2000
Environmental Policy adopted
The Environmental Policy commits the Board to an ongoing alignment between teaching and learning, and the operation of schools to develop whole school ecologically literate communities and a healthy, sustainable society.
2003
TDSB EcoSchools program created
The EcoSchools program is created with a very broad scope covering not only what is taught about the environment, but also how we run our schools and how we design and use our schools grounds.
2004
Partners help support school-ground greening
Revitalizing School-grounds plays a pivotal role in helping the TDSB to reduce its carbon footprint and adapt to climate change. Through collaboration with external partners, the TDSB is able to improve the quality of school grounds and support an investment that will increase in value over time.
2005
TDSB helps establish Ontario EcoSchools
In 2005, the TDSB shares the EcoSchools program with a group of Ontario school boards and York University to expand program delivery throughout the province. (As of 2019, this program becomes EcoSchools Canada).
2006
Energy Conservation Report approved
The TDSB Energy Conservation Report highlights work completed by TDSB staff and others during the 2004/05 school year. In addition to presenting the Board’s strengths, it lists the main areas for improvement and the steps being taken in response to these challenges.
2007
Large Tree Program launched
Through the Large Tree Program, approximately 2500 large native
shade trees have been planted at 250 TDSB schools. These trees offer many other benefits: making the grounds attractive, providing habitats for biodiversity, reducing stormwater runoff, and shading buildings and play areas.
2010
Go Green: Climate Action Plan approved
The Go Green: Climate Action Plan is developed in response to the revised Environment Policy with its explicit emphasis on climate change. This document provides a plan to put in action the Board’s commitment to sustaining the environment, focusing on mitigation, adaptation, and education.
Environmental Legacy Fund (ELF) created
Authorized with the approval of the Go Green: Climate Change Action Plan, the Environmental Legacy Fund is used to support high-impact projects related to active transportation, professional learning, urban forest management, school-initiated projects, information technology and energy initiatives. Income from the sale of carbon credits, electricity produced by solar photovoltaic (PV) projects and hazardous waste is directed into the fund, as are environmental grants. The ELF has been critical to the success of many TDSB sustainability and climate actions.
Sustainability Office created
The Sustainability Office is created as part of the Go Green: Climate Action Plan. The office works on wide-ranging programs and initiatives including environmental education and key partnerships, as well as on-the-ground actions related to school grounds, energy use, renewable energy, waste management and purchasing.
Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee established
ESCAC is established as a direct result of the Go Green: Climate Action Plan, which calls for a committee to provide advice and expertise to staff and trustees as they work towards meeting environmental goals.
Solar PV systems installed on school rooftops
TDSB begins investment in renewable energy with the initial installation of solar PV systems at 10 schools. Since those first installations, a further 340 TDSB schools have had solar PV systems installed on their rooftops.
2013
Environmental Education AQ launched
TDSB collaborates with Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto to launch Environmental Education Additional Qualification courses. These courses help educators increase their capacity to implement environmental curriculum and foster student ecological literacy. Following the success of this first "EEAQ" course, further courses (Part 2 and 3) are developed, enabling educators to become Specialists in Environmental Education.
Urban Forestry Management Plan created
Guided by the Urban Forest Management Plan, the TDSB commits significant resources to tree planting and tree maintenance, including programs to control the spread of the invasive pests, and summer watering and mulching programs.
Charter for ASST approved
The Board of Trustees approves the Charter for Active, Safe and Sustainable Transportation (ASST) to tackle the decline in students walking and cycling to school, and implement activities and supports to encourage active transportation.
Saw Mill launched
In response to trees killed by the invasive Emerald Ash Borer, the TDSB launches an on-site saw mill using TDSB Skilled Trades staff to repurpose the wood from fallen trees. Lumber from the saw mill is used to create school ground seating, and to support student learning in technical programs.
2015
Project Refill launched
To support schools in curbing the use of plastic water bottles, EcoSchools creates Project Refill, a reusable water bottle refill program. By providing select schools with water bottle refill stations, this project helps schools move from landfill to refill.
2018
Joint Management-Labour Environmental Committee created
The JMLEC is created to leverage the knowledge that TDSB workers have of their workplaces and work processes, and connect that expertise with the broader knowledge of management. The goal of the collaboration is to make informed decisions towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by identifying feasible approaches and innovations to the workplace.
2019
Energy Conservation Plan published
The Energy Conservation & Demand Management Plan documents some of the work done to reduce energy consumption across the TDSB in a five-year reporting period from 2013/2014 to 2017/2018. The report highlights the drop in overall energy use at TDSB buildings, mainly as a result of upgrades to heating and hot water systems in schools, which significantly reduce the TDSB’s use of natural gas.
Ontario EcoSchools becomes EcoSchools Canada
The EcoSchools program, first pioneered by the TDSB, expands to schools across the country. TDSB Sustainability Office staff continues to advise the development of the national EcoSchools Canada program.
2020
Environmental Education Webinars created
The EcoSchools team, in collaboration with colleagues at OISE’s Environmental and Sustainability Education Initiative, create a series of webinars to help shift environmental learning to the virtual world during the time of school closures. A wide range of environmentally themed topics are explored.
2021
TDSB joins EcoSchools Canada certification
For the first time ever, TDSB schools are invited to participate in the EcoSchools Canada certification program. Schools can engage in environmental learning and climate action while working on their certification application with the national EcoSchools program.
TDSB co-hosts EECOM Conference
The Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) four-day online conference took place from April 21-24, and was proudly hosted in partnership with the TDSB’s Sustainability Office, EcoSchools Canada, the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto, and Natural Curiosity. The focus was Exploring the Nature of Cities: Urban Environmental Education in Action — with most of the world’s population living in urban areas, helping citizens understand their impact on the environments in which they live is key to making cities more sustainable and livable.
Community Climate Action Guide for Youth
Transforming TO: A community climate action guide for youth, developed in consultation with TDSB youth, the City of Toronto, the Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee (ESCAC) and the Joint Management Labour Environment Committee (JMLEC), was designed to support youth in mobilizing their communities towards climate action.