Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment - About Us

Vision

The Oak Ridges community will build upon its reputation as an enviable place to live. This will be achieved by promoting a successful integration of people and nature in a sustainable community with a healthy ecosystem. Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment (ORFE) aims to engage wide participation of residents in stewardship of its natural and cultural heritage.

Objectives

  • Build awareness of, and celebrate Oak Ridges' natural spaces, ecological values and cultural heritage.

  • Grow community involvement in stewardship and individual responsibility for local ecosystem health through education and opportunities for participation.

  • Monitor, protect, restore and preserve natural heritage features and values in the community.

  • Enhance base support and establish links and partnerships with the Town of Richmond Hill, York Region, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, other environmental organizations, and local community groups and businesses to provide local delivery of programs and initiatives.

Annual Activities

  • Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment E-News
    This newsletter is distributed electronically 9-10 times per year with information on upcoming events and local environmental issues. It also has a Nature News feature and Green Tips to help readers learn more about natural spaces and living sustainably. To be added to the mailing list, please Contact Us

  • Oak Ridges Community Clean Up Day
    The community comes together to clean the winter trash out of parks and wetlands in the Oak Ridges and Lake Wilcox area on a Saturday during "Pitch-In" Week (April). This is also a great opportunity for students who need to record volunteer hours.

  • Restoration and Enhancement of Natural Spaces
    The Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment partners with the Town of Richmond Hill, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Evergreen and Ontario Streams, to engage residents in assisting with planting trees and other native plants in public natural spaces. Events are generally scheduled in the spring and fall.

  • Encouraging the Naturalization of Residents' Own Property
    The Friends provide educational materials and promote participation in the Richmond Hill Healthy Yards program to help residents understand the benefits of naturalizing their own property and the steps that should be taken to accomplish this. The Healthy Yards program is offered each spring.

  • Local Nature Hikes
    In partnership with the Oak Ridges Trail Association and the Richmond Hill Naturalists, local hikes are organized so that residents have the opportunity to experience highlights of the local natural spaces and learn about their features. Hikes are generally scheduled in the spring and fall.

  • Monitoring Local Natural Habitat
    The Friends provide information on and encourage participation in various citizen scientist programs that help monitor the local environment. These can involve listening to frog calls, counting birds or testing water quality.

  • Promotion and Celebration of Oak Ridges' Natural and Cultural Heritage
    The Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment participates in the Oak Ridges Fair and other local public events to present information and educational materials on environmental issues & activities.

Note that many of our neighbourhood activities qualify for community service volunteer hours. Students may find these events enjoyable and educational as well as providing a means to fulfill their school requirements at the same time.

Special Projects

  • The Lake Wilcox Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project
    This project aims to improve shoreline and in-water habitat for fish and wildlife on Lake Wilcox. The Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment is working with TRCA to develop demonstration sites at North Shore Parkette and at the foot of Rosemary Ave. They are also encouraging lakefront landowners to naturalize their own shorelines.

  • School Yard Naturalization
    The Friends are encouraging local schools to increase natural features in their yards by providing information and identifying tools available through environmental organizations' support programs.

  • Advocacy on Specific Environmental Issues
    The Oak Ridges Friends of the Environment monitors local events to identify those that may have an environmental impact. We endeavour to communicate information to the community and provide feedback or comment on projects or issues that may be of ecological concern.

Please explore our web site to learn more.