Westminster Ponds Centre
944 Western Counties Road London, ON, Canada

Thinking of buying an electric vehicle as your next car? You're not alone! For those who rely on owning a vehicle, EVs are gaining popularity as a greener alternative to gas-powered cars. Next Wednesday evening, we will be joined by Don Millar, London Electric Vehicle Association President to discuss a variety of aspects of buying, owning and maintaining a partially or fully electric car. Check out our event below and be sure to register! https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/what...-you-need-to-know-about-ele #ldnont #webinar #webinars #electricvehicles #electriccars

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching! Are you looking for a gift idea or a way to show your love? Unfortunately, Valentine's day has numerous negative environmental and social impacts. These range from the CO2 emissions generated from importing flowers and goods, waste produced by cards, and unethically sourced chocolate. We can all do our part in making the holiday greener by choosing more #sustainable and ethical gift alternatives. Here are some sustainable and socially-c...onscious gift ideas: Locally grown flowers, potted plants, or a tree planted in your Valentine's name, through ReForest London Fair-trade chocolate Handmade cards on recycled paper or e-cards Ordering from locally-conscious restaurants or cooking from home using local ingredients Making DIY plantable seed paper hearts using recycled paper And of course, supporting small local businesses. Some handy directories include https://shoplondon.ca/ and https://www.supportlondonbusinesses.com/ How will you go green this Valentine's Day? #sustainability #valentines #ldnont #sociallyconscious #ethicalgifts #shoplocal #519local #environmentallyfriendly #londonontario

This Thursday February 11th, three organizations affiliated with the Westminster Ponds Centre (ReForest London, Thames Talbot Land Trust, Urban Roots London, plus Let's Talk Science) will be participating in a webinar hosted by the London Environmental Network, to highlight exciting environmental volunteer opportunities in London, Ontario! Click the CORRECTED link to sign up! https://bit.ly/2LFTDE0 The goal of this webinar is to help you find a volunteer position in the e...nvironmental sector that fits your skills and needs. The webinar will feature four guest speakers from diverse backgrounds who will share their typical volunteer roles and how to get involved with their organization. We encourage you to use this workshop as a networking opportunity to introduce yourself while asking the speakers questions.

Good food and good mental health. The two go together well, don't they? Mind Your Plate is a new program from the London Community Resource Centre that integrates cooking classes and mental health activities to develop better emotional intelligence, communication skills, and confidence - all the while teaching delicious recipes! Watch or cook alongside Yolanda as she makes delicious chickpea soup and no-bake pumpkin cookies, and learn a mindfulness exercise at the same time. Click here to learn more: http://ow.ly/qiKD50BELfn

Since the Centre's official launch event last October, significant renovations have taken place to bring it closer to completion. The first major renovation was to the Gate House. Located at the entrance to the site, the Gate House provides visitors with information about the site, its donors and wayfinding materials. Some of the information on the signage includes the site’s history as a veterans’ rehabilitation village, its present as the home base of local environmental organizations, and its future as a community hub of environmental education and programming. Its renovation is an exciting symbol of what’s to come! #ldnont #ForestCity #heritagebuildings #heritage #sustainability #restoration #veterans #rehabilitation

A great way to make a difference about issues you care about is to get involved in the municipal decision-making process. But where to start? Sign up to listen to the free webinar "Influencing Municipal Policy Decisions" tonight, to hear from local #ldnont leaders about how you can navigate the system and have your say! (Note: The recording will be posted afterwards if you can't make it live.) Register here: www.placematters.ca

Join us this Saturday at 2 pm for a FREE webinar to learn how to design your property to grow plants that nourish the soil, protect biodiversity, and produce food too! We will welcome Jessica Robertson from Wild Craft Permaculture to learn about permaculture, which is an approach to food and medicine production that focuses on perennial plants and holistic system design. This free webinar is being offered as a part of the Signal Boost Initiative, which was made possible with ...support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Learn more about the event and register, here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/permaculture-101-resilient-rege

"As our economy and our society recovers from the pandemic, we cannot turn our backs on environmental protection, and we can’t let our economic recovery trump Canada’s commitments to fight climate change, protect nature, end plastic pollution, and protect Canadians from toxics in our air, water and products. And the good news is that there isn’t really any good reason that we should abandon these goals." Check out this article from Environmental Defence Canada about how to build a #greenandjustrecovery for Canada: https://environmentaldefence.ca//build-green-just-recover/

We have been posting information about the site, but what about the people who make the WPC a reality? To begin, the Centre was founded by ReForest London. Why did a tree planting organization take on this massive, built environment project? There is no dedicated community space in London where people can discover, explore and develop environmental sustainability. As London’s leading environmental charity, ReForest London was in a unique position with the capacity to fulfill... this long-standing gap. Dean Sheppard, ReForest London’s Executive Director said: Environmental sustainability is the foundation of a truly thriving community, especially in the face of human-driven environmental degradation and climate change. As a gateway to environmental learning and innovation, Westminster Ponds Centre is a new resource and will be a primary driver in our community sustainability journey. Read more here: https://westminsterpondscentre.ca/wpc-launch-event/ #ldnont #ForestCity #environment #sustainability #greenandjustrecovery #greenrecovery

It is clear that as we move forward from the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to have a green and just recovery. The Westminster Ponds Centre is exploring our role in supporting what that will look like for London. One way we are doing this is by supporting the Thames Talbot Land Trust's panel discussion, Colouring Nature. They have brought together a great lineup of speakers to discuss the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour working in the environmental field. T...his panel discussion will illuminate the intersections of racial and environmental justice through the panelists' personal stories. The event is meant to help environmental organizations and professionals gain a deeper understanding of this topic and provide guidance on how to make environmental initiatives more inclusive. Check it out! https://bit.ly/3hSnnsf #ldnont #greenandjustrecovery

Did you know that the Westminster Ponds Centre is located on the former site of a WWII-era veterans' recuperative village? Located behind the Parkwood Hospital and next to the Westminster Ponds Environmentally Significant Area, the Centre's 14 acres hold a rich history of built and cultural heritage. While some buildings have been demolished over time, four buildings remain today: three former dormitories, (the Bruce, Huron and Perth Pavilions), which are being restored for ...programming and use by ReForest London and our co-tenants (other organizations working towards sustainability and the environment). The fourth and biggest building at the site is the former Community Centre, the Wellington Pavilion, which will be the centerpiece of the Centre. To learn more about our site's history, click here: https://westminsterpondscentre.ca/about-wpc/ #ldnont #ForestCity #heritagebuildings #heritage #sustainability #restoration #veterans #rehabilitation

Welcome to the brand new Facebook page for the Westminster Ponds Centre! Thank you for stopping by. While you’re here, read on to learn a bit more about us. Nestled next to London’s largest Environmentally Significant Area, the Westminster Ponds Centre (WPC) will be a hub, promoting environmental excellence, sustainability, health and well-being across our region, by co-creating resources, services and impactful programming. Launched in October 2019 and powered by ReFore...st London, the center is the home base of several environmental organizations and will soon be the site of many more environmental programs and events. Why an environmental centre? We know that a healthy environment is the foundation of a thriving community. We also recognized a gap in our community for a Centre that could: 1) support and amplify existing successful sustainability initiatives in the city, and 2) catalyze new collaborative services and supports to achieve greater levels of impact. This year, more than ever, we are collectively being driven to action which supports a healthier environment for all of us to live, work, play, and learn. Westminster Ponds Centre wouldn’t be where it is today without the generosity of many donors and supporters, especially the City of London, Ontario - Municipal Government, Ontario Trillium Foundation, London Community Foundation, Mr. Richard Ivey, the Government of Canada and London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC). We'd love for you to keep in touch as we grow, and be part of our future. Be sure to follow this page, check us out on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/westminsterpondscentre/?hl=en), or visit our website at https://westminsterpondscentre.ca/. #ldnont #forestcity #sustainability #environment