2012 annual report

our mission

Ecospark works with communitiEs

and schools, providing thEm with

thE knowlEdgE and tools to monitor

thEir EnvironmEnt and takE action

for positivE EnvironmEntal changE.

1 Letter from the Executive Director and the Board of Directors

2 Changing Currents4 Wattwize6 Live Green Toronto Community

Animation Program8 Monitoring the Moraine10 Audited Financial Statements12 Funder Acknowledgement and Donors13 Staff and Board

Front-cover photo: Eden Balaban

1 ecospark 2012 annual report

In 2012, ecoSpark celebrated

ItS “Sweet SIxteen”.

From our humble beginnings as a couple of

staff members running one program out of an

attic office, to a team of 15 working on several

ambitious and innovative programs, EcoSpark

truly has evolved over the years into a well-

respected organization with a reputation for

citizen science and community engagement.

Last year, our relevancy was higher than ever.

We continued to address the nature deficit

disorder in youth and excel in implementing the

Ministry of Education’s policy framework around

environmental education. We sparked schools

and communities to reduce their environmental

impacts through our education and community

engagement. We continued to fill the need

for community monitoring and empowerment

around environmental issues and accessible

information to enable informed decision-making.

In 2012, we continued to achieve new heights of

successes. We experienced increased numbers of

returning teachers to our education programs. Our

Changing Currents program reached its highest

levels of participation, delivering programming to

80 teachers and 2,201 students. We continued to

inspire youth to steward their local environment

whether it was by conserving energy at school

or cleaning up garbage along their local streams.

Through the Live Green Toronto (LGTO) Community

Animation Program, we connected groups and

sparked new networks to build and sustain their

local efforts. We showcased the local movers and

shakers as community experts and fostered peer-

to-peer knowledge sharing and learning at the 2012

Toronto Community Environment Forum. Through

the Monitoring the Moraine Program, we produced

a status report on the policy implementation of the

Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP),

and an analysis on the status of water quantity in

moraine-based watersheds using data from Check

Your Watershed Day. Both reports served to inform

those who have a stake in the moraine about

the gaps in data and ORMCP implementation.

In short, we were living our mantra:

discover. act. change.

While we inspired change in others, EcoSpark

also experienced signification internal changes. In

2012, the LGTO Community Animation Program

ended as we approached the end of our contract

with the City of Toronto. We also concluded the

Monitoring the Moraine Program, recognizing

that strategic re-visioning and new approaches

were needed for improved impact at the ORMCP

review in 2015. In addition, changes in leadership

at the board and staff level have created the

opportunity for organizational refocus and renewal.

This year, staff and board undertook an intensive

evaluation and created a new strategic plan. The

strategy calls for an improved and focused impact.

Moving forward, we will concentrate our efforts on

deepening our transformative engagement with youth

and adults, and facilitating opportunities for them to

take action to benefit their local environment.

While we celebrate our outstanding accomplishments

in 2012 through this annual report, I invite you to join

us in this new phase of EcoSpark, a phase of greater

impact and innovation in 2013 and beyond.

Sincerely,

joyce chauexecutive director and the board of directors

letter from the executIve dIrector and the board of dIrectorS

2

discover. In 2012, we worked with 2,201 students to discover

their local streams and the little critters (benthic

macroinvertebrates or BMIs) that live within them.

These students were from 53 schools across

the Greater Toronto Area (Toronto, York, Peel,

Durham, and Halton). The number of students

we work with has been increasing since 2007,

and the program is always over-subscribed.

act.In 2012, EcoSpark coached teachers and students

to sample over 50 streams in 12 watersheds across

southern Ontario. Sites were monitored for water

quality using the same suite of biological indicators

used by conservation authorities and consultants.

This information contributes to our water quality

database and is available on our online map

(www.ecospark.ca/changingcurrents/data).

Along with the stream study, students also

conduct an onsite stream clean-up so that

they are taking immediate action to improve

the health of their local streams.

changIng currentS

Successful since its launch in 2000, Changing Currents is EcoSpark’s

longest running program. Its success can be attributed to the program’s

focus on fun and local outdoor experiential education. In 2012, EcoSpark

had an exceptional year with our Changing Currents program. We

trained and coached more teachers and students than any other year!

thIS actIvIty helpS

StudentS to overcome

Some of theIr fearS about

bugS and gettIng Into

the water. they learn

that IdentIfIcatIon IS not

only In the textbook, but

haS actual applIcatIonS

In the real world.

Simin Navabi, Teacher from A.Y. Jackson Secondary School

What was the best part of the

stream study?

3 ecospark 2012 annual report

change.Getting to know their local streams and stream

health inspired students in multiple ways. By

making science fun and accessible, EcoSpark

inspired 89% of participating students to have

an increased interest in the sciences. In addition,

the stream studies sparked 45% of participating

classes to undertake additional stewardship

activities. In 2012, our students restocked streams

with fish, wrote articles about water in school

newsletters, organized additional stream clean-ups,

and planned a school-wide water conference.

Changing Currents has also had a positive

impact on teachers. In 2012, returning teachers

made up 61% of the teachers we worked with.

Furthermore, 100% of the teachers from 2013

intend on participating again next year.

you have added So much

to my program and helped

me meet the demandS of

my currIculum. I truly

don’t know a more

meanIngful way for

StudentS to learn about

eutrophIcatIon, water

pollutIon, and IndIrect

and dIrect monItorIng.

Laurie Kuchirka, Teacher from Branksome Hall

4

discover. In 2012, EcoSpark worked with 71 teachers and

1,345 students from across the Greater Toronto

Area (Toronto, York, Peel, and Durham). Through

Wattwize, students learned about electricity, where

it comes from, and the different kinds of energy

consumption. Students also used wattmeters to

determine energy usage of everyday items.

act.Students conducted energy audits within their

schools, ranging from one classroom to the entire

school. Based on their findings, students developed

and implemented their own electricity conservation

plans. Conservation plans included an “energy week”

to increase awareness about energy conservation,

a student “energy monitor” to ensure good

conservation practices within their school, peer-to-

peer learning (where students made presentations

to other classes about energy conservation and

helped them develop a class plan), and tree planting

to offset their school’s electricity consumption.

wattwIze

The Wattwize program, which started in 2005, is an interactive

electricity program that builds a culture of conservation in schools.

From 2005 to 2012, we supported and coached over 12,000 elementary

and high school students to be conservation champions!

[wattwIze IS] great,

applIcable and really

demonStrated the

amount of electrIcIty

uSed by each of the

applIanceS that StudentS

uSe on a daIly baSIS.

Teacher, Mary Ward Catholic Secondary School

I really apprecIate that we

were gIven 2 wattmeterS

becauSe I waS able to

Send the wattmeterS

home wIth 2 dIfferent

StudentS per nIght untIl

everyone had a chance

to audIt theIr homeS.

Teacher from Dewson Public School

5 ecospark 2012 annual report

change.Through the implementation of their own

conservation plans, students were able to foster a

culture of energy conservation within their schools.

With support from EcoSpark, the schools hosted

community events that enabled the students to

share the messaging of energy conservation to

their wider communities. In 2012, EcoSpark hosted

community events at J.D. Parker Junior School

and J.S. Woodsworth Public School. These events

collectively reached 225 members of the community.

Importantly, the conservation plans also translated

into energy savings for the school and their

school boards!

the program gIveS uS the

opportunIty to extend

what we have learned

to the communIty gIvIng

the kIdS the chance to

uSe theIr voIce, the voIce

that needS to be heard.

Teacher, J. D. Parker Jr. School

wIth the help of the

wattwIze program - our

School’S eco-team waS

able to reduce our energy

conSumptIon by 25%! erIn

gave uS great IdeaS and

really helped to Shed lIght

on wayS we could reduce

our energy conSumptIon.

Teacher, Peel Alternative School South

6

what is community animation?Community animation is the process of building skills,

motivation, leadership, and support networks within

communities so they may achieve a common goal.

discover.EcoSpark’s community animators promoted the

Live Green Toronto message to over 26,500 people

and worked directly with ~13,000 people. More

importantly, the animators helped Torontonians

discover their own communities, facilitating new

networks and new (and often unlikely) partnerships.

For example, volunteers from the Afghan Canadian

Seniors’ Centre now water the school garden at Marc

Garneau Collegiate Institute during summers and

on weekends when the students are not around.

act.EcoSpark’s community animators worked with ~450

groups to initiate and support green projects that

included renewable energy, community gardens,

and bicycle paths. Our animators assisted in

finding capacity and support for these projects,

inspiring ~19,000 volunteer hours and helping

with over 80 funding proposals that resulted in

over $1,000,000 for green projects in Toronto.

Hundreds of individuals and dozens of groups

received training and mentoring and now have

the skills to implement environmental projects

on their own. In fact, more than 75 projects

are annual, self-sustaining, and will benefit

their communities for years to come.

...whIle we have made

extenSIve progreSS wIthIn

our School, we faced great

challengeS In reachIng

our larger communIty,

many of who are new

ImmIgrantS. thIS IS where

the expertISe and ServIceS

of the anImator program

have been Invaluable.

Sonya Goldberg, Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute

From January 2009 to December 2012, EcoSpark led the Live Green Toronto

(LGTO) Community Animation Program. The City of Toronto demonstrated

leadership in contracting out community animation to a collaborative of

local environmental and social organizations led by EcoSpark. The unique

and innovative program was aimed at mobilizing the diverse communities

across the City of Toronto through community animation. During that

time, our animators empowered communities with the knowledge, tools,

and resources to take environmental action for a greener Toronto.

lIve green toronto communIty anImatIon program

7 ecospark 2012 annual report

change.The LGTO Community Animation Program

transformed communities in Toronto, inspiring

positive environmental change through community

animation. Our animators provided a supportive

space in which community groups could share ideas

and network with other groups and agencies. In 2012,

our animators organized the Toronto Community

Environment Forum. A first of its kind, the forum

showcased representatives from local community

groups as leaders and experts who generously shared

knowledge and experience to help build a greener

Toronto. They also helped groups to develop their

own projects as well as the necessary skills to make

them a success. The LGTO program also improved

air and water quality, reduced the heat island effect,

conserved energy, and decreased erosion and

GHG emissions. In short, it laid the groundwork

for stronger, greener communities in Toronto.

Although the City of Toronto concluded the

LGTO Community Animation Program, EcoSpark

highly recommends that the City continue

to invest in the people of Toronto through a

similar environmental animation program.

you go Into Some bIg effort

and then you reach a

plateau and wIth your

current SkIllS you can’t

gIve above It...I don’t know

how I would have gotten

through [the fundIng

applIcatIon proceSS]

but wIth the anImator

Support It waS poSSIble

Erhard Kraus, North Scarborough Green Loop

the communIty engagement

proceSS helped uS to look

at our work and be able

to recognIze how urban

agrIculture playS an

Important part In reducIng

greenhouSe gaS and Smog-

cauSIng emISSIonS In the cIty.

Anan Loloi, AFRI-CAN Foodbasket

8

discover.Through the Monitoring the Moraine program, we

engaged thousands of people to better understand

and appreciate this special landscape. We led

numerous educational hikes and workshops for

students and local community groups, and we

developed A Citizens’ Guide to the Oak Ridges

Moraine – the definitive guide to learning about the

moraine. We also inspired 146 photographers on

the moraine to take 892 photos of its land, water,

plants, animals, and people. Lastly, we recognized

33 moraine Heroes, representing 2099 individuals

who have all helped to make the Oak Ridges

Moraine a better place to live, work, and play.

act.EcoSpark led the MTM program to achieve many

firsts in bringing people together to track and

protect the Oak Ridges Moraine. To initiate dialogue

around moraine monitoring and protection we led

10 meetings that attracted 272 people representing

100 moraine stakeholders groups. From 2005-2008,

we assembled and led the first multi-stakeholder

advisory committee to prepare for the Oak Ridges

Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) review. We

also produced the first series of reports to track

municipal compliance and provincial progress on the

ORMCP (2006, 2007, and 2012 Status Reports).

The MTM program helped to ensure a strong

local voice through community-based monitoring.

We developed Moraine Watch— the first policy

monitoring program for volunteers—and tracked

over 50 local issues across the landscape in a

systematic way. From 2005 to 2011, we coordinated

From 2005 to 2012, EcoSpark led the Monitoring the Moraine (MTM)

program in partnership with STORM Coalition. The goal of the program

was to build a movement of engaged and informed communities to

protect the Oak Ridges Moraine by engaging and sustaining community

volunteers in science, stewardship, and decision-making on the Oak

Ridges Moraine. Over the program’s seven years, we achieved this by

building momentum across the landscape, conducting community-based

monitoring on the moraine, and celebrating the moraine’s land and water.

mtm... unIt[ed] people

from dIfferent areaS

of the moraIne and

helpIng Spread

conceptS and IdeaS over

a larger area among

commItted people

Margo McNab, Protect the Ridges

monItorIng the moraIne

9 ecospark 2012 annual report

13 Check Your Watershed Day events, working

with 14 partners and 384 volunteers to monitor

baseflow on 1327 streams in 13 Moraine-based

watersheds. In 2012, we produced an in-depth

analysis and report on the volunteer-collected data.

change.In our seven years on the Oak Ridges Moraine, we

witnessed positive changes in people and their

communities due in part to the MTM program.

Individuals who attended our early workshops

went on to become local environmental activists,

councillors, and moraine heroes. They became

members of existing local groups, joined the

boards of others, and formed their own groups.

In 2010, we launched the first public awareness

campaign about the 2015 Review of the ORMCP,

which garnered support from 1,350 individuals

who pledged to participate in the plan review.

EcoSpark is confident that the grassroots movement

we contributed to will have a strong impact in

protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine for 2015 and into

the future. EcoSpark is still committed to the Oak

Ridges Moraine landscape and looking forward to

participating in the review of its conservation plan.

mtm helped to engage a

communIty In the entIre

waterShed/jurISdIctIon,

not juSt thoSe lIvIng

on the moraIne. there

were poSItIve ImpactS

felt conSIStently

In our area.

Pamela Lancaster, Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority

well-delIvered

mtm program from

Start to fInISh

Frank Shaw, Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust

10

fInanceS

EcoSpark’s 2012 Audited Financial Statements were prepared by Cowperthwaite Mehta, Chartered Accountants. The information below is an excerpt from this document. The full financial statements dated February 11, 2013, can be made available upon request.

SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAS AT DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND DECEMBER 31, 2011

2012 2011

Assets

Current assets Cash $ 27,065 $ 120,105 Short-term investments 15,087 15,111 Accounts receivable 75,851 23,220 Prepaid expenses 7,794 3,060 125,797 161,496

Property and equipment 1,993 – Total Assets $ 127,790 $ 161,496

LiAbiLities And net Assets

Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 4,106 $ 8,622 Deferred revenue 45,895 101,542

Total Liabilities 50,001 110,164 Net assets - Unrestricted 77,789 51,332

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 127,790 $ 161,496

11 ecospark 2012 annual report

SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITIONAS AT DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND DECEMBER 31, 2011

2012 2011

Assets

Current assets Cash $ 27,065 $ 120,105 Short-term investments 15,087 15,111 Accounts receivable 75,851 23,220 Prepaid expenses 7,794 3,060 125,797 161,496

Property and equipment 1,993 – Total Assets $ 127,790 $ 161,496

LiAbiLities And net Assets

Current liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 4,106 $ 8,622 Deferred revenue 45,895 101,542

Total Liabilities 50,001 110,164 Net assets - Unrestricted 77,789 51,332

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 127,790 $ 161,496

SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND NET ASSETSfoR ThE yEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2012 AND DECEMBER 31, 2011

2012 2011

Revenue

Government funding $ 346,814 $ 690,507 Foundation funding 180,166 228,654 Other program funding 17,030 39,486 Other 7,822 27,673 551,832 986,320

expenses

Program development and delivery Salaries and benefits 375,195 649,864 Program administration 48,375 69,383 Program resources and events 32,133 41,406 Purchased services 21,909 135,176 Program travel 16,619 27,671 494,231 923,500

Administration Salaries and benefits 17,115 8,335 Rent 6,037 6,300 Office and general 7,992 5,234 Amortization – 687 31,144 20,556 Total expenses 525,375 944,056 Excess of revenue over expenses for the year 26,457 42,264 Net Assets, beginning of year 51,332 9,068 Net Assets, end of year $ 77,789 $ 51,332

12 Concept & Design: comet-design.com

thank-you to our funderS and IndIvIdual donorS!

J.p. Bickell foundation

Individual Donors

Lee Adamson

Christopher Allen

Diane M. Brose

David Burnett

Cindy Chao

Cliff Coppolino

Ecometrix

Front Door Organics

Katie Fullerton

David Gordon

Robin Green

Glen Heintzman

Michael Kirkby

Daniella Mailing

Mary McGrath

Barbara Murck

Julia Phillips

Hanna Porter

Michael Porter

Julian Roy

Tory Russell

Debbie Schaefer

Catherine Seguin

Susan Sigrist

Rachael Wraith

Pendle award from

Staff and board

Meredith Cochrane (to October)Executive Director

Joyce ChauProgram Manager, Science and Research (to October)Executive Director (from November)

Paul TuckerProgram Manager, Environmental Education

Allison RobertsProgram Officer, Monitoring the Moraine

Erin WayProgram Officer, Environmental Education

Holly BroseEducation Coordinator

Laurie KassabianEducation Coordinator

Carlene DempsterFinancial Administrator

Katie FullertonLive Green Toronto Community Animator, Toronto East (Scarborough)

Minaz Asani-KanjiLive Green Toronto Community Animator, Toronto North

Erika PulferLive Green Toronto Community Animator, Toronto South

Whitney Crooks (to August)Live Green Toronto Community Animator, Toronto West

Emma Rooney (from September)Live Green Toronto Community Animator, Toronto West

Anne SolomonAdministrative Assistant, Live Green Toronto Community Animation Program

EcoSpark Staff

Board of Directors Directors at Large

David Gordon, Chair (until July)Teacher, Dunbarton High SchoolDurham District School Board

Christopher Allen, Acting Chair (from July) and Chair (from November)Directory, AdvisoryKPMG

Diana Crosbie, Vice Chair (until June)PresidentCrosbie Communications Inc.

Julian Roy, SecretaryLawyerFalconers LLP

Catherine Seguin, TreasurerSenior Lecturer, AccountingUniversity of Toronto Mississauga

Barbara MurckSenior Lecturer, Department of Geography and Environment ProgramsUniversity of Toronto Mississauga

Clifton Coppolino Coordinator, Etobicoke-Mimico StewardshipToronto and Region Conservation Authority

Dave BurnettManager, Provincial & Regional Policy, Planning and Development Toronto and Region Conservation Authority

Julia PhillipsAdopt-a-Pond Program CoordinatorToronto Zoo

Cindy ChaoSustainability ConsultantDeloitte

Rachael WraithCommunications and Community Engagement Specialist

Hanna PorterTeacher, Northview Heights Secondary SchoolToronto District School Board

Back-cover photo: Jeff Kitchen

EcoSpark1179 King Street West, Suite 114

Toronto, ON M6K 3C5www.ecospark.ca

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