Tenant advocacy and leadership in environmental conservation

TCHC’s workshops inspire tenant leaders to act on environmental pollution.

A group of TCHC’s tenant leaders and volunteers pose for a photograph at the entrance of a TCHC building with a sign, 5005 Dundas Street West.

Tenant leaders and volunteers at the 5005 Dundas community cleanup day.

Earlier this year, Toronto Community Housing’s (TCHC) Conservation team held workshops to teach tenant leaders about protecting the environment. These sessions were organized with the help of the Use of Space and Tenant Engagement teams. Sixty-five tenant leaders from TCHC’s East, West, and Central regions took part in the workshops.

Tenant leaders play a big role in making their communities stronger and more involved. During the workshops, they learned how to encourage their neighbours to get involved in activities that support a healthy environment. They also learned how to use common spaces for tenant-led programs.

The workshops took place around Earth Day 2024, emphasizing the importance of working together to protect the environment.

A group made up of TCHC’s tenant leaders, volunteers and staff pose for a photograph inside the lobby area of a TCHC building located at 251 Sherbourne Street

Tenant leaders, volunteers and TCHC staff at the 251 Sherbourne community cleanup day.

Community cleanups: leading by example

After the workshops, tenant leaders organized 21 community cleanups during the summer across TCHC’s three regions. With the help of staff, almost 300 tenant volunteers took charge of cleaning up their communities. Major cleanups took place at locations like 10 Gordonridge and 251 Sherbourne, where tenants were eager to help.

Phil Joachim, a tenant leader from 400 McCowan, shared his thoughts on the experience.

"The training came at just the right time for us. I learned a lot about how our actions impact the environment. Leading the cleanup for my building allowed me to set an example and motivate others to help keep our environment clean and sustainable."

The Conservation team provided cleanup supplies and swag bags to volunteers. The bags included reusable water bottles and information on proper waste disposal. These items help promote sustainable habits and started conversations about saving energy and water.

Moving towards a greener future

We appreciate everyone who took part in these activities. The participants are already helping spread the word about the importance of conservation. These initiatives are just the beginning of a larger effort to get TCHC tenants involved in making lifestyle choices that help reduce pollution.