Mississippi Mills Council is stepping up its efforts to enhance community safety and sustainability with new climate action initiatives. On August 20, 2024, the Municipality announced the launch of a roadside pollinator project, inviting residents to nominate locations for a 1-kilometre pollinator habitat enhancement. The project, which aims to support Monarch butterflies and other pollinators, will use an Ontario native seed mix and is set to be completed this fall. Nominations are open until September 20 for rural, municipally-owned roads or those with a right-of-way maintained by the Municipality.
Zachary Moshonas, Environmental Compliance Coordinator, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “I’m very excited to lead these initiatives within the Municipality and work with Council and members of the public on developing a local Climate Action Plan to suit the unique needs of our community. As a community, we can help guide Mississippi Mills to develop a sustainable and resilient place to live.”
This project is part of the Municipality’s ongoing commitment to the Mayors’ Monarch Pledge, a National Wildlife Federation initiative aimed at creating habitats for Monarch butterflies and other pollinators. Since joining the Pledge in 2023, Mississippi Mills has supported native plant seed giveaways, maintained milkweed in municipal gardens, and established its first native roadside pollinator habitat on Sugarbush Road.
In addition to the new pollinator habitat, the Municipality is taking further action in 2024, including reducing herbicide and pesticide use and launching an invasive species removal program. These efforts are complemented by the establishment of more native roadside species.
Council has also approved the creation of a local Climate Action Plan (CAP), joining the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program to guide its development. The CAP will assess current greenhouse gas emissions, set reduction targets, and outline strategies to reduce emissions, positioning the Municipality to better address and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Mayor Christa Lowry emphasized the importance of these initiatives, saying, “Implementation of a local Climate Action Plan is a key component of Council’s strategic priorities. This plan and the related initiatives will help position the Municipality to better address and adapt to the local impacts of climate change and integrate guidelines for the future.”
For more information on these and other climate action projects, residents are encouraged to visit the Municipality’s new Climate Initiatives webpage.
(Written by: Emma Butler)
