Table of Contents - Mississaugaareas and lush green parks, gardens and open spaces. Mississauga has...

Table of Contents Municipal Form 1 Welcome 2 Tidiness 3 Environmental Efforts 6 Natural & Heritage Conservation 13 Urban Forestry 21 Community Partnerships 24 Landscaped Areas / Floral Displays / Turf & Ground Covers 30

Mississauga in Bloom – Communities in Bloom 1

2008 MUNICIPAL INFORMATION FORM

GENERAL INFORMATION: Municipality: City of Mississauga Population: 700,000 Municipal Budget: $515,212,700 Parks budget as a per cent of municipal budget: 4.4 per cent (Parks - $17,434,300 Forestry - $5,234,300) Total area: 28,749 hectares Parks and green spaces area as a per cent of total area: 9 per cent The City of Mississauga began its participation in the Communities in Bloom competition in 2005, with an entry into the Provincial competition. The City received a first-place award in its population category (over 300,000) with the top level of technical awards – five blooms out of five. In addition, Mississauga was separately recognized for landscape excellence and captured the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture Award for Excellence in Landscaping. In 2006 and 2007, the City of Mississauga participated at the National Level and received a five bloom rating each year. In addition, the City of Mississauga received special recognition for outstanding excellence in urban forestry in 2006 and the honour of the Tidiness Criteria Award in 2007. The Mississauga in Bloom executive committee, comprised of City staff and community representatives, focused on expanding awareness of the Mississauga in Bloom/Communities in Bloom program. The committee undertook three new initiatives this year – the development of a garden at the base of the CN Tower, a residential garden and container garden contest and an internal parks and open space garden contest. The committee was pleased with the participation of residents and staff in the contests and the enthusiasm demonstrated through each garden entry.


Welcome to the City of Mississauga Mississauga, Canada’s sixth largest city, is a big city with a small town feeling. Mississauga has world-class performing arts and attractions, fine art galleries, historic homes, superior sports facilities, challenging and award-winning golf courses, and of course beautiful parks and a scenic waterfront trail. Mississauga is the sum of its many unique parts. It owes its character, ambience and multicultural flavour to the combination of bustling commercial, historic and residential areas and lush green parks, gardens and open spaces. Mississauga has over 6,600 acres of open space, 501 parks, 200,000 trees and 224 kilometres of trail. The opportunities to make the most of the city’s green spaces are endless and change with the seasons. Highlights of the city include 22 waterfront parks, beautiful garden parks, unique wetland areas, old growth forests, mature-treed neighbourhoods, a unique

‘green energy’ generating golf course and standard-setting leash-free zones. As an environmentally responsible community, the City of Mississauga is committed to environmental protection, conducting its corporate operations in an environmentally responsible manner and promoting awareness of environmental policies, issues and initiatives. Residents and businesses have a large role to play to help protect and enhance the land, air, water and energy resources that we all enjoy in Mississauga. The City works closely with ratepayer groups, commercial property owners and institutions to ensure that everyone is working together for a cleaner, greener Mississauga. Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion is leading by example. In 2006, the Mayor accepted the World Leadership Award in London, England on behalf of the City of Mississauga and the Healthy City Stewardship Centre (HCSC), which she founded. The award recognizes the efforts of the HCSC in creating the Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan, a nine-goal action plan aimed at improving the physical, environmental and social health of the people of Mississauga. Through the leadership of the Mayor and Mississauga’s City Council, we have built relationships with 300 community groups to raise awareness around environmental issues and implement a number of unique program initiatives such as LitterNot, LitterBug, Community Cleanup Days, Anti-Idling, Pesticide Reduction and Facility/Park Watch. We are proud of our city and are delighted to share it with you!


Tidiness Winner of the 2007 Communities in Bloom Tidiness Criteria Award, the City of Mississauga prides itself on being an environmentally responsible community. The City’s Strategic Plan for the New Millennium is a framework document that guides the City’s long-term growth and development. It also provides the link for all City plans and strategies. The document is comprised of 10 vision statements with the seventh focussing on the environment: “Mississauga will be an environmentally responsible community.” The creation of the City’s

Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) in 2007 made this statement a reality. The committee plans to help guide Mississauga through the 21st century. With "Living Green" as the City's new environmental slogan, EAC will focus on key initiatives relating to Mississauga's infrastructure and land, conservation programs, energy use and new corporate initiatives. The committee’s goals include the development of an environmental plan, the protection and expansion of natural areas, environmentally-friendly transportation alternatives and the promotion of green development. Currently, the City of Mississauga has a number of programs and initiatives already in place that focus on promoting and educating environmental awareness. Mississauga Earth Days – April 18 to 26, 2008

This annual event promotes environmental awareness and the clean-up of litter in public spaces, business areas and community neighbourhoods. This year’s event began with the “20-Minute Makeover” in which businesses and residents were asked to join thousands from across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) to volunteer to pick up litter around their workplace, schoolyard or neighbourhood for

20 minutes. During the week, more than 100 groups participated in community and corporate clean-ups. Tree plantings and naturalization initiatives were conducted throughout the city in woodlots, creeks, trails, parks, schoolyards and business properties. Earth Days’ events heighten awareness of litter and environmental issues and develop a sense of pride and ownership. This results in making the City of Mississauga a cleaner, greener, more beautiful place to live, work and play.


LitterNot In the City of Mississauga, more than 100 businesses, sports organizations, service clubs, schools, community groups and neighbourhoods are LitterNot leaders. They have adopted a street or park through the volunteer clean-up program. The volunteer clean-up program involves a two-year commitment, with a minimum of three cleanups to be conducted per year. This helps to promote a positive

image and discourage litter. The City provides the necessary training, safety equipment, garbage bags and garbage pick up. A special sign is erected in the adopted location and the groups receive recognition through annual thank-you promotions. They also receive a certificate of recognition from the Mayor. LitterBug

Working to ensure Mississauga’s streets, parks and public spaces remain litter-free requires creating “litter consciousness.” It’s not enough just to pick up the litter. We need to change the behaviour that leads to littering. To help fight the war on litter, Mississauga has enlisted a well-known character from the past - the LitterBug - to remind us to Stash our Trash and Don’t be a LitterBug! The LitterBug campaign is ongoing and includes specific youth messaging; an enforcement campaign, “Stash your trash or lose your cash” and an Anti-Litter Ambassador program, which acknowledges residents and businesses who take pride in their community and conduct voluntary cleanups. The City has also

implemented a special LitterBug signage campaign at select community mail boxes. The campaign requests that residents take unwanted mail home for recycling or return to sender. Maintenance staff has noticed a reduction in litter in the potential litter hot spots, since the program was implemented. The LitterBug is making its presence known. Recognizing that litter has no boundaries, a number of municipalities in Canada and the United States have joined Mississauga’s battle against litter. They have adopted the City’s “Don’t be a LitterBug” logo and message, to promote anti-litter awareness in their own communities.


Bylaws and Standards The City of Mississauga has passed a number of bylaws, including fines for littering and not cleaning up after your pet, that help support ongoing cleanup efforts and anti-litter programs. The City has also instituted property standard acts which ensure residential, commercial and industrial properties are maintained. The City of Mississauga strictly enforces a sign by-law that restricts the placement of signs. This eliminates street scapes filled with hundreds of signs of all shapes, sizes and colours. The bylaw limits the number of signs allowed in any one particular location and takes into consideration site lines and visual impact. Strategies and tactics used by the City of Mississauga’s Community Services and Transportation and Works departments to ensure Mississauga’s streets and open spaces remain tidy include: • Ongoing boulevard maintenance – cutting and

weeding. • Regular street sweeping and a cleaning program in

which Business Improvement Areas are swept weekly, industrial roads are swept monthly and commercial roads are swept bi-monthly.

• Daily litter pick-up in all open spaces. • Selection and inclusion of natural plant species in all

plantings. • Extensive garbage and recycling programs in parks, at

bus stops and along main pedestrian streets including a new recycling program launched in major sport fields in partnership with the Region of Peel.

• Weekly trail inspections – eliminating hazards such as overgrowth, dangerous tree limbs

and site lines. • Monthly rototilling of all playground sand. • Commemorative Tree Park Bench Program providing

residents with the opportunity to recognize and honour others through a lasting tribute and enhancing the beauty of the City’s parks and providing rest stops for visitors and park users.

• Painted garbage cans by community groups to

heighten awareness of litter. • Mural projects on street underpasses and at the Civic

Centre to curb graffiti.


Environmental Efforts The City of Mississauga is committed to the promotion, preservation and protection of the environment and works closely with residents, businesses and community groups to ensure environmental issues are top priorities. Mississauga’s environmental leadership starts at the top and is due to the strong support of Mayor Hazel McCallion, the eleven City Councillors and the City’s decision to strategically plan for the future. The Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) is a committee of Council comprised of citizen members and Councillors. Working under the City’s new environmental slogan of “Living Green,” the committee reviews and provides input and direction on environmental initiatives relating to Mississauga's infrastructure and

land, conservation programs, energy use and new corporate initiatives. The committee’s goals include the development of an environmental plan, protection and expansion of natural areas, environmentally-friendly transportation alternatives and promoting green development. Mississauga has also created an Environmental Network Team (ENT) that focuses on interdepartmental co-operation in the development of sustainable best practices and recommendations on environmental issues. The goals of the team include improving awareness of environmental sustainability and improving planning, operational effectiveness and communications of environmental initiatives. The ENT team reviews and co-ordinates responses to the recommendations made by the EAC. Mississauga is building a sustainable, strong, environmentally responsible future through the development of bylaws, management plans, partnerships, innovative initiatives and programs. BraeBen Golf Course and Methane Gas Conversion

In 2005, the Britannia Landfill site was converted to BraeBen, an 18-hole Championship Course and a 9-hole Academy Course complete with a methane gas collection system. The conversion was done in a partnership between the City of Mississauga, who operate the course and the Region of Peel, who operate the gas collection system. The landfill site served residents of Peel and had an approved capacity of 10.5 million cubic metres. The methane gas collection system underlies the 18-hole course. Gas is drawn out of the landfill through wells and is

piped off-site to a methane-to-electricity conversion generator. The electricity generated is between 5 and 7 mega watts, which is enough to power between 5,000 and 7,000 households on a daily basis over a 20-year life cycle.


Mississauga’s Green Fleet Mississauga implemented recommendations from the “City Fleet Emissions Reduction Study,” which include the transition to biodiesel fuel for Mississauga Transit. Biodiesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable resources, mainly vegetable oils and waste oil products. It emits less carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter than conventional diesel. The transition has resulted in community-wide

reductions in the emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, ensuring cleaner air for Mississauga residents. The City is also continuing to purchase energy-efficient and hybrid-electric vehicles as part of the study’s other recommendations to complete its Green Fleet. The fleet currently consists of one Smart Car and a total of 45 hybrid vehicles that are used by the City Manager’s Office, the Transportation and Works Department, the Community Services Department and the Planning and Building Department. Sustainable Energy Programs

In 2007, Mississauga launched its first renewable energy project with the installation of solar photovoltaic panels on the Hershey Centre. The project, unanimously endorsed by City Council, involved the use of solar panels that convert sunlight into electricity. The panels are installed on the south side of the

building to maximize the sun exposure. The photovoltaic panels generate 25 to 30 kilowatts of electricity, which is equivalent to the power required to light a typical fire station for one year. The electricity is sold to the Ontario grid and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 25,800 kilograms per year for approximately 25 years. In addition, the City of Mississauga now uses certified green power purchased from Bullfrog Power, to power Mississauga’s Civic Centre. While there is a slight increased cost to purchase the power, the use of green power reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 4,400 tonnes. The City’s energy management program, established in 2001, developed measures which include monitoring, procurement, audits, education and renewable initiatives. Energy-efficient lighting and controls, infrared heaters, waste heat recovery systems, rink lighting and garage lighting dimmers, rapid roll automatic doors, snow melting controls and LED traffic lights are technologies that have been implemented. The City has also installed thirty-one computerized building automation systems in larger facilities which offer the ability for set-back controls that regulate the heating, cooling, and lighting during non-business hours.


Water Management With the assistance of numerous volunteers, Mississauga has successfully implemented the water quality Yellow Fish Program introduced by Trout Unlimited Canada. The program has worked to educate residents about the dangers of dumping unwanted household hazardous wastes, like used motor oil, paint and solvents down storm sewer drains or catch basins. These wastes can harm fish and wildlife and more importantly reduce drinking water quality. Using non-toxic paint, volunteers paint Yellow Fish symbols beside the catch basins. Volunteers also distribute fish-shaped brochures to nearby households to remind people to dispose of unwanted household products in an environmentally sound way. Program volunteers are working to help make a difference and minimize water pollution in Mississauga. In addition, as part of Mississauga's on-going efforts to protect the water quality of our streams, rivers, and Lake Ontario, we are updating our Mississauga Storm Water Quality Control Strategy which will look at how things like development policies, standards and infrastructure needs can be changed to better protect our water quality. The update will develop a ‘Made in Mississauga’ approach for storm water quality management. Currently, the City is moving from Greenfield development to intensification and re-development changing the focus of how storm water quality is managed in Mississauga. The City’s storm water management

initiative is being guided by the recent Credit River Water Management Strategy update which is a ’living document’ produced by Credit Valley Conservation in partnership with the City. This strategy provides guidance on the protection of natural environment features of the Credit River watershed to community groups, the development industry and the neighbouring municipalities. The City of Mississauga works closely with the Region of Peel on Water Smart initiatives to encourage residents to follow water efficient practices. A Water Efficiency strategy aimed at raising awareness and education about water efficiency titled Water Smart Peel was developed and endorsed by Regional Council. The main objectives of the Water Smart Peel campaign are to provide information on water use to residents and businesses, encourage water efficient practices through incentives and reduce individual daily water consumption by 10 per cent by 2015. During the summer months, the Water Smart Peel campaign held free workshops to educate residents about efficient practices. These workshops address issues such as:

• teaching water-efficient lawn care practices • providing instructions on creating beautiful drought resistant gardens • explaining how to control pests and weeds naturally • providing comprehensive water-efficiency information kits • answering any lawn and gardening care questions


Waste Management In 2007, the Region of Peel launched a green bin program that aimed to divert organic material from regular waste. To date, more than 31,000 tonnes of organic material have been diverted from disposal. That is enough organic material to fill 12 Olympic-sized swimming pools. The organics’ recycling program is an important component of the Region’s Long Term Waste Resource Management Strategy that aims to divert 70 per cent of waste from disposal by 2016. Already, the Region has successfully increased its diversion rate from 45 per cent in 2006 to 50 per cent in 2007. Air Quality

Through the anti-idling program, 123 Turn Your Key, the City of Mississauga is hoping to reduce the amount of unnecessary emissions that contribute to smog and climate change. The program encourages residents to turn off their vehicles when stopped for more than 10 seconds and targets various idle locations such as school pickup/drop-off zones, drive-through restaurants and transit terminals. The City of Mississauga leads by example asking residents to modify their behaviour during smog alerts to reduce and eliminate diesel-powered equipment after 11:30 a.m., curtail the use of oil-based paints and solvents. In addition, the City restricts road painting and street sweeping. The Smog Information Program, educates and encourages residents and businesses to take steps to help, such as reducing energy consumption,

walking, car pooling or using public transit, refuelling cars before sunrise or after sunset and decreasing the use of gas or diesel powered machines. Alternative Transportation

Mississauga is also undertaking a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, designed to move people in a faster and more convenient way. The new “busway” is a two-lane bus-only roadway for both Mississauga Transit and GO Transit buses. It will run along Highway 403, Eastgate Parkway and Eglinton Avenue corridors. It will serve thousands of riders each day, making it faster and easier for residents and commuters to travel through

Mississauga and the GTA (Greater Toronto Area). The busway will have 12 stations at all major road crossings and in the Mississauga City Centre. At each of the stations there will be the opportunity to:

• transfer from regular transit routes using Mississauga Transit and GO Transit at major stations

• walk or cycle to and from your home • walk or cycle to and from your workplace • park and ride options at five stations


Phase one of the BRT project is expected to be completed by 2012 and is being developed in partnership with the City of Mississauga, the Province of Ontario, GO Transit and the federal government. To begin the first phase, and to best meet the current and projected ridership demands, funding partners will work together and construct the busway in two segments: between Winston Churchill Boulevard and Erin Mills Parkway on the north side of Highway 403, and between Hurontario Street (Mississauga City Centre) and Renforth Drive

alongside Eastgate Parkway and Eglinton Avenue. To connect these segments, buses will continue to use Highway 403 and Centre View Drive. The busway has been planned to have a minimal effect on the natural environment and to protect nearby residents from noise, visual, or other forms of intrusion. It is part of the City of Mississauga’s plan to attract more transit riders and to reduce our dependence on automobiles for transportation. This means reduced emissions, less paved parking, greater mobility for residents and workers and a boost to the local economy. The City of Mississauga is also working in partnership with the City of Brampton to initiate the Hurontario/Main Street Study to collect input from the public and review higher-order transit options, land use, urban design issues and opportunities along this busy and important connection corridor. Hurontario Street carries the highest transit ridership of any Mississauga Transit corridor, with 25,000 riders each day. It also links to GO Transit commuter rail stations and future BRT routes. The study is currently underway and will set the vision and focus on the development and future transit needs of this higher-order transit corridor. Wetlands

The Rattray Marsh is located in the southern part of Mississauga. As the last remaining lakefront marsh between Toronto and Burlington, the environmentally sensitive wetland is home to a variety of wildlife and plants. The City works in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation, local residents and interested groups on a number of initiatives to conserve the marsh. These include raised platform trails, which allow for wider and higher pathways designed to keep visitors on the main trails and leave the natural areas undisturbed. Mississauga’s Osprey Marsh is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through community engagement. The reconstruction of the old concrete storm channel into an attractive storm water management pond not only provides environmental benefits through the filtering of storm water contaminates, but also provides the opportunity to return fish and wildlife to the marshland. Through the addition of pedestrian pathways, extensive tree planting, benches and interpretive

signage, the Osprey Marsh has become a well-used recreational jewel for the community.


Arbor Day The City of Mississauga has been celebrating Arbor Day for more than 30 years. Each year, the City’s Urban Forestry group works closely with school children to educate them about the importance of the environment. As part of the Arbor Day celebration, the school will host an assembly in which the importance of trees and the environment is highlighted. The students creatively showcase their thoughts on respecting the environment through artwork, poems, songs and dance. The City’s Forestry unit will plant a large ceremonial tree on the school grounds and work with the school’s environmental

team or class to conduct a naturalization planting to compliment the school’s ongoing environmental efforts. Other environmentally sustainable initiatives include:

• Annual fall curb-side leaf pickup in heavily-treed areas, followed by the composting of the leaves to create rich soil to be used in the City’s parks and green spaces.

• Fallen branches and trees and dangerous and dying trees are removed and chipped and

the mulch is then used in the City’s parks and green spaces. • Employee bike share program that provides staff with a ‘greener’ option when travelling

for meetings or looking for lunch hour exercise.

• Partnership with Smart Commute Mississauga on education and events such as Bike to Work Fridays and International Car Free Day. Smart Commute is a partnership between the cities and regions of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) that encourages local employers and commuters to explore more sustainable transportation choices. The City has started an internal employee Smart Commute program with a goal to reduce the amount of vehicle trips in a year that employees make coming to work. Mississauga and our Smart Commute Initiative partners are the recipient of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) 2008 FCM-CH2M HILL Sustainable Community Award (transportation category).

• Natural Areas Survey (NAS) identifies and inventories 144 natural areas within the city

including woodlands, wetlands, creeks and streams. These areas comprise seven per cent of the total area of the city. The study also recommends strategies and guidelines for their future protection. Completed over a three-year period, the study consists of four phases: review of existing reports and databases; survey of public opinion on environmental issues; site visits to 144 remnant natural areas; and development of databases for the areas. Each year, one quadrant of the city is updated. The guiding principle of the NAS is that the maintenance of the long-term ecological integrity of remnant natural areas will generally have primacy over all other considerations, to the extent that is feasible.


The natural areas will be protected through a systems approach that emphasizes the interdependence of remnant areas. A number of the recommendations of the NAS have been incorporated into the Official Plan for the City of Mississauga and is used by City staff when making decisions regarding the proper use of these areas.

• Community awards programs such as the Friends of the Credit Awards that recognize

individuals, landowners, community groups, small businesses and corporations, municipalities and agencies who have made a significant contribution to natural resource management in the Credit Valley watershed. The awards are presented on behalf of the Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) Board of Directors and recognize first-time projects or those that have extended over multiple years and include: restoration projects, events, publications, educational programs, donations of conservation lands or easements, environmental policies or plans, or advocacy for natural heritage protection. The City of Mississauga has received two such awards the most recent being for the Watercolours Pond Solar Powered Aeration Pilot Project. The City installed a floating solar-powered aerator within the Watercolours Stormwater Management Pond near Mississauga and Lakeshore Roads. The aerator was installed during the summer season to reduce algae growth and improve oxygen levels in the pond.

• The development of Malton Greenway Trail Outdoor Activity Stations in partnership with

the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Four stations were established along the trail: Vegetation and Climate Change; Aquatic Systems; Human-Environment Interactions and Birds and Mammals. Each station has a unique environmental theme, activities and materials. The materials necessary to fully explore each station will be provided to all 12 Malton schools. A kit will also be available for public use through the Malton Stewardship team. The stewardship assistant is also available to lead guided walks, planting activities and litter cleanups.

• Environmental programs and clubs through Mississauga schools including:

o The Woodlands School Environment Club that developed an e-waste collection program and the ‘Toonies for Trees’ program that raised money for treeplanting on school grounds.

o Down-to-Earth Club at Fallingbrook Middle School participated in naturalization planting in which more than 600 students planted 500 native trees and shrubs at the Creditview Wetland.

o Rachel Sharpe, educator, created the Ministry of Education - approved course “Aquatic Ecology of the Credit Valley Watershed” that engages students with in-field studies focused on Cooksville Creek.


Natural and Heritage Conservation Since its incorporation as a town in 1968 and then as a city in 1974, Mississauga has dramatically changed from a rural farm landscape to the urban city it is today. Rich agricultural land was converted to a diverse community of industrial, residential, civic and commercial districts, each with its own quality, character and in some instances, distinct identity. What distinguishes many of these “cultural landscapes” is the degree to which the pre-settlement natural landscape, the former agricultural landscape and the

current urban landscape have been blended together to create unique and notable settings in which the residents of Mississauga live, work and play. Conserving the old and blending it with the new in a way that captures the progression of time is a story told throughout Mississauga’s communities. Cobblestone lanes, Victorian era brick buildings, a wetland sanctuary, preserved historically rich cemeteries, protected heritage properties mixed with high-density development, infill intensification, headquarters for 57 Fortune 500 companies – these varying cultural landscapes help to enrich peoples’ lives by telling a story of their city in a way that no book or film ever could. The City of Mississauga celebrates past, present and future through a variety of celebrations, programs and initiatives including: Historic Images Gallery The City of Mississauga continues to add images to its Historic Images Gallery that was launched in 2006. The Historic Images Gallery is an online database of images from the collections of the Mississauga Library System, Museums of Mississauga and the City’s Cemetery and Heritage Planning teams. Images are accompanied by interpretive text, making it an invaluable resource. Researchers from around the world utilize the gallery. It garnered the Ontario Library Association’s inaugural Archive and Presentation Achievement award.


Heritage Four Mississauga In 2008, Mississauga’s four main heritage partners launched a communications tool to promote each of their unique services. Initiated as a public relations campaign, Heritage Four Mississauga outlines the roles of Mississauga’s four main heritage partners: The Mississauga Library Systems Canadiana Room (Central Library); Heritage Advisory Committee; Heritage Mississauga and the Museums of Mississauga. Materials include posters, brochures and a website. Posters and brochures were distributed widely across Mississauga and beyond. The website includes an extensive list of local history resources. Heritage Four Mississauga is a great starting point for those interested in learning more about Mississauga’s diverse heritage.

Heritage Permits In keeping with the amended Ontario Heritage Act, the City has taken the initiative to institute a new heritage permit process. The permits will be easily tracked by staff and maintained within the City’s existing planning application system known as MAX. The new system is further assisted by the delegation of approvals from Council to staff for alterations to a heritage designated property. Heritage property owners will find this a simplified process without the delay of waiting for Council approvals. Heritage Policy The City of Mississauga has policies related to heritage conservation within its Official Plan, Sections 2.12 and 3.17. These policies relate to both built and natural heritage, as well as archaeological resources. Specific sites and areas of heritage interest are addressed in District Policies to ensure that detailed heritage attributes are noted and protected. The City also has heritage policies which prescribe criteria for additions to the City’s Heritage Inventory or register. The City recently adopted a new bylaw that allows for selected City staff to enter a property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or a property proposed for heritage designation allowing staff easier access to properly assess heritage resources leading to their conservation and protection. The City has taken part in the national program known as the Historic Places Initiative. The program records heritage designated properties from across Canada and places them into an accessible database. As this is a time and labour-intensive initiative, the City adds only a few properties each year. This year, the City is working with the Heritage Resource Centre at the University of Waterloo to add more properties.


Mississauga Heritage Advisory Committee The City of Mississauga initiated a Local Architectural Advisory Committee (LACAC) in 1977. The Council- appointed Committee has 10 citizen members and two City Councillors. Now known as the Heritage Advisory Committee, its mandate is to advise Council on all matters related to the protection and conservation of the city’s varied heritage resources in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Major achievements include:

• the establishment of Ontario’s first heritage conservation district, Meadowvale Village Heritage Conservation District (1980)

• the creation of an extensive electronic data base accessible to the public via the Internet

• the implementation of the largest cultural landscape inventory in the country • the establishment of the Old Port Credit Heritage Conservation District (2004)

The Heritage Advisory Committee is assisted by two full-time heritage planning staff, the Community Services Department, as well as assistance from the City Clerk’s Office and mapping assistance from the Transportation & Works and the Planning & Building Departments. Heritage Tree Subcommittee A subcommittee of the Heritage Advisory Committee was appointed in January 2007 with a mandate to assess the potential of a Mississauga Heritage Tree Program. The Heritage Tree subcommittee sought interested individuals to help with the task and together spent more than 600 volunteer hours in compiling and writing a report that was presented to Mississauga’s City Council during General Committee in February 2008. The partnership between volunteers and City of Mississauga staff is expected to provide a well-researched and planned approach to recognizing our natural heritage resources. Natural Heritage Wetland

Creditview Wetland is Mississauga’s most unique natural heritage feature. Located in the northwest part of the city, it is both a naturally occurring wetland system and an excellent example of natural habitat in an urban setting. It is situated at the northern end of a shallow, north-south oriented tear shaped depression created more than 12,000 years ago at the time of the glacial retreat. The wetland is fed by surface water from an area that spans

11 hectares. The City of Mississauga has developed the Creditview Wetland Conservation Plan to ensure it continues to sustain many of its ecological functions. To meet the recommendations in the plan of increasing awareness of the


wetland’s unique ecological features and sensitivities and encouraging long-term stewardship of the site, City staff has worked closely with the neighbouring school to implement a stewardship and naturalization program. In early 2008, the stewardship group expanded to include another school and adult community members who are actively seeking to care for the health of the wetland. A viewing deck has been created, complete with wetland educational panels. Cultural Landscapes

A cultural landscape can be defined as a setting that has enhanced a community’s vibrancy, aesthetic quality, distinctiveness, sense of history or sense of place. A cultural landscape may be a single property or a collection of properties such as a local streetscape or a river corridor. The City of Mississauga, working in partnership with residents and heritage organizations, developed an extensive Cultural Landscape Inventory to identify properties and cultural landscapes that warrant recognition, protection and management.

The City of Mississauga is the first municipality to implement a Cultural Landscape Inventory. There are approximately 60 cultural landscapes identified that comprise hundreds of properties and landscape features. There are approximately 300 designated properties in Mississauga, 170 of these form part of the City’s two heritage conservation districts – Meadowvale Village and Old Port Credit Village. Meadowvale Village was the province’s first heritage conservation district. Cemeteries

Mississauga has many historic cemeteries that are a reflection of the past. The Kindree Cemetery, a small, once rural family cemetery located on Derry Road West near the Tenth Line, demonstrates successfully that community interest makes a difference. A single grave marker led the City to believe there were only seven burials in this small cemetery. Once the City conducted an archaeological investigation to determine the extent of the cemetery, it was found that there were over 35 internments. The local community from school children to resident groups took great interest in seeing this small cemetery revived and dedicated

to the pioneer families who are buried at the site. Today the site has been developed and noted as a green and open space within the surrounding developed community. It is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for its historical significance.


The City provided heritage designation to all of its pioneer cemeteries. The eight small cemeteries, often referred to as abandoned cemeteries, are testaments to the many families that settled in the Mississauga area throughout the early and mid portions of the 19th century. The cemeteries are cared for and maintained by the City Recreation & Parks staff. Thanks to the partnership and volunteer efforts of local community groups, visitors can take a self-guided historical walking tour of the Streetsville Memorial Cemetery. St. Andrews Cemetery combines aesthetic beauty, with historical charm. These cemeteries offer aesthetic beauty and numerous stories of the past. Each trip is like taking a step back in time and will leave you with a sense of peace and knowledge. Celebrating Arts, Culture and Heritage The recommendation of the Mississauga Arts Review Taskforce (2005) resulted in the creation of the Office of the Arts and Culture. The Office will develop the City’s first Arts Plan and endeavours to bring the best experience of art and culture to the residents of Mississauga. The Office is responsible for the policy and program development and delivery of services in art and culture and positions itself on the cusp of arts, culture, technology, architecture and urban design. It will play an integral and strategic role in the plan for Our Future Mississauga initiative. The Office will focus on sustaining the sector, embracing the role of technology, creating partnerships with industry, research and education to forge innovative program initiatives. It will also focus on youth, diversity, consolidation of community arts, professional arts and public art. This will provide a world class experience in arts and culture. The Office has a dynamic team whose staff, volunteers and partners are committed to working together to make Mississauga a desirable art and culture destination. A number of celebrations take place throughout the City which celebrate Mississauga and its rich past including: My Mississauga

‘My Mississauga’ is a celebration of the things that make us proud to call Mississauga home. Whether it's people, places or memories, we define our City's greatness in our own unique way. During the summer months, Mississauga’s Civic Square is transformed into an outdoor community centre alive with activities and events designed to attract more people to the City’s downtown core. A mix of flagship events such as Canada Day and more passive activities such as yoga, movie nights and theatre in the park ensures

that ‘My Mississauga’ offers residents a unique and exciting blend of entertainment.


Doors Open The City has been taking part in the Doors Open program, a celebration that provides residents and visitors with the opportunity to experience the hidden treasures of Mississauga’s heritage and to celebrate the history and diversity of our public, private and commercial spaces. It was initiated by the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2002. In prior years, the Mississauga Heritage Foundation had taken the lead in organizing this event. This is the third year the City is leading the event, which will focus on the Meadowvale area. Doors Open will take place in September in co-

operation with the Mississauga Heritage Foundation, local resident associations, businesses and individuals. It is expected that thousands of people will visit the Meadowvale area on this festive occasion to celebrate the rich, natural and built heritage. Carrassauga

Mississauga’s Carassauga celebration is one of Ontario's largest multicultural festivals and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Festivals & Events in Ontario by FEO (Festival and Events in Ontario). This unique cultural event provides the opportunity to span the globe, without leaving the city. Residents can enjoy the sights, sounds and flavours of more than 40 countries as each pavilion showcases their country of origin through food, music, art, dance, fashion, historical displays and games. The event also aims to promote

understanding, respect and co-operation among all Canadians of different heritage. Heritage Celebrations This year, two of Mississauga’s historic villages celebrated significant milestones – Clarkson Village celebrated their 200th anniversary and the Village of Streetsville celebrated their 150th anniversary. The community events were organized and hosted through the villages’ Business Improvement Areas along with the support of numerous volunteers. The City of Mississauga lent support to the events through staff participation and promotional outreach. The events celebrated the rich history of the areas and brought each community together with an outpouring of pride and enthusiasm.


The City of Mississauga also embraces its natural and cultural heritage through: • Establishment of an arts grant program through the Office of the Arts and Culture. The

grant program provides financial support for incorporated, not-for-profit community and professional arts, culture and heritage organizations based in Mississauga. Designed to support a range of arts, culture and heritage activities in the City, there are three categories of assistance available: operating grants, project grants and capital grants. Mississauga City Council approved the recommendation from the Office of the Arts and Culture to provide $870,869 from the grant program, plus $36,130 in Capital Building Grants to Mississauga arts, culture and heritage organizations in 2008.

• Establishment of a new program to support community cultural festivals and

celebrations. The Community Cultural Festivals and Celebrations Grant Program was approved by City Council in January and 15 groups were awarded a total amount of $140,145 in grants.

• Maintenance of the heritage register that lists numerous designated and listed

properties. • Ongoing monitoring by Community Services Heritage staff of properties on the Heritage

Registrar to ensure changes are sympathetic to each property’s heritage attributes, including built heritage, cultural landscapes and heritage conservation districts.

• Offering a Designated Heritage Property

Grant to approximately 270 designated properties within the city. The funding for this project was put into an operating budget of $75,000 per year in the Community Services Department. The designated property grant owners are eligible for a matching grant, with a maximum grant of up to $5,000 annually. In 2007, the City approved 11 successful grant applications and 14 in 2008.


• Professor Barbara Murck, Ph.D., Environmental Studies, has co-ordinated a fourth year independent study program for university students to be supervised by City staff. The students work a full school year on a particular project, which in the end provides the City with a valuable resource and the student with a course requirement and hands-on work experience. Two heritage-related projects have been completed to date: A Cultural and Heritage Resource Inventory: The Pinchin Property/Riviere Fruit Farm and Mississauga Garden Park: Supplementary Interpretation.

• Creation of a new committee to oversee the operations of both the Bradley Museum and

Benares Historic House. The Museums of Mississauga Advisory Committee (MOMAC) replaced the Bradley Museum and Benares Historic House advisory boards. The goal of MOMAC is to enhance history and heritage in Mississauga through leadership, vision, advocacy and defining goals. The Committee advises Council on policy issues, provides guidance on significant artefacts donations and ensures all objectives are being met.

• Shedding light on the past – that’s what the Museums of Mississauga are all about.

Consisting of two historic houses, Bradley Museum and Benares Historic House, the museums enable you to step back into the past and capture a taste of life in the early 19th and early 20th centuries.

Mississauga in Bloom – Communities in Bloom

21

Urban Forestry Streets lined with 250,000 trees, old growth forests, woodlands, greenbelts, parks and other natural areas make up the city’s urban forest. All municipally owned trees contribute to an important part of our urban landscape while providing a wide-variety of social, community, economic and environmental benefits. The Urban Forestry section is comprised of four areas that include: Operations, Woodland Management, Planning and Protection and Boulevards/Tree Planting. All trees located on municipally-owned property are protected by a bylaw, with the Urban Forestry section responsible for the

planting, protection, preservation, maintenance and removal of these trees. Unit responsibilities include street and park tree planting, management of woodlands, the Private Tree Bylaw, Site Plan, public utilities, issues relating to trees, boulevard maintenance and weed inspections. Pest Management

The City of Mississauga is extremely proud of its management of the infestation of the gypsy moth, it faced in 2006 and 2007. The infestations threatened the sustainability of thousands of trees on both public and private property. Estimates of potential tree loss on City property totalled approximately 10,000 trees, equating to a removal cost of approximately $5 million. Staff inspections of impacted areas revealed individual trees on both public and private property were covered with an average of 800

egg masses, with some trees having as many as 1,500. For more than 10 years, the City’s forestry unit worked closely with resident associations and individual residents implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures. The City of Mississauga believes the best way to manage pests is to place an emphasis on prevention and to look at all available information and consider all options before deciding on a management strategy. IPM controls typically rely on effective, alternative approaches to pesticides or chemicals. These prevention practices, however, were ineffective against the significant infestation of gypsy moth caterpillars. The increase in population levels was a result of environmental conditions that altered the gypsy moth’s typical pattern and saw the female moths laying eggs in tree canopies 50 to 100 feet off the ground, making it difficult to conduct typical IPM controls. Conducting an aerial spray using the bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki (Btk) was identified as the City’s only option following staff evaluations of the crisis situation and a review


22

by an independent forestry consulting company, BioForest Technologies Inc., whose specialties are forest surveys and protection and forest management. With cities across the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and Canada monitoring the issue, Mississauga staff worked within a tight time frame to develop an issues management communication strategy and implement an effective consultation and communications program. Excellence can be defined in public administration by how well citizens are engaged and whether they feel they can trust their government to do the right thing. In the case of the Gypsy Moth Control Program, success can be measured by the praise the City received from individual residents and ratepayer groups and the numerous awards received by regulatory agencies such as Transport Canada and the Ministry of the Environment, who now have Mississauga’s case as a model for other municipalities to follow. Encroachment

Mississauga has an Encroachment bylaw in place but the work does not stop there. Two encroachment inspectors are dedicated to ensuring compliance with the bylaw and to the education of residents and landowners regarding the seriousness of the issue. The Urban Forestry section has the lead role in dealing with encroachments on City owned parkland, greenbelts and woodlots, but relies heavily on the support of multiple City units to deal proactively with infractions of the bylaw. Encroachment on public land causes loss of natural areas, concern for public safety and environmental damage.

Other urban forestry initiatives include:

• Trees on private property make up more than three quarters of Mississauga’s Urban Forest. With this in mind, the City passed a Private Tree bylaw regulating the removal of trees on private property. The by-law states that property owners require a permit to remove five or more trees that are 15 centimetres (6 inches) in diameter or larger from their private property in a calendar year. That means residents can remove four trees of any size from January to December.

• All tree service requests from residents are recorded in an inspection and work order

management system, and are investigated by a forestry inspector. The forestry inspector determines whether the tree in question is City or privately owned. If the tree is located on City property, the forestry inspector will make a recommendation of work to ensure that the residents' requests are dealt with and that the health and future development of the tree is considered. The forestry inspector will leave a tree service notice informing the resident of the ownership of the tree and of any work to be undertaken by the Forestry Operations’ staff. All work orders are issued on a priority basis based on the health, structure, location and potential hazards of the tree in question.


23

Each work order is completed by a Forestry Operations crew, fulfilling the recommendations made by the forestry inspector as per their inspection. Generally, only trees that are dead, in severe decline or structurally hazardous are considered for removal. Tree maintenance issues that may be recommended by one of the forestry inspectors include: pruning, removal of low branches, reduction of surface roots, fertilization, tree removal, stumping and emergency response to tree damage caused by storms, accidents and vandalism.

• The Street Tree Planting section is responsible for the planting of trees on the City road

allowance and in new subdivisions, as well as replacement trees in older established neighbourhoods. The section plants 5,000 to 7,000 calliper trees (balled and burlapped) per year. Deciduous trees range from 50 to 60 millimetres in trunk diameter and coniferous are approximately 2 metres in height. The program is also involved with small tree maintenance during the warranty period. This involves watering, mulching, fertilizing and the timely stake and collar removal to avoid unnecessary mortality. The section receives approximately 4,000 calls per year concerning street tree planting and small tree health concerns.

• The PUCC (Public Utilities Co-ordinating Committee) Inspector liaises with public utilities, the Region of Peel and the Transportation and Works Department on City road reconstruction projects. The Inspector is responsible for monitoring these agencies and their contractors to ensure they are complying with Urban Forestry guidelines in the protection of street trees. The inspector is also responsible for ensuring that any preventative maintenance needs are carried out on trees prior to the initiation of road work projects.

• The Urban Forestry Management Plan defines and provides strategic direction on how

Mississauga will manage its urban forest now, as well as in the coming years.


24

Community Partnerships The City of Mississauga has a full-time volunteer co-ordinator and a team of marketing and sponsorship staff who work with residents, businesses and community groups to engage them in a number of partnership initiatives, programs and activities. Healthy City Initiatives

The Healthy City Stewardship Centre (HCSC) is aimed at improving the health of the people of Mississauga. The Plan received international acclaim after it won top honours at the World Leadership Awards. Mississauga's Mayor Hazel McCallion accepted the World Leadership Award in London, England on behalf of the City of Mississauga and the Healthy City Stewardship Centre (HCSC), which she founded. The award recognizes the efforts of the HCSC in creating the Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan, a nine-goal action plan aimed at improving the physical, environmental and social health of

the people of Mississauga. The plan is a collaboration between the City of Mississauga and the University of Toronto at Mississauga and key organizations in the city. They came together to collectively work toward improvements in local health. Working together, these organizations developed the Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan that focuses on nine priority local health issues, which the member organizations will individually, and collectively, work toward. The Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan is a framework for action toward the betterment of health for the people of Mississauga. It charts a course for residents, businesses and agencies to collectively and proactively work toward positively affecting the well-being of those who live and work in Mississauga. Not only is individual physical health discussed in the Plan, but social and environmental health as well. The plan was developed by the member organizations of the Healthy City Stewardship Centre (HCSC). The HCSC organizations all have different mandates for various local health issues. The member organizations have come together to develop the Healthy Mississauga 2010 Plan because they recognize that there will be greater benefits achieved by collaboration. The principal vision of the Stewardship Centre is: “Mississauga will be a Healthy City of people with optimal physical, mental and spiritual health.”

The City of Mississauga is working in partnership with a number of organizations to implement the Mississauga Community Action Plan 2010. A group of representatives from a wide range of sectors met, researched, discussed, developed and created the Mississauga Community Action Plan. Roundtable members that represented a wide variety of sectors were invited: health and wellness, community recreation, education and school boards, children and youth, seniors, families, municipalities, libraries,

people with physical and/or developmental disabilities, police services, faith, new comers to Canada, ethnically diverse communities, visible minorities and multicultural services, media and the private sector. The goal for Mississauga’s Community Action Plan is to bring community stakeholders together to work towards a more active Mississauga. The focus of the plan is to increase physical activity to enable and support everyone in Mississauga to become more active everyday. This will ensure a happy, active and healthy lifestyle.


25

Environmental Protection and Preservation Riverwood is a unique destination site that is owned, managed and programmed in a partnership with the City of Mississauga, Credit Valley Conservation, Mississauga Garden Council and Visual Arts Mississauga. The site offers spectacular views of flora and fauna and enjoyable walking trails. Visitors can enjoy the Culham Trail or the new scenic footpath located on the eastern valley slope. The Culham Trail follows the natural meander of

the Credit River. The new scenic footpath follows an old pioneer trail. Known for its ecological diversity and rich history, Riverwood is divided into four terraces - MacEwan, Chappell, Bird, Zaichuk – all named after the last property owner, plus the Credit River floodplain. Following the City’s Strategic Plan and the vision statement of “being environmentally responsible,” the City’s future planning and development of Riverwood will see the creation of a variety of gardens on the four terraces, with 40 hectares (100 acres) being preserved as natural areas for use and enjoyment by the community now and for future generations.

The City of Mississauga works with the Action Sports Coalition (ASC) to develop skateboard parks and BMX bike parks. This partnership allows the City to effectively understand and develop sites that meet the specific needs of the users. The facilities provide a place for individuals to enjoy these sports while reducing the impact and damage on trails and in woodlands by unsanctioned use. The ASC is a non-profit voluntary organization of skateboarders, BMXers

and free riders, who are united in one common goal: to create and/or provide access to facilities in which individuals can participate in their respective sports. ASC is an affiliated group with the City of Mississauga and their goals are to give the "action sport" community a collective voice. This community has shown a need for an organized voice. Mississauga’s implementation of leash-free zones has been extremely successful and is now a model that many other municipalities use. The success in Mississauga is due to the numerous volunteer groups that take on the task of the day-to-day operations and maintenance of the sites. Leash-Free Mississauga, an affiliated volunteer group with the City of Mississauga, is an umbrella organization which represents all leash-free locations in Mississauga. The organization's goal is to provide areas where you can legally walk your dog off-leash. Each zone is defined by a fenced-in area and has a group of organized volunteers overseeing the day-to-day operations. Leash-free zones were originally developed in 1996 as a pilot project between the City of Mississauga and Leash-Free Mississauga. All costs associated with the set-up, maintenance and operation of these zones is the responsibility of Leash-Free Mississauga.


26

EcoSource Mississauga is a strong community partner with the City of Mississauga. An innovative environmental education organization serving youth, adults and families, EcoSource is dedicated to fostering environmental sustainability through public education about waste reduction and other environmental issues of concern to local residents. Programs and services include educational programs for elementary schools and youth groups; volunteer opportunities; community workshops and presentations on environmental issues; and educational

displays. The Peel Environmental Youth Alliance (PEYA) is under the umbrella organization of EcoSource Mississauga. PEYA is an action-oriented network of students in the Peel Region that are concerned about environmental issues and are determined to make positive changes. Heritage The following heritage organizations work closely with the City to heighten awareness of our heritage resources and provide local services. Mississauga Heritage Foundation (MHF)

The Mississauga Heritage Foundation was founded in 1960 as a group of individuals committed to saving the Bradley House (now a City-owned community museum) from demolition. The house was moved onto municipal lands and continues as a City-operated community museum today. The MHF is a not-for-profit organization which specializes in providing resources to the public related to local history, research and interpretation of

Mississauga’s heritage. The MHF is a major contributor and partner with the City, with a close relationship to the Heritage Advisory Committee. Together they provide research and recommendations toward the conservation of built heritage resources. The MHF celebrates Heritage Week each year in February. A Heritage Showcase with approximately 25 vendors is placed in Square One Shopping Centre providing residents with the opportunity to learn more about Mississauga’s heritage. The MHF has provided hours of research time and skills in assisting the City install interpretive exhibits in some of our more historic park locations and numerous trails throughout the city. The following interpretive exhibits have been produced with the research assistance of the MHF:

• Memorial Park • St. Lawrence Park • Brick Yard Park • Barbertown Bridge • Dunn Park

The City supports the MHF with its operational costs by means of a corporate grant; the remaining 50 per cent is raised through fundraising efforts of the MHF.


27

Streetsville Historical Society (SHS) The Streetsville Historical Society is a local historical group, consisting entirely of volunteers who have committed time to documenting and studying local history. The Society meets four times a year and contributes historical displays and historic celebrations such as the annual Heritage Showcase. The Society maintains an excellent archive of local documents and photographs to record the rich local history. Mississauga South Historical Society (MSHS) The Mississauga South Historical Society is a local historical interest group that focuses its study on the Port Credit, Lakeview and Clarkson areas, each relating to Mississauga’s waterfront. The Society is volunteer based with regular meetings and guest speakers throughout the year. The Society has collected many historic photographs of the area, most of which have been transferred to the Canadiana Room, Mississauga Library System. Port Credit Village Project (PCVP) The Port Credit Village Project is a local not-for-profit organization, operated on a volunteer basis. Its mandate is to enhance the distinctive character of the Port Credit Village community. The four main working groups are Circles-Greening, Heritage, Installation Art, and Single Events/New Ideas. It is their goal to bring awareness to the community through interest in the improvement of public spaces, art and greening of the area. The Canadiana Room, Mississauga Library System The Canadiana Room has an extensive collection of old and rare materials dealing with the history of Mississauga and Peel County. The collection is available for in-library use only and includes scrapbooks, microfilm, local archives, maps, and a large collection of photographs. This important resource is essential to local historical researchers and City staff who benefit from the fine collection. The Canadiana Room also houses the extensive collection of artifacts from Mississauga’s sister city Kariya, Japan.


28

The City of Mississauga has three affiliated horticultural groups that promote gardening and the beautification of the city. Each group is located in a different section of the city and works under the Ontario Agriculture and Horticulture Act. Cloverleaf Garden Club

The Cloverleaf Garden Club is a local garden club, consisting entirely of volunteers who are dedicated to spreading the knowledge of horticulture through meetings, lectures and workshops. Involved in a number of community efforts the club holds exhibitions of flowers, vegetables and decorative arrangements. Working closely with the Museums of Mississauga, the club maintains all the flower beds and planters at Benares and Bradley Musuems. Volunteer members work with other horticulture and environmental organizations and schools to encourage the beautification of home and public

grounds and to stimulate the interest of gardening and the environment, with children and youth. Credit Valley Horticultural Society

The Credit Valley Horticultural Society is comprised of local volunteers that are very active in a number of community initiatives. The Society performs numerous litter clean-ups along the society’s adopted Sawmill Valley Trail. The group is also involved in community beautification and naturalization projects like the naturalization plantings in Springbank Meadows Park and the maintenance of the paediatric and oncology gardens at Credit Valley Hospital. Credit Valley Horticultural Society works in partnership with a number of organizations and community groups to enhance the natural

beauty of Mississauga and preserve our natural environmental heritage. Streetsville Horticultural Society

The Streetsville Horticultural Society focuses on sharing horticultural knowledge and environmental awareness among its local volunteer members and the community. The Society is involved in a variety of community environmental and beautification initiatives. They have adopted Rotary Park and hold numerous litter clean-ups. Volunteers are also responsible for maintaining the garden beds in Rotary Park and Chelsea Park. The Streetsville Horticultural Society hosts a number of gardening workshops and events that are open to members and the public.


29

Other important community partnerships include:

• Parks Community Stewardship Program, established to provide volunteers the opportunity to enhance City parks and open spaces and make a personal contribution to improving the quality of life in Mississauga. Environmentally conscious groups or individuals agree to participate in stewardship activities within a park or a portion of a park and provide specific enhancements or regular clean ups over an agreed period of time.

• The Malton Environmental Stewardship Project (MESP) engages Malton residents,

community groups, schools and businesses in the revitalization of Mimico Creek. Project partners include the City of Mississauga, Toronto and Region Conservation and the Mississauga Airport Rotary Club. Activities organized by the team include: planting native trees and shrubs, installing bird boxes and other habitat structures, hosting educational workshops and community events.

• A partnership between the Erindale Little League Hard Ball Association and the City of

Mississauga has the City providing maintenance materials such as fertilizer, seed, broadcast spreader, garbage bags and the association performing the actual maintenance of the heavily used hard ball diamond.

• Annual clean-ups and naturalization projects that include participation from community

partners Scouts Canada, Girl Guides of Canada, Peel District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Rotary and Lions Clubs, Credit Valley Hospital and corporate partners Pratt and Whitney, Deloitte Touche and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).


30

Landscaped Areas / Floral Displays / Turf and Ground Covers Innovative, varied, functional and aesthetically pleasing landscapes, floral displays, turf and ground covers can be found throughout Mississauga – with pristine lawns of Mississauga’s largest manufacturers in the north to the spectacular colourful garden displays along Mississauga’s waterfront in the south. Mississauga’s unique existing landscape features and native plant species are incorporated into new park, garden and open space design plans and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and Plant Health Care practices are used to maintain them.

Healthy Practices The City of Mississauga is recognized as a leader in our approach to plant health care and IPM practices. Since 1990, the City has implemented healthy plant practices and management controls that use alternative methods to promote healthy plants, trees, grass and turf and to reduce weed and pest populations. The City of Mississauga is committed to using the healthiest approach possible. Neighbourhood and general park areas are ‘pesticide free’ areas; Our goal is to preserve the environment for future generations and to promote the City’s healthy plant care and IPM practices to residents, businesses, institutions and educational facilities. The City has provided comments and input into the development of the Ontario Pesticide Legislation. Riverwood Garden Development

Developing a garden park for the City of Mississauga is a vision that began more than 20 years ago. That vision is now becoming a reality as a result of the development of the master plan for the site. The 60 hectare Riverwood site is located in the heart of Mississauga and is rich in history and contains a unique mixture of woodlands, meadows and valley slopes. Outlined in the plan is the development of numerous gardens to be constructed in stages in partnership with Credit Valley Conservation and various community partners. The gardens are being designed to enhance the natural

setting of the site while preserving its ecological sensitivity. The gardens will be implemented in phases and on the existing terraces of the site. Detailed garden design work is in full swing and the construction of gardens on the MacEwan Terrace is set to begin in 2009.


31

The Old Britannia Schoolhouse Heritage Garden The gardens at The Old Britannia Schoolhouse are unique Victorian heritage cottage gardens which are planted and maintained by the garden committee of The Friends of the Schoolhouse. Members of the committee are community volunteers including students who earn volunteer credits towards their high school diploma. Every effort is made to plant native and indigenous plants or plants which would have been included in household gardens in the Victorian era. In addition to the Victorian cottage garden there is a meadow

garden, a shade garden, and a vegetable garden. The vegetable garden replicates the gardens that would have been planted by students in the late 1800s and early 1900s as part of the school curriculum. All costs of the gardens are funded through donations. These gardens are unique and demonstrate what can be done to preserve and showcase native and indigenous plants and to maintain beautiful gardens organically. No chemical herbicides or pesticides are used and sheep manure and mulch are the only fertilizers. Other initiatives and programs include:

• Sports fields are maintained with a nine-week cutting schedule and grass is maintained at a height of 2.5 inches. Turf management practices include aeration, fertilization, top dressing, overseeding (twice a season - spring and fall) and irrigation.

• Mississauga has two levels of sports fields to maintain: community fields and major

sports fields. The community fields are used by children and youth and the major sports fields are used by adults and for competitive play.

• Parks are maintained with a 10-day turf cutting schedule and grass is maintained at a

height of 3 inches. Turf management practices include aeration, fertilization, top dressing, overseeding (twice a season – spring and fall) and irrigation. Partnerships have been developed with schools to monitor and maintain schoolyards during the summer months.


32

• Areas that are difficult or dangerous to cut and maintain as a result of significant slopes, banks, erosion impacts; areas requiring restoration; or areas where there is an opportunity to extend woodlands and forests, provide noise reduction or privacy screening are evaluated and implemented into the City’s Naturalization Program and managed using evaluation of survival and growth rates, mulching and ongoing planting resulting in less emissions being used to maintain a fine cut and provides habitat for wildlife and offers a varied landscape.

• Mulch kits are used on grass cutting machines in the fall during turf cuts to

simultaneously cut the grass and mulch leaves providing additional natural fertilization for the grass.

• The majority of annual/perennial beds are equipped with irrigation systems providing a

deeper watering for the plants and reducing the amount of water run off as a result of a water tank. Many of the irrigation systems are also equipped with rain sensors to reduce the amount of unnecessary watering.

• Floral displays are present throughout Mississauga, specifically in our premier parks and

along main roadways around the City Centre. Each of the displays are carefully planned to ensure spring-to-fall blooming and that plant material matches soil conditions and irrigation limitations. In addition to the City’s floral displays, Mississauga’s villages of Port Credit and Streetsville come alive with colour in the form of hanging baskets, flower beds and boxes along the village streets.

A special thank you to the following individuals and groups for participating in the 2008 Mississauga in Bloom tour.

Johnny Bower

Boys and Girls Club of Peel

Clarkson BIA

Cloverleaf Garden Group

Community Environment Alliance

Community Foundation of Mississauga

Credit Valley Conservation

Credit Valley Hospital

Credit Valley Horticultural Society

Creditview Wetland Stewardship Committee

Ecosource

Evergreen

Friends of the Old Britannia Schoolhouse

Friends of the Museum

Heritage Advisory Committee

Barbara & Bernard Hensell

Leash-Free Mississauga

Lisgar Residents Association

Kay Matthews

Malton Environmental Stewardship Program

Dr. Tom Mcilwraith

Mississauga Garden Council

Mississauga Heritage Foundation

Mississauga Master Gardeners

Mississauga Model Flying Group

Mississauga News

Museums of Mississauga Advisory Committee

The Peel Heritage Complex

Peel Youth Environmental Association

Port Credit BIA Beautification Committee

Rattray Marsh Protection Association

Region of Peel

Rhododendron Garden Stewardship Committee

Smart Commute Mississauga

St. Hillary’s Church

St. Lawrence Cement, Mississauga Plant

Streetsville BIA

Streetsville Horticultural Society

Toronto Regional Conservation Authority

UTM

Visual Arts Mississauga

Special Thanks to the Delta Meadowvale, Parks, Open Space and Facility Garden Contest Judges- Pam Ball, Valerie Brink, Dianne Brister, June Ciaschini, Barbara Clarke, Therese Evans, Liz Freeman, Lynda Kudrewatych, Rose Mair, Sheena McColl, Marian Murphy, Dawn Pollard, Mary Stephenson, Vello Tou, Sirje Tou, Hella Tuvikene and all the residents who nominated their gardens.

Table of Contents - Mississaugaareas and lush green parks, gardens and open spaces. Mississauga has...

Documents

Transcript of Table of Contents - Mississaugaareas and lush green parks, gardens and open spaces. Mississauga has...