TWEEC

What is TWEEC?

In February 2004, the Township of Woolwich Environmental Enhancement Committee (TWEEC) was created through a partnership between Woolwich Healthy Communities and the Township of Woolwich. The primary objective of the 11-member Committee is to improve the quality of the natural environment in Woolwich Township.

TWEEC Activities

Since its beginning in 2004 TWEEC has completed a variety of "green" projects in Woolwich:

Planted more than 800 trees in Elmira
Hosted a pesticide alternative work shop
Planted 40 trees in a new park in St. Jacobs
Organized 5 community clean-up days
Prepared an environmental enhancement plan
Planted 250 trees as part of two roadside tree planting projects
Hosted three native plant sales
Initiated the Yellow Fish Road program in Woolwich
Partnered with GRCA to plant 80 trees at Snyder's Flats near Bloomingdale
Supported the green house project at EDSS
Supported the region's bale wrap recycling program
Initiated a tree nursery in Elmira
Supported school naturalization projects in Breslau & Elmira

Boldender park13-Nov13-10.jpg

Volunteers of TWEEC and Clean Waterways Group members work to stabilize banks of the Canagagigue Creek in Bolender Park, Elmira - November 2010.

Click here to view video of the Bolender Park Bank Stabilization

Plant Rescue at Walmart

TWEEC plant rescue at the Woolwich Walmart site-May 2008.

Your thoughts and ideas are important to us!

The Committee continues to look for ideas for environmental enhancement projects in Woolwich Township and is most interested in hearing ideas from Woolwich residents. Please contact any Committee member or Ann Roberts at 519 669-6027 or 519-664 2613 Extension 6027 with your suggestions for projects.

2011 Volunteer Opportunities

Are you or your group interested in helping make Woolwich a greener place to live and work? Are you a student looking for volunteeer hours required for graduation? You can get involved by planting trees, cleaning up litter, stabilizing creek banks or participating in a variety of "green" activities. Volunteers are invited to join TWEEC with tree planting and clean-up activities. Join us Saturday April 30th for Woolwich Community Clean-up Day, hosted by TWEEC & Tim Hortons Restaurants. Please contact Ann at 519-669-6027 or aroberts@woolwich.ca about a clean-up location in your area. High school students looking for community service hours are most welcome to join in all our activities.

Tree Nursery Planting

EDSS students helped TWEEC with a new tree nursery in 2008.

Native Plant Sale

Native Plant Sale 2008 as part of the Elmira Horticultural Sale.

TWEEC Terms of Reference

Responsibilites:

The Committee has the primary responsibility to:

Develop and lead the implementation of an Environmental Enhancement Plan to achieve the Official Plan objective of improving the quality of the environment over the life of the Woolwich Official Plan;
Develop and lead the implementation of a reforestation plan for the Township as set out in the Township's Strategic Plan;
To mobilize the community to implement the Environmental Enhancement Plan.

The Committee may:

Provide comments to Council on environmental issues, related to the Environmental Enhancement Plan, referred to the Committee by Council;
Propose TWEEC priorities and develop work plans based on Committee identified priorities;
Initiate and promote short term, intermediate and long term environmental programs for consideration and approval by Township Council;
Promote greater public awareness of environmental enhancement through exhibits, programs and special events.

Committee Size/Membership:

Committee Size - 11 members

                     1 Council member;
                     4 members of Woolwich Healthy Communities;
                     5 members of the public;
                     1 Township Staff;

Membership to be endorsed by Woolwich Healthy Communities Co-ordinating Committee and approved by Woolwich Council.
Membership to be for a four year term co-incident with Council term.
Current Committee members appointed for the 2011-2014 term include Mark Bauman (chair), Susan Bryant, Chris Chhatwal, Janet Cox, Matthew Hilbert, Dennis Martin, Inga Rinne,Jason Scheirholtz, Nancy Stayzer, Art Woods (alternate Steve Racey), and Ann Roberts (staff support).

Reporting Procedure:

Recommendations from the TWEEC will first be considered by the Woolwich Healthy Communities Co-ordinating Committee for endorsement;
The Environmental Enhancement Plan, yearly work plan, budget and other implementation measures, must be endorsed first by the Woolwich Healthy Communities Co-ordinating Committee and then presented to Woolwich Township Council for approval;
Following approval of the yearly work plan, budget and other implementation measures, by Woolwich Township Council, the work project specifics, logistics and volunteer organization details will be considered and decided upon by TWEEC.

Possible Initiatives:

Promoting public awareness of and education in environmental enhancement
Initiating environmental programs
Providing comments to Council on environmental issues, as requested by Council
Proposing and implementing work plans based on priorities identified by the Committee

Funding:

$6,000 is available annually in the Township budget for projects implemented by the Committee.