Green Communities Canada

Jun 3

This Clean Air Day, let’s talk about school buses and clean air. Every day, 2.2 million Canadian children ride school buses—and 70% of those buses still run on diesel. Health risks of diesel exhaust: 💨 Traffic-related air pollution—especially from diesel engines—has been linked to asthma, impair...Read more

This Clean Air Day, let’s talk about school buses and clean air. Every day, 2.2 million Canadian children ride school buses—and 70% of those buses still run on diesel. Health risks of diesel exhaust: 💨 Traffic-related air pollution—especially from diesel engines—has been linked to asthma, impaired lung development in children, and even premature death. 💨 Toxic exposure on school buses: Diesel exhaust levels inside school buses can be 23 to 46 times higher than what U.S. federal guidelines consider a significant cancer risk. 💨 Health cost savings: Replacing just one diesel bus with an electric school bus can result in an estimated $11,800 in health-related cost savings over its 12-year lifespan. Nearly half of all schools in Canada are located within 200m of high-traffic roads. That means millions of children are regularly exposed to traffic-related air pollution. Electric school buses offer a cleaner alternative, particularly in low-income and racialized communities facing higher levels of air pollution. Accelerating the transition to electric school buses is a critical step toward protecting children’s health and improving air quality in our communities. Check out our Canadian Electric School Bus Alliance program for more information. Alt text: An image of smiling children on a school bus. The heading "Clean Air Day 2026" is left-aligned in the centre of the image. The GCC and Canadian Electric School Bus Alliance logos are in the bottom right and the bottom left, respectively.

Jun 3

🌍🚴‍♀️ Happy World Bicycle Day! 🚴‍♂️🌍 Bicycles are more than just two wheels; they’re a powerful tool for climate action, healthy living, and vibrant communities. At Green Communities Canada, we believe in active transportation that’s good for people and the planet. Whether it’s your daily comm...Read more

🌍🚴‍♀️ Happy World Bicycle Day! 🚴‍♂️🌍 Bicycles are more than just two wheels; they’re a powerful tool for climate action, healthy living, and vibrant communities. At Green Communities Canada, we believe in active transportation that’s good for people and the planet. Whether it’s your daily commute or a weekend ride, every trip by bike is a step toward a more sustainable future. Check out our blog post below on tips to get kids healthy on bikes! Alt text: A child wearing a bright green and black jacket and a white bicycle helmet rides a bike along a tree-lined path. The background is blurred, showing tall trees and green grass. Text on the image states: “Cycling is PHYSICAL ACTIVITY.” There is additional text on the bottom left that states "Cycle, Promote cycling, Make cycling safe, 3 June #WorldBicycleDay." The World Health Organization logo is in the bottom right corner.

Jun 2

Cycling to school for the first time this #BiketoSchoolWeek? You’re amazing! Review these five tips from Active for Life to make your child’s school biking adventures as safe and comfortable as possible. Photo credit: Active for Life Team

Jun 1

June is #IndigenousHistoryMonth #NIHM2026. Throughout this month, we celebrate the unique cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples. Green Communities Canada is grateful for the wisdom and perspectives generously shared by Indigenous partners, educators, and c...Read more

June is #IndigenousHistoryMonth #NIHM2026. Throughout this month, we celebrate the unique cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nation, Métis, and Inuit peoples. Green Communities Canada is grateful for the wisdom and perspectives generously shared by Indigenous partners, educators, and community members. In our work as environmental leaders, we have a responsibility to respect Indigenous perspectives and elevate Indigenous voices. This month – and every month – we also reflect on the traumatic colonial history of discrimination and injustice and the continued experience of this injustice in Canada. We must listen to the truths of this history and respond to current crises through proper consultation and consent, respect, and inclusion. Alt text: An image featuring intertwined illustrated symbols representing First Nations, Inuit, and Métis: a feather, a narwhal, and a fiddle, rendered in a flowing rainbow gradient. Surrounding these central symbols are decorative elements representing other aspects of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultures.

Jun 1

Welcome, Little Forests Kingston, to the nationwide Green Communities Network! Working with local partners, Little Forests Kingston is advancing 3-30-300 tree equity in Kingston, helping create a future where every child can see three trees from their window, every neighbourhood has at least 30% ...Read more

Welcome, Little Forests Kingston, to the nationwide Green Communities Network! Working with local partners, Little Forests Kingston is advancing 3-30-300 tree equity in Kingston, helping create a future where every child can see three trees from their window, every neighbourhood has at least 30% canopy cover, and everyone lives within 300 metres of green space. Learn more below. GCC’s national member network supports community-based climate action by sharing resources, co-creating programming, and amplifying collective impact. Alt text: A graphic with a white background and a dark green border. The bottom third of the image is filled with dark green as well. The top half has the Little Forests Kingston logo, followed by a circle underneath it that states "New Community Member." Under the circle and in the dark green-filled area is the text "Little Forests Kingston, Kingston, ON."