Past Events

The State of Science on
Forest Carbon Management in Canada

On December 1-2, 2008 in Toronto, Pollution Probe held a two-day national workshop on The State of Science on Forest Carbon Management in Canada. The objective of the workshop was to explore the state of science with respect to carbon flows in forest ecosystems in Canada as well as the relationship between current scientific knowledge and the policy and management options for forest carbon management.

Click here for the Agenda with links to speaker presentations.

Click here for the Participant's List.

Pollution Probe's Annual Gala Dinner
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008

This year's theme, The Thunderstorm, addresses water, energy and climate change. The Gala will took place on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 in the Concert Hall of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

We are honoured that Gordon Nixon, President & CEO of RBC, offered opening remarks. Click here to view his speech.

For more information regarding Pollution Probe's Annual Galas, please contact Patty Chilton by email or phone 416-926-1907 ext. 232. 

The Rising Price of Fuel  
What will it Mean for Consumers, the Auto Industry and the Environment?

Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Delta Chelsea Hotel, Rossetti Room
33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto, Ontario
7:00–9:00 p.m.

Gas prices are skyrocketing. In the past year, gas prices have increased by more than a third. At the same time, sales of large, gas guzzling vehicles are plummeting. SUV sales are 60 per cent what they were last fall. The rapid rise of gas prices has sparked much speculation on what it will mean for consumers, automakers, and the environment.

Click here for the evening's Agenda with links to speaker presentations.

Click here for the evening's Invitation.

National Conference on Low Carbon Fuel Standards for Canada

On June 3-4, 2008 in Toronto, Pollution Probe held a two-day National Conference on Low Carbon Fuel Standards for Canada. The objective of the conference was to educate and inform participants, and to identify and discuss key issues and implications related to designing and implementing an effective and efficient low carbon fuel standard in a Canadian context.

Click here for the Agenda with links to speaker presentations.

Click here for the Participant's List.

Click here for the Conference Proceedings.

The National Conference on Air Issues and the Movement of Commercial Goods and Freight
March 5-6, 2008
Renaissance Toronto Airport Hotel and Conference Centre

Pollution Probe, in association with federal and provincial departments and key transportation stakeholders, hosted this two day conference. The objective was to communicate to carriers and shippers the government programs and initiatives that will help them use less fuel, save money and reduce emissions contributing to climate change and air pollution, in addition to showcasing best practices across different transportation modes.

Click here for the Meeting Agenda (includes links to the speaker presentations).

Systems for Identifying and Labelling Light-Duty Vehicles according to Fuel Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance

On January 23^rd, 2008 in Toronto Pollution Probe hosted a one-day workshop on Systems for Identifying and Labelling Light-Duty Vehicles according to Fuel Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Performance. The objective of the workshop was to scope systems of identifying and labelling light-duty vehicles by their fuel efficiency and emissions performance, and to discuss issues related to the development, implementation and communication of such systems. This event was the third in Pollution Probe’s Motor Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Project, building upon past workshops on Complementary Measures and Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards.

Click here for the Meeting Agenda (includes links to the speaker presentations).
Click here for the Meeting Participant List

Pollution Probe's Annual Gala Dinner
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

This year's theme, The Transportation Affair, could not have been more timely with the Provincial government committing 11.5 billion dollars to public transit in the GTA. The choices Canadians make in moving people, goods and services have critical impacts on air quality, climate change and our economy and quality of life.

Brian Jean, Parliamentary Secretary to Hon. Lawrence Cannon, Federal Minister of Transport, offered opening remarks at this year's Annual Gala Dinner. Rob MacIsaac, Chair of the Greater Toronto Transportation Authority, was our MC and lead rock band Slow Monday to wrap up the special evening at the Fairmont Royal York.

For more information regarding Pollution Probe's Annual Galas, please contact Patty Chilton by email or phone 416-926-1907 ext. 232. 

"Climate Change – End of Civilization
or Economic Renaissance?"

Canadian Club of Halton Peel Dinner
Thursday, November 15 – Oakville Conference Centre

Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Policy: A Meeting of US and Canadian ENGOs

Pollution Probe and the Ecology Action Centre hosted a two-day meeting of environmental non-government organizations on the topic of light-duty vehicle fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions policy in North America. The meeting's focus was on the exchange of information and updates on light-duty vehicle fuel efficiency and GHG emissions policy, to identify common goals and approaches, and to discuss ways to coordinate our efforts. This event builds upon similar meetings of ENGOs at White Point, Nova Scotia (2004) and Ottawa (2005).

Click here for the Meeting Agenda
Click here for the Meeting Participant List

Expert Meeting on Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards for Canada

On March 14, 2007 in Toronto, Pollution Probe convened a meeting of top experts and researchers on vehicle technology and fuel efficiency policy. The objectives of the meeting were to identify the most effective options for structuring a fuel efficiency standard for Canada, the main areas of research required for the development of a standard, and the complementary measures that round out Canada's policies on reducing overall vehicle fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Click here for the Meeting Minutes
Click here for the Meeting Agenda (includes links to the speaker presentations).

Towards a Vision and Strategy for
Water Management in Canada

Workshop #1 – February 6-7, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba: Water Policy in Canada: What Do We Want to Achieve and What Needs to Be Done.

Click here for the Agenda to Workshop #1 (includes links to speaker presentations).

Workshop #2 - March 15-16, 2006, Lethbridge, Alberta: Future Challenges to Sustainable Water Policy.

Click here for the Agenda to Workshop #2 (includes links to speaker presentations).

Workshop #3 - April 26-27, 2006, Wolfville, Nova Scotia: Policy Gaps and Barriers to Action.

Click here for the Agenda to Workshop #3 (includes links to speaker presentations).
 

Workshop #4 - June 8-9, 2006, Guelph, Ontario: Empowering Watershed Management

Click here for the Agenda to Workshop #4 (includes links to speaker presentations).
 

Workshop #5 - October 4-5, 2006, Moncton New Brunswick: Developing a New Vision and Strategy for Sustainable Water Policy in Canada

Click here for the Agenda to Workshop #5 (includes links to speaker presentations).
 

The Great Lakes: An Agenda for the Next Decade

A Series of Evening Public Forums on the Future of the Great Lakes

Pollution Probe and the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario hosted a series of evening public forums to discuss the future of the Great Lakes.

The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario, Gord Miller,  provided brief comments on Great Lakes issues, and Pollution Probe’s Water Programme Director, Rick Findlay discussed what a new vision for the Great Lakes could look like. These presentations were followed by an opportunity for members of the public in attendance to ask questions and input their comments and ideas on the future of the Great Lakes.

These events took place in five centres across Ontario:

For a copy of the Great Lakes Futures Roundtable Vision and Strategy click here.

Click here to access the Great Lakes Roundtables Backgrounder.

Pollution Probe's Annual Gala Dinner
November 21st, 2006

Held on Tuesday, November 21st at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Pollution Probe's Annual Gala Dinner was enjoyed by over 450 leading members of the corporate, government and scientific communities. In keeping with this year's theme "Hot, Hot, Hot? The Climate Change Ball" we were pleased to have the Honourable Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, give opening remarks on the imperatives and challenges of reducing the impact of human activities on the planet. For more information regarding Pollution Probe's Annual Galas, please contact Patty Chilton by email or 416-926-1907 ext. 232.  

Acid Rain: Celebrating Progress
A Public Forum on Canada's Acid Rain Story
Thursday, October 19, 2006
7:00-9:30pm
Howard Johnson Plaza Hotel, Sudbury

Great progress has been made in reducing acidifying emissions in many regions of Canada, including Sudbury. This achievement is a credit to the hard work of dedicated individuals, organizations, companies, researchers, government officials and politicians. Learn from experts how dangerous acidifying emissions were reduced. Find out what the future holds with regard to this important issue.

For more details see the event invitation.

Click here to view the agenda with links to the speaker presentations.

Ontario's Combined Heat and Power Potential
Public Forum
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
6:30-8:30pm
Council Chambers, Toronto City Hall
100 Queen St. West, Toronto
 

Pollution Probe and the Ontario Ministry of Energy invite you to attend an evening public forum on "Ontario's Combined Heat and Power Potential". This event will feature Thomas Casten, whose book "Turning Off the Heat", published in 1998, outlined how "energy recycling" can lower harmful CO2 emissions and energy costs. For more details, including the agenda, with a link to the speaker presentation click here.

Climate Change, Gasoline and the Car of the Future
Monday, June 5, 2006
7:00-9:00
Marriott Toronto Downtown Eaton Centre

Maximizing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in British Columbia
March 22-23, 2006
Vancouver, B.C.

Pollution Probe co-hosted a two-day workshop with Pembina Institute, BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) and CanREA on March 22-23, 2006.

For more details including the workshop agenda with links to speaker presentations, click here.

For the workshop notes, click here.

Developing A Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Strategy for Ontario

Toronto Hilton Hotel, Toronto 3 Room, Convention Level,
145 Richmond St. West
November 14–15, 2005

Pollution Probe co-hosted a workshop with the Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance (CanREA – http://www.canrea.ca/) on November 14-15 in Toronto, Ontario. The workshop was timely as the Ministry of Energy has directed the Ontario Power Authority to begin the process of developing a proposed twenty-year Integrated Power System Plan for Ontario. The goals of the plan include increasing renewable energy sources and implementing conservation measures to decrease electricity demand. The first day of the workshop focused on developing targets and addressing barriers for Green Power. The second day focused on reducing Ontario’s electricity demand through energy efficiency and solar thermal.

For more details including the workshop agenda with links to speaker presentations, click here.

An Evening Public Forum on

Maximizing Green Power Production in Ontario

Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel (90 Bloor St. E)
 

November 14, 2005

As Ontario phases out its coal-fired electricity plants, it has a unique opportunity to expand the proportion of Green Power in the province's electricity mix.

For more details including the evening's agenda with links to speaker presentations, click here.

Pollution Probe's Annual Gala Dinner
November 22nd, 2005

Held Tuesday, November 22nd in the Concert Hall of the Fairmont Royal York Hotel, Pollution Probe's Annual Gala Dinner was enjoyed by over 450 leading members of the corporate, academic and scientific communities. Every year this much anticipated event brings together a fascinating array of friends and colleagues for a fun and stimulating evening.  This year’s theme, “Talkin' 'Bout My Generation" recognized the energy we've all put into ensuring a healthy and sustainable environment. For more information regarding Pollution Probe's Annual Galas, please contact Patty Chilton by email or 416-926-1907 ext. 232.    

Children's Health and the Environment
Public Forum
Wednesday, October 19th, 2005
7:00-9:00
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 101 Lyon St., Ottawa

Presented by the Canadian Partnership for Children's Health and Environment and hosted by Pollution Probe and the Canadian Child Federation, the public forum explored a number of topics related to children's health and the environment, including a general overview of the subject and specific presentations on childproofing, respiratory illness and impacts on neurological development.

Click here for the forum's agenda (with links to Speaker Presentations).

Exploring a Green Power Strategy for Atlantic Canada
September 19, 2005
St. Andrews, New Brunswick

Pollution Probe, working with the Marine & Environment Institute at Dalhousie Law School, conducted a workshop on Exploring a Green Power Strategy for Atlantic Canada. The focus of the workshop was on the use of Green Power for electricity generation. The Atlantic Region, along with other regions in Canada, is facing expanding demand for electricity, rising energy prices, aging infrastructure and energy security issues. It is also facing air quality issues with their related health impacts and obligations related to climate change. The main objectives of the workshop were to begin a process to build consensus for a green power vision and strategy for the Atlantic Region and to identify the elements needed for a green power vision and strategy for the Atlantic Region.

“Complementary Measures” – A Workshop to Scope Measures that Promote and Encourage Consumer Demand for More Fuel Efficient Vehicles
June 28, 2005
Toronto, Ontario

Pollution Probe hosted this workshop to scope measures that promote and encourage a sustained shift in consumer demand towards light-duty vehicles with lower levels of fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. On April 5, 2005, the Government of Canada and the Canadian Auto Industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing industry to reduce GHG emissions from light-duty vehicles by 5.3 megatonnes (MT) by 2010. Continuing efforts by the federal government and the auto industry to reduce GHG emissions from Canada’s light-duty vehicle fleet (such as that represented by the MOU) can be complemented with measures that increase market demand for new passenger cars and light trucks that are more fuel efficient and produce fewer GHG emissions. Such complementary measures have the potential to align market demand with the policy aims of government and industry, helping to make the ultimate goals easier and less disruptive to achieve.

Click here for the workshop agenda and links to speaker presentations.

Click here to read the workshop report.

An Evening Public Forum on Electricity Options for a Coal-Free Ontario

Wednesday, June 29^th, 2005
Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre, Room C and D
525 Bay Street , Toronto , Ontario
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Keynote Presentation: Peter Love, Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Ontario Power Authority

With its commitment to close the coal plants, the Government of Ontario finds itself with an historically unique opportunity to restructure Ontario ’s electricity generation mix. The decisions made today will have far-reaching environmental effects. Now is the time to learn about the different electricity options so that you can participate in discussions about the best choices for Ontario.

Click here for further details including the evening's Agenda (with links to Speaker Presentations)

Policy Analysis Tools for Air Quality and Health Workshop
May 19, 2005, 
8:30 AM-5:00 PM
Toronto Metro Hall
55 John St.,  Toronto, ON

The primary purpose of this workshop, co-hosted by the Network for Environmental Risk Assessment & Management (NERAM) and Pollution Probe, is to facilitate communication between policymakers, scientists, modelers, and other stakeholders to identify critical policy needs, key issues, and gaps in knowledge for policy analysis. Broadly, the workshops will be driven by three main themes/questions:

• What is the health significance of air pollution?
• Are there available models and analysis adequate to inform policy at some level?
• What are the key policy questions that should be addressed by models?

Brochure and Registration Form

For more information on this workshop and to register on-line, please visit the NERAM website at www.irr-neram.ca.

A National Workshop on Climate Change 
Scenarios and Adaptation
January 31^st (reception) – February 1st, 2005
Ottawa , ON

Hosted by Environment Canada’s Meteorological Service, Adaptation & Impacts Research Group (AIRG) and Pollution Probe with funding support from the Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF). The workshop presented the latest global and regional climate models; the tools used to create climate change scenarios and assess the risks for climate change; the impacts of and adaptations to climate change and extreme weather on agriculture and other sectors such as fisheries, infrastructure, water supply and energy; and the tools that are available to support adaptation planning and research. The workshop also provided opportunities to share your knowledge with the scientists who are conducting climate change impacts and adaptation research. Click here for the Agenda (with links to speaker presentations. 

Air Quality and Health
Thursday November 4, 2004
Toronto, ON

Pollution Probe's Air Programme Director, Dr. Quentin Chiotti, appeared as a panelist discussing Air Quality and Health during an event organized by "Take 5 Minutes For the Environment". Click here for more details (PDF format).
 

An Evening Public Forum on Source Water Protection
July 20, 2004
Toronto, ON

On Tuesday, July 20, 2004, Pollution Probe held an evening public forum on Source Water Protection at the Eaton Centre Marriott, Toronto, ON. The goal of the forum was to inform the public about the Ontario Government's draft legislation on watershed-based source water protection planning. Summary Report of the forum (PDF format - 2.8MB).

Pollution Probe convened a series of five national workshops on forest carbon management in Canada over the period November 2001 - March 2002.  The workshop series explored the opportunities for forest carbon management in Canada and the policies and infrastructure necessary for Canada to capitalize on them.

Pollution Probe, the Coastal Zone Canada Association (CZCA) and The United Nations University: International Network on Water, Environment and Health co-organized the MANAGING SHARED WATERS conference. This conference was the fifth in a series of biennial conferences conducted by the Coastal Zone Canada Association, with each conference building on the recommendations of the previous one. This conference is also known as Coastal Zone Canada 2002

MANAGING SHARED WATERS brought together representatives from the major stakeholder groups engaged in the management of transboundary coastal waters who are seeking practical, positive and integrated solutions to coastal issues: to evaluate progress to date, to participate in capacity building exercises, to assess future needs, and to recommend strategies for future action. The conference was aimed at a target audience that includes representatives from government (national, provincial/state and local), academia, business, non-government organization (NGOs), indigenous peoples, women and youth. The event was held in the heartland of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence River basin of North America with the past successes and future challenges encountered in this freshwater coastal zone serving as an important component of the conference.

The Clean Air Commute™

Every year, Pollution Probe invites hundreds of workplaces in the Greater Toronto Area to participate in our annual Clean Air Commute. More workplaces participated in last year's Clean Air Commute than ever before. A record number of 145 workplaces and 8,000 employees helped to remove over 286 tonnes of pollutants from our atmosphere in just five days. How? They simply left their cars at home for one week (unless they were carpooling) and took cleaner modes of transportation to and from work. 

Pollution Probe hosted a public forum on climate change, featuring Canada ’s Minister of the Environment, David Anderson.  Minister Anderson spoke about Canada ’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol.

When:   Wednesday, April 3, 2002        7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Toronto Marriott Eaton Centre Hotel, 525 Bay Street, Trinity Ballroom

Youth Summit on Sustainable Urban Transportation
May 10-14, 2002
Ottawa, Ontario

Needed: 75 young Canadians who want to make a difference!

From May 10 to 14, 2002, the Youth Summit on Sustainable Urban Transportation, took place in Ottawa. The Youth Summit looked at how transportation affects our communities, our health, and our environment.

A cross-Canada call went out for 75 young Canadians, between the ages of 17 and 24, to come to Ottawa and discuss the role of urban sustainable transportation in our cities.