activities. The resulting pre-engineered ‘blast booth’ maintains a closed loop ventilation system – to ensure environmentally compliant surface coating practices.
Craig Timmermans is a serial entrepreneur, who also happens to co-own Canada’s greenest and only Net Zero Radio Station, Country CFRM 103 – which is located in Little Current, Manitoulin Island.
Through his technical advisory business, Craig provides off-grid services, including the design and installation of solar, battery-based technologies, and other renewable energy systems for use in municipal and rural locations, parks, recreation and campgrounds, outdoor festivals and events, resorts, marinas, beachfronts, boardwalks, construction sites and RVs!
Old Mission Resort currently caters to anglers and their families providing fully equipped house-keeping cottages, boat launch, rentals and docking, seasonal trailer sites and several campsites.
Old Mission has plans to evolve from a commodity-based angling business to a customized niche market providing experiential products – promoting Ecotourism. Their vision is to create a memorable vacation experience for guests, the ability to host corporate retreats, while cultivating sustainable development, renewable energy sources, and protecting its natural and rugged landscapes.
Point Grondine Trading Post is an Indigenous-owned business, located on Point Grondine First Nation on the Highway that leads to the Municipality of Killarney. Point Grondine is an off-grid store and gas bar, which currently uses a diesel generator for power during business hours.
The Trading Post has plans to expand its operations in 2022, to include a state-of-the-art energy efficient building which will be formed from innovative modular panel-based construction methods. The business will expand its selection of tobacco, plus Indigenous arts, and other hand-made products.
Science North is Canada’s 2nd largest Science Centre. It is also Northern Ontario’s most popular tourist attraction and serves as an educational resource for children and adults across the entire province of Ontario. Science North’s staff cover a large area from Mattawa to the Manitoba border through their outreach-based programming in schools, community centres, provincial parks, and libraries, among other locations.
Science North’s main attractions include – a Science Centre, IMAX® Theatre, a Digital Planetarium, a Butterfly Gallery, a Special Exhibitions Hall, and Dynamic Earth – which delights hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Science North also owns and operates Dynamic Earth – Home of the Big Nickel – which is a separate science centre (Canada’s 8th largest). Dynamic Earth is focused on mining and earth sciences and combines both above and underground experiences that allow visitors to experience real mining equipment and technologies.
Split Rail Brewing is based in the idyllic rural community of Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island. The brewery prides itself on the production and sale of craft beer, which is now being sold in locations across the Province of Ontario. They also recently introduced an all-natural locally sourced and berry-based non-alcoholic drink made from the Hawberry – an Island icon; plus introduced a new locally sourced menu, with some delicious cuisine!
Split Rail cares deeply about their social, environmental, and economic impact. The company has been a member of our Green Economy North program for several years now, and we have assisted them in making choices from sustainable packaging, to support obtaining funding for an entire new canning line. This development enabled them to reduce their total Scope 3 Greenhouse Gas emissions, while placing an emphasis on local jobs, and greater control over the production process.
St John’s the Divine is another long-term member of the Green Economy North program. Located at 34 Godfrey Drive in Copper Cliff, the congregation meets each Sunday morning at 11 am. The church includes children’s programming – in the ‘Copper Cliff Messy Church Ministry’ in co-operation with the other Christian congregations in Copper Cliff.
The annual “Mega Yard Sale” in June is held in co-operation with the Copper Cliff Community Action Network, and also includes their Annual ‘Strawberry Social’. The congregation actively supports the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, and the Greater Sudbury Out of the Cold Dinner Program.
St John the Divine is working on greening its building and have achieved some of the goals laid out in their 2019 energy conservation and action plan report.
The Nickel Refillery is a plastic free grocery store located in the City of Greater Sudbury. Armed with their distinctive green aprons, refillery employees are the driving force behind the store and its operations, helping create a sense of fun and engagement among its customers and clientele.
The store sells both local and Canadian-made products which emphasize the importance of people and our planet. It continues to expand its range of ingredients, household goods, DIY equipment and personal care options
The Nickel Refillery is more than your usual grocery store. They participate in community-based initiatives and provide supplementary tools and services to support households and businesses as they seek to reduce their waste.
The Sault Ste. Marie YMCA is a charitable organization that promotes the development of spirit, mind, and body by encouraging healthy lifestyles, personal growth, and service to the community.
The YMCA supports individuals who are looking to improve their fitness, access high-quality licensed childcare, gain memorable family experiences, and also assists newcomers as they settle
within Canada.
The Sault Ste. Marie YMCA believes that living with, and acting on its core values, contributes to the development of a healthy self-esteem and overall personal happiness. The YMCA fosters a greater sense of social responsibility and environmental stewardship in ways that can deliver lasting personal and social change.
Cohort 2 - Presented by Collège Boréal - Members
Cohort Sponsor
Collège Boréal is an innovative educational, cultural and community hub which serves the Francophone population of Ontario. Its goal is to produce a highly skilled bilingual workforce that is committed to supporting French-speaking communities, and contributing to the economic, social, and cultural vitality of the province and the country.
From a Sustainability-lens, Collège Boréal has overseen a series of projects, including lighting and energy-efficiency upgrades across its existing campuses; and developed advanced program and research-led initiatives, including: within the agri-food sector (advancements in four season growing techniques – that embed organic farming practices); innovations to create more affordable housing solutions in Northern Ontario (i.e. tiny home developments); Sustainable Construction methods, that include the development of insulated panels – utilizing renewable materials, digital fabrication, and thermal insulation, vapour, and wind protection measures.
The college also offers a series of Post-secondary College programs in fields including agriculture, energy, and natural resource management (fish / wildlife habitat, forestry), engineering, Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) technology, and the skilled trades.
Algonquin Outfitters’ first location opened in 1961 at Oxtongue Lake in the Lake of Bays, Muskoka District. AO’s inaugural rental fleet was made up of 40 cedar-canvas Chestnut canoes.
For the first 30 years of operation, Algonquin Outfitters was a seasonal business with only one location, specializing in canoe rentals and complete outfitting packages designed for Algonquin Park canoe trips. Retail items consisted primarily of T-shirts, fishing tackle, some camping supplies, and a few canoe paddles.
In the 1980s and 90s, AO expanded in several ways – with new locations, products, services, and seasonal opening hours – diversifying its offer to support winter-based activities, including winter camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more. The Huntsville store was added in 1994, and soon after, the bike, ski, and snowboard sections were added.
Fast forward another 30 years, and AO now has 8 permanent locations across the wider Muskoka District, Haliburton County, and Algonquin Park itself.
Alqonquin outfitters’ primary goal is to promote the enjoyment of the natural outdoors, through low impact adventure. Given its appreciation for the environment, AO is seeking to further examine its own carbon footprint, with a view to adopting new processes and operations to help it further reduce its total impact on the environment.
Board’s Honey Farm has been serving customers in the Nipissing region, and people traveling to Restoule from locations including the Greater Toronto Area for 48+ years. Boards incorporated in 2014, and currently manages 150 colonies of bees that produce honey and related beehive products.
Their website features items that are made on-site with wild crafted raw materials and produce that is either grown in their own gardens or sourced from other local farms.
Boards is looking to expand on its operations over the next two years, with exciting plans in the works!
Dalew Farms is proudly owned and operated by Dave and Chantal Lewington and their children, Jacob, Olivia, and Emma. Together, the family has gained significant experience raising livestock on pasture during the Spring, Summer, and Fall Seasons, and producing Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Beef & Pasture-Raised Pork for sale. More recently, the Farm has expanded its range to include Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Goat Meat, and Pastured Eggs.
The farm’s animals and crops are raised using sustainable / regenerative agriculture methods including no-till planting, rotational grazing, and cover crops. In 2023, they’ll be entering their 19th season at this location.
Since 2019, Dave & Chantal have also operated Click Fork which serves as Northeastern Ontario’s Largest Online Farmer’s Market. The online market allows local farms, with similar growing practices and methods, to offer products to a regional and environmentally-conscious consumer base.
Dalew Farms and Click Fork are also proud members of the Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario. As a family, they’re passionate about small-scale ecological and regenerative agriculture methods, and work hard to grow the healthiest and most nutritious food each season in an environmentally sustainable way, while also, supporting the local economy by assisting other local suppliers.
The Knowhere Public House, located on the fringes of Downtown Sudbury, provides an alternative, authentic, and artisan-like experience to the satisfaction of its growing list of customers.
An early post-pandemic success story, the Knowhere Place is truly unique, as it effectively utilizes a former Car Dealership – optimizing solar gain through its large South and Southwest-facing windows. The natural lighting that results, creates a strong and welcoming sense of community – with the Knowhere Place also priding itself on being a safe and welcoming place for all.
Although a relatively new venue, the Knowhere Place has already adopted some environmentally progressive ways of conducting business. It effectively blends upcycled furniture with high-quality regional and Canadian-sourced products. This versatile all-day venue regularly serves up Coffee, Tea, Snacks, Craft Beer, and other drinks.
With more greening projects in the works, the venue has quickly earned the reputation of being one of Sudbury’s most welcoming community spaces for the grassroots of Sudbury.
Ormuir Organics was founded by Matthew Graveline; a father, biologist, conservation-activist, and self-proclaimed “surfer of snow and cold-waters”. The core values of the business are grounded in the understanding that we urgently need to rethink our relationship with the Earth, while acknowledging our environmental and ecological impacts.
Ormuir Organics provides vermicomposting solutions to both assist and increase the prevalence of worm farming. They strive to create sustainable products by sourcing their raw ingredients, plus other materials, through a local-business organic-waste collection program – demonstrating how effective waste management practices can reduce our impact on the environment.
Ormuir Organics works with local community gardens to establish and maintain their composting programs. These partnerships have the goal of providing services to community gardens in order to build capacity to achieve self-sufficiency in their composting needs. The outcomes of these partnerships include:
- Increased awareness of soil regeneration practices
- A fossil-fuel free alternative to local organic-waste management
- Eliminating the reliance on non-local, commercially produced, compost products.
- Reducing the gardens overall carbon-footprint; and
- Providing new learning opportunities for community garden volunteers
Cohort 3 - presented by TD Bank - Members
Create Your Wave is a leading supplier of electric surfboards and electric skateboards.
The concept of Create Your Wave has been a life philosophy of our founder, Brad Anderson, for over 30 years.
Create Your Wave comes from a critical and conscientious way of positioning yourself in your environment: “There are those who let the waves of life push them to where other forces desire them to be.
There are those who make decisions on the “now”; never getting ahead of the present and past. There are those who sit and wait for the “perfect wave”. They miss out on many different aspects on what could and will happen.
Then there are those who create their wave and drive past those who either are waiting or being pushed by their environmental forces. It is a conscious and dedicated way of looking at life and all one endures and appreciates.”
We invite you to be a part of this legacy: to Create Your Wave.
Parry Sound Bikes was established in 2013 by Parry Sound local, Aleesha Clark (formerly Mullen). The shop was originally located on Bowes Street in Parry Sound.
In 2017 Parry Sound Bikes purchased the Old Firehall from the Town of Parry Sound. With the help of family and friends the building was completely restored and is now the permanent home of Parry Sound Bikes.
Parry Sound Bikes is now owned by Thomas and Aleesha Clark and their dog Franklin.
Parry Sound Bikes was established with the clear intent to grow the cycling culture and community in the town of Parry Sound. Through community involvement, group rides and a welcoming shop atmosphere Parry Sound Bikes has become a destination and gathering place for cyclists. Through everything we do, we hope to inspire you often and ride with you soon!
MineConnect is Ontario’s Mining Supply & Services Association. Our members are globally recognized for their innovation, and the essential role they play in advancing the mining sector. Discover the benefits of membership and why our mining and supply members are the suppliers of choice to the world.
They are people of Faith. One might already discern what that entails—as everyone has occasionally felt there’s a deeper narrative, an allure to explore. They believe everyone is interconnected, a fragment of a grander tapestry, carved from ‘spirit-stuff.’ And that hunch? It’s spot on!
They are a Church Family. Isn’t it intriguing that the story of Jesus feeding multitudes with scant loaves and fish recurs six times across the four Gospels? This repetition suggests that congregating, dining, jesting, and learning as a Church family is a profound embodiment of a life well-lived. Trinity stands as a familial haven, offering a universal message of love regardless of age, ethnicity, class, or lifestyle.
They represent a Christian community. The theologian Jaroslav Pelikan distinguishes Christianity into “tradition” and “traditionalism.” Pelikan posits: “Tradition is the living faith of the deceased; traditionalism is the stagnant faith of the living.” More succinctly, he advises: “Embrace the legacy of your ancestors and endeavor to claim it.” At Trinity, they immerse themselves in the ‘God story’ passed down with affection.
Collectively, they effect change. When queried about Trinity’s membership, they often rephrase it: How many people claim Trinity as theirs? The response: A significant number whom they cherish, assist, nourish, and tend to. Trinity’s infrastructure and its ensemble are dedicated to enriching the world, making it less fragmented and solitary, more restored, joyous, and complete. One can explore their website, observe their endeavors and outreach, and truly “Taste and perceive the goodness of God”!
Trestle is a modest, independently-owned craft brewery nestled in downtown Parry Sound. The brewery enjoys a picturesque location right on the waterfront where the Seguin river merges into the harbor, offering a breathtaking view that stretches to the iconic CPR Trestle bridge and Georgian Bay.
This establishment houses a taproom that serves a selection of beers, which are brewed on-site throughout the year. Additionally, they offer a variety of special seasonal beers. The taproom boasts a fantastic menu designed to complement their beer selections perfectly. Its open-concept layout seamlessly connects the brewhouse area, flowing through the taproom and retail section, and extending out to their waterfront patio. Over time, their Taproom has transformed into a significant community gathering spot, often hosting a diverse range of exciting events!
Craig Timmermans is a serial entrepreneur, who also happens to co-own Canada’s greenest and only Net Zero Radio Station, Country CFRM 103 – which is located in Little Current, Manitoulin Island. Through his technical advisory business, Craig provides off-grid services, including the design and installation of solar, battery-based technologies, and other renewable energy systems for use in municipal and rural locations, parks, recreation and campgrounds, outdoor festivals and events, resorts, marinas, beachfronts, boardwalks, construction sites and RVs! Craig was also recently given a shout-out in the Canadian Parliament for his ambitious projects, plans, and achievements. You can watch the short recording here.
Waveform Plastics is a full-service ISO9001:2015 certified plastics thermoformer that provides plastic thermoforming and machining services. Whether working with ABS, Acrylic, PETG, Polyethylene, or many other materials, they possess the knowledge and skills to guide a product from design to prototype to production.
Total Support – Prototype to Production Beyond design, CNC tooling, mold-making, and custom thermoforming and machining, they also extend engineering services to assist in product realization. This encompasses suggestions in design approach, options for materials, and strategies for enhancing manufacturability and production efficiency. Engaging them in the comprehensive product design ensures the achievement of optimal performance.
Their ambition is to forge strong ties with the engineering, production, procurement, quality, and management departments of their clients. Such engagement allows them to deeply comprehend the requirements and anticipations of their clients, guaranteeing top-notch services. They are fervently dedicated to fabricating products that are not only highly functional but also consistently of superior quality, and to ensure timely deliveries. All these efforts highlight their unwavering commitment to client contentment.
Operating from their bases in South River and Toronto, Ontario, Waveform Plastics has been catering to a clientele that spans Ontario, the entirety of Canada, and stretches across the United States, a legacy that has been ongoing since 1999.
One can delve deeper into their processes by viewing the thermoforming and CNC trimming videos they offer.
cohort 4 - members
Point Grondine Trading Post is an Indigenous-owned business, located on Point Grondine First Nation on the Highway that leads to the Municipality of Killarney. Point Grondine is an off-grid store and gas bar, which currently uses a diesel generator for power during business hours. The Trading Post has plans to expand its operations in 2022, to include a state-of-the-art energy efficient building which will be formed from innovative modular panel-based construction methods. The business will expand its selection of tobacco, plus Indigenous arts, and other hand-made products.
The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee is an environmental charity dedicated to restoring the natural ecosystem of Greater Sudbury’s central urban waterway, Junction Creek.
The stewardship committee was formed in 1999 to address the vast industrial damage of the creek’s ecosystem caused by logging, acidification, metal deposits, and ongoing industrial and urban pressures.
The committee consists of 11 volunteer board members and 1-6 staff who work with hundreds of volunteers annually to complete community-oriented stewardship programs to revive the watershed and restore life back to the creek.
OUR MISSION is to lead the way for improving and maintaining a healthy Junction Creek watershed. Together we:
- Conduct research and monitoring programs to create understanding and inform sound decisions
- Organize restoration activities to recover and protect the watershed
- Provide educational opportunities to share knowledge and promote the Creek’s ecological, economic, and health benefits
- Connect the community with Junction Creek to empower long-term stewardship
The Georgian Bay Biosphere (GBB) is an inclusive and dynamic organization that builds capacity for regional sustainability in eastern Georgian Bay. Established in 1998, the GBB is a non-profit registered Canadian charity governed by a Board of Directors with an administrative office located in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.
In 2004, GBB successfully applied to UNESCO, which has strict criteria when it comes to the designation of world biospheres. Biospheres typically receive no direct funding from UNESCO, or National and Provincial Governments – so tend to rely on charitable donations, government grants, and member service agreements to deliver their work.
Shamrock Lodge is located in the community of Port Carling, in the Township of Muskoka Lakes, along the beautiful shores of Lake Rosseau.
It’s always been the goal of Shamrock Lodge to provide the best Ontario vacation experience for its guests. The owners strive to go “above and beyond” for their guests and have won a few awards for their service along the way!
The main waterfront lodge on Lake Rosseau offers a range of experiences including family vacations, romantic and weekend getaways, conferences, weddings, and group retreats. The lodge also has some casual fine dining options courtesy of its on-site restaurant.
Tim Bryant, Co-owner of Shamrock Lodge, expressed an interest in being part of the Green Economy North program, so they can find additional ways to reduce their emissions and save on costs; while also forging a new path forward, that respects the unique heritage of this destination.
Debajehmujig Theatre Group is a Non-profit, Multi Arts Organization that runs a Professional Arts Training Program, and presents new creations of work for on-stage Theatre Performances. They engage the community in various ways including workshops, presentations, custom performances, and other events i.e. the Annual Seed Swap and the 6-Foot Festival. The group operates year-round from their facility in Manitowaning – from which they also operate the K.B. Reynolds Mastin Art Gallery throughout the year.
ClayMar Electric is a small, family-owned electrical contractor which serves Almaguin Highlands and the wider Muskoka District area. ClayMar specializes in residential and commercial work as well as off-grid solar systems. They install, service and provide Generac generators, and provide service-based support on renovation projects, regular service, and other forms of emergency work.
Rainbow Routes Association is a non-profit organization located in the City of Greater Sudbury with a mission to encourage health, adventure, and connection to nature, while promoting and enhancing the 30+ wilderness and urban trails within the RRA trail network.
Rainbow Routes’ initiatives are made possible in part by an operations grant from the City of Greater Sudbury, plus other project-based funding. They are keen to keen to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices, including professional networking and partnership-led opportunities.
Hearterrra is a retail based Refillery located in the City of Sault Ste Marie. Its vision is to enrich life, and support ways to revitalize the natural environment.
Hearterra offers a selection of high-quality and sustainable household cleaning products, beverages, and personal care items, which are either made locally, or produced by well-known sustainability-inspired brands. Products can either be purchased in-person or online. Online purchases can be collected from the Hearterra storefront location or delivered within the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
Hearterra has adopted the following core values to guide its operations moving forward:
- We Care! Tremendous care is taken in choosing products, processes and services that are wholesome, benefit the environment first, are safe, efficient and of the highest quality.
- We are True! We are honest, pure, and true in our intentions and actions, and are compassionate, socially responsible, and respectful with all our partners.
- We have wholehearted passion! We make conscious choices that support the health of people and the planet. We engage in responsible partnerships that foster environmental protection and sustainability with the ethical treatment of workers to promote conscious consumerism in all we do.
- We are innovative, and curious, and fun! We solve problems using innovative technologies and aim for continuous improvement and education.
Frequently Asked Questions
Green Economy North was first established in 2016, and remains Northern Ontario’s only membership-based sustainable business program. Since the program was initiated, we have supported approximately 50 different organizations through program-based activities.
We equip businesses, non-profits, and the broader public sector with the knowledge, information, and tools they need to pivot and succeed in the low carbon economy.
We produce estimates of our members’ annual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, and support the development of action plans to both reduce their impact on the environment and achieve cost savings.
Our work involves:
- Technical, advisory, and research-based programming;
- Organizing and delivering business and community-oriented events;
- Encouraging knowledge-sharing & collaboration among our virtual networks; and
- Recognizing and celebrating progress made by our program members.
Green Economy North membership involves a combination of cohort-based training sessions, 1:1 consulting hours, peer-based learning, and professional networking opportunities.
Green Economy North serves as a Hub within the wider Green Economy Canada network, which is committed to accelerating Canada’s business transition to a vibrant and inclusive net-zero future.
Green Economy Canada Hubs also serve communities in Southern Ontario, the GTA, Ottawa, Peterborough, the Province of New Brunswick, and the City of Edmonton with several new Hubs in the works – from coast to coast. Members of our regional Hub (Green Economy North) benefit from access to this wider National network.
As of 2019, over 300 organizations, representing a broad range of sectors and sizes, have committed to reducing more than 200,000 tonnes of GHGs – the equivalent of taking over 43,000 cars off the road each year.
All businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations that join the Green Economy North program commit to setting sustainability targets, and reporting publicly on their progress each year.
Green Economy North recognizes these organizations as ‘Green Economy Leaders’ because they are making commitments to measure, manage, reduce, and report on their environmental impact and, as such, are demonstrating leadership both at an organizational level, and within the communities they serve.
Across Canada, over 250 Green Economy Leaders are demonstrating a more sustainable economy is possible.
The Green Economy North program is available to all businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations with a physical building (owned or leased), plus other assets that can be assessed for their energy performance – whether that be an Industrial facility, a retail store, hotel accommodation, office space, or even a working scrap / storage yard.
In line with the federal interpretation of Northern Ontario, our area of coverage currently extends across the whole of Northeastern Ontario, from Sault Ste. Marie in the West, to Mattawa in the East, and from James Bay in the North, to Gravenhurst in the South.
In due course, we hope to make the Green Economy North program available to all organizations in Northern Ontario, and to collaborate with additional sector-based agencies to increase our geographic reach and influence.
Members pay an annual fee which is based upon a chart produced by reThink Green which accounts for both:
- The Total Floor Space Area (sq ft.) of assets owned and/or leased; and
- The Total # of Employees (full-time equivalent)
Fees can range between $500 – $10,000 depending on the organization.
Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support, direction, training, and accountability required to help you meet your sustainability goals.
There are a variety of supports we offer along the way, from developing your inventories and sustainability action plans, to building-out your green teams, and support tracking and reporting on the progress you’re making.
We also provide members with opportunities to access capacity-building workshops and networking opportunities which support their knowledge and skill development. We also help you stay connected to funding opportunities for sustainability projects.
There is a lot we can learn from one another when we share a space to voice our accomplishments, concerns, and challenges in pursuing sustainability.
Starting in April 2022, we have introduced a new ‘cohort-based’ model whereby program members will benefit from group training sessions, including ample opportunities to collaborative and learn from the practical experiences of each organization, as we collectively set and achieve ambitious Greenhouse Gas emission-reducing targets.
Our goal is to provide you with the support, direction, and accountability required to help you meet your sustainability goals. Our tried-and-tested Milestone Process involves Green Economy North guiding our members through a series of training sessions and checkpoints, as follows:
- Get engaged
- Measure your footprint
- Set a target
- Achieve results
There are various supports we provide along the way, from developing your inventories and sustainability action plans, to helping you build out your green teams, and tracking and reporting on the progress you’re making along the way.
We’ll also provide you with capacity-building workshops and professional networking opportunities to help keep your knowledge and skills current, plus help you stay connected to funding opportunities for sustainability projects.
Our Hub goals are to work with members to complete their GHG Inventory and initial GHG Reduction Plan within 12 months of joining, and to have GHG Reduction Targets set within 18 months of joining. To achieve this, we structure our work in roughly six-month chunks to keep things manageable for you and ensure we meet those timelines.
Once the initial milestones are complete, and a science-based interim target and/or longer-term Green House Gas (GHG) reduction target has been set; we facilitate quarterly check-ins and yearly updates to your GHG Inventory Report – so we can continue to monitor your progress. As our relationship matures, we provide you with the necessary add-on services and supports to help you either reach or positively-exceed your target(s) into the future.
During Milestone 1, members are oriented at a kick-off meeting. We talk data, emissions sources and scopes, and we take the necessary first steps to develop your GHG Inventory!
This stage really is all about empowering and enabling our members to understand their own footprint as it relates to their operations.
The benefits and services associated with this milestone include:
- Access to our Green Economy Leaders’ Communications Toolkit;
- “Climate 101” workshops and information sessions;
- Public recognition when you join the cohort;
- Subscription to our monthly newsletter, where we share up-to-date knowledge, information, and resources with members;
- Access to reThink Green’s resource bank.
Milestone 2 is all about developing a greenhouse gas inventory. To do this, you’ll be equipped to start collecting data for your organization to generate a report in line with the World Resources Institute’s GHG Protocol Standard. Much of the information that you’ll need to collect will come from utility bills and expense lines of your financial statements, so it’s really important that folks from finance /accounting are involved, and able to support with getting this data.
Your GHG Inventory Report will tell you what your carbon footprint is, where your emissions come from, and where there is additional room for improvement. We also conduct baseline energy walkthroughs to help corroborate this report. This information is generally used in support of grant applications, including the Microgrant program that Green Economy North is introducing – exclusive to our members.
We also equip our members with emissions inventory training, to help you understand how your GHG Inventory is developed from your data, and provide you with some best practices on setting up data collection systems to streamline this process year after year.
The Paris Agreement commits countries to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions so global temperatures do not increase by more than an average of 1.5 to 2 Degrees Celsius – helping avoid the worst predicted effects of Climate Change.
The GHG Protocol was created given the need to assist countries and companies as they account for, report, and mitigate their emissions. It promotes an action-led agenda to combat climate change, and includes a series of standardized practices for measuring GHG emissions.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP) provides accounting and reporting standards, sector guidance, calculation tools and training opportunities for businesses, plus local and national governments. The protocol has resulted in a comprehensive, global, standardized framework for measuring and managing emissions from private and public sector emission sources and scopes – enabling greenhouse gas reductions to be achieved across the board.
Once your inventory is complete, we’ll support you in developing an initial action plan to reduce your emissions.
We’ll start by hosting a Reduction Planning training session to provide you with the knowledge, information, and tools needed so your organization can crunch the numbers, plus scope and prioritize those actions.
As an affiliated Hub of Green Economy Canada, Green Economy North requires that our members set at least a 20% reduction target, in relation to their baseline year. That said, we know many organizations are now setting interim targets, and also net-zero targets, in line with the Paris Agreement – which seeks to ensure Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Our third training session will cover what you’ll want to consider when choosing a reduction target that’s right for you. This could address what your stakeholders / customers care about, what your peers are doing, what your organization’s level of ambition is, or what the science tells us is needed.
You’ll get some templates and tools to help you think through different target-scenarios, and we’ll work with you 1:1 to guide decision-making for your organization.
Action Plans can vary considerably depending on the nature and size of an organization; however, most action plans generally include a series of defined goals, plus an outline of steps to be followed, priority tasks, and timeframes, etc.
Our cohort members’ action plans will all appear different – depending on our members’ budgets, their capacity, and where they’re already at in their sustainability journey.
Sometimes it can be as simple as making some changes in procurement decisions, retrofitting building envelopes, or swapping out lighting fixtures. In other cases, it could include pursuing the installment of more advanced energy management systems, electric vehicle chargers, or renewable technologies.
Once we’ve reached this stage, we’re off to the races, and can start working with you to achieve your GHG emission reduction goals as identified in Milestone 3, plus celebrate your ongoing success as a Green Economy Leader!
By this point, you’ll have done all the prep-work needed to understand what your GHG footprint is, and developed an action plan to know what initial actions you need to take.
Ideally, you’ll have created some additional internal capacity with support from the senior leadership team (I.e., the formation of a Green Team) with a remit to help your organization confidently set about making these reductions.
In any case, we’ll work with you to share the good news among your stakeholders and customers, plus provide up-to-date communication, research, funding, and/or project management-based support to help you spread the word and achieve your goals.
Our support will shift from helping you set your targets to helping you track and make progress towards achieving your goals.
Each year, we’ll update your GHG inventory in the Spring, and provide you with a short report so you can see your progress.
We’ll meet with you quarterly to provide ongoing 1:1 support to assist your team by updating and implementing your action plans, communicating your efforts both internally and externally, and engaging employees in your work.
In addition to the cohort-based training sessions, and professional networking opportunities, which enable new business connections and peer-based learning opportunities, members of our Green Economy North program will also receive an allotted number of hours for 1:1 support – as outlined in their Membership Agreement. These hours can be used to develop projects, initiatives, or proposals more specific to your organization’s future needs.
If members require additional 1:1 support, we can provide this for an additional fee. Please contact us to discuss your project-based ideas.
Organizations often don’t talk enough about the sustainability work they’re already doing, and sometimes find it hard to communicate about their efforts in credible ways. To make that easier for our members, we put together a communications toolkit, which includes templates on how best to share details of their work, via Green Economy North, among internal and external stakeholders.
The toolkit contains templates you can use to spread the word including announcement emails, social media messages and email signature suggestions, plus other content to include within any job postings or RFPs you may be responding to.
Throughout your membership we will host hybrid-style events including webinars, meet-and-greet networking opportunities, and our annual Regional Business Forum; at which, we bring in guest speakers and showcase a wide range of Industry-specific products, technologies, and solutions.
We also attend conferences and seminars, bringing increased awareness to our membership – which includes a wide range of businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations.
We summarize our findings and circulate this information in the form of monthly newsletters, social media posts and other e-bulletins.
You’ll also receive relevant funding news and policy updates to help guide and potentially finance your projects, plus adapt to any regulatory changes coming down the line.
We’ll then recognize your achievements both regionally and nationally in the form of case studies, media releases, and other communication methods. Organizations and individuals who make the greatest progress, pursuing a range of solutions, our recognized at our Annual Sustainability Awards.
Our aim, at all times, is to foster a sense of togetherness, including spin-off opportunities to explore shared projects, facilitated introductions, and 1:1 networking opportunities. We guide, support, and highlight the progress of our members in Northern Ontario, as we transition to a more vibrant, inclusive and net-zero future.
Cohort 1 has already commenced – we launched in April 2022.
Our second cohort will be launching in the Fall of 2022, with an enrollment closing date of July 4, 2022.
Starting in the fall of 2022, Green Economy Leaders will be exclusively eligible to receive up to $5000 to cover a maximum of 50% of costs linked to the implementation of projects that increase energy efficiencies, and reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emissions.
The primary objective of the micro-grant program is to fill an identified gap within the existing incentive-based ecosystem. The funding could be applied towards a wide range of innovative project-based solutions, with costs allocated towards equipment, materials, external labour, and planning-related activities. We can work with you to both identify and/or leverage additional external funding opportunities which enable action on the ground.
The Microgrant Program will be accessible to businesses, non-profits, public sector organizations and First Nation Communities. Municipalities and Townships are ineligible at this time.
Participating organizations seeking to access this new and unique funding opportunity must be paid up members of our Green Economy North Program in good-standing.
They will also be required to have completed an up-to-date GHG inventory; which, by then, you should have completed with us.
Additional eligibility and project assessment criteria are in development and will be announced in the Fall of 2022.
We’re excited to share a program offered by Green Economy Canada. Its $3.9M EV Charger Incentive Program will give organizations 50% back on the cost of buying and installing EV charging stations – up to a maximum of $100,000 per applicant.
EV chargers are a great way to strengthen relationships with your customers and employees, increase your property value, reduce your own carbon footprint, and demonstrate your commitment to sustainability!
Taking steps now to install EV chargers, and adopt EVs, will also future-proof your business as Canada continues to implement regulations that reduce transportation-related emissions, and support our shift to a cleaner energy future.
The program was first launched in March 2022 and targeted minority groups. Funding will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
*Update May 2022
Please note: The first round of funding is almost complete. All applications received after April 13, 2022 will, therefore, be considered ‘on hold’ – until the initial tranche of applications has been assessed, and initial funding recipients have been identified.
Interested organizations are still encouraged to get their application in as soon as possible.
All decision-making is subject to funding availability.
To learn more, check out the EV Charger Incentive program on Green Economy Canada’s website here: https://greeneconomy.ca/evchargerincentive