Earth Week Talks - Construction of the Murray Canal
2024-04-25 18:30 - 20:30 (America/Toronto) | Ameliasburgh Heritage Village, 517 County Road 19, Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada
Join Dan Buchanan at the Ameliasburgh Church Building to hear about his fourth history book “A History of the Murray Canal.”
Dan will provide insight into how the project began, how the canal was dug, as well as the complications, adjustments, and problems that delayed its completion.

Earth Day Event-Beyond the Lawn - Naturalized Garden Workshop
2024-04-26 19:00 - 21:00 | Macaulay Church, 23 Church Street, Picton, Ontario, K0K 2T0, Canada
The County Garden Club and members of the Environmental Advisory Committee’s Natural Cover Working Group will host a discussion on lawn naturalization, rain gardens, and incorporating soft landings into landscapes and gardens.

Earth Day Event-Quinte Conservation Program Showcase
2024-04-27 10:00 - 11:00 | 45 Phillip Street, 45 Philip Street, Milford, Ontario, K0K 2P0, Canada
Sustainable PEC is working with Lindsay Nash, Quinte Conservation’s Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator, to present a discussion on the programs that Quinte Conservation’s offers within the local watershed.
In honour of Earth Day, she will discuss the ways we can be good stewards. Lindsay will further highlight the importance of being a good steward and how stewardship activities impact the environment.
* Please note: tea, coffee & muffins will be served at 9:30 am with the talk beginning at 10 am.

Earth Day Event: Repair Café
2024-04-27 11:00 - 15:00 | Picton Library, 208 Main Street, Picton, Ontario, K0K 2T0, Canada
Help prevent common household items from ending up in the trash by bringing them to the Repair Café! It’s an opportunity to have your item(s)* repaired for free by community volunteers who believe in a shared responsibility of care and maintenance for the items we own and use.

Meet skilled community members who will help you diagnose your repair and take the necessary steps to complete it with you. We are focusing on offering repairs for items in these categories:
fabrics/clothing electronics household items small appliances small furniture

Repair Cafés happen all over the world – learn more about the initiative here: https://www.repaircafe.org/en/

*In order to best share resources among all visitors to the Repair Cafe, please be mindful to bring 1-3(ish) items for repair.
**Although many common repairs are possible to achieve at the Repair Café not all items will be able to be fully fixed as it depends on the skills, materials, and time available for each unique repair.

Bring your item(s) for repair with all their broken parts/pieces and clean if possible. If you have the materials you believe you need to fix or replace the issue, but don’t have the skills to do so, please bring them also. We will have some spare parts and general fixing materials on-hand.

The Repair Café is free to attend. We encourage those who can to bring a donation to the Food Bank – either in cash or non-perishable food items – in exchange for support at the Repair Café. A donation jar and box will be on-site.

Got too many hammers, or other spare tools and repair-esk resources and want to share? Bring them to donate to our Tool Swap table.

The Repair Café will be set up in the basement/flex space at the Picton Public Library. The space is accessible from the side door of the library, then by taking the stairs or elevator down one level. Someone will greet you downstairs and provide information about registration and all the options for repair support!

Anyone is welcome to drop-in during open hours with an item for repair and/or drop-off surplus tools they would like to donate to the swap table and/or enjoy a complimentary drink and snack and/or just check out what’s happening and possibly lend your repair skills.

If you have a question about the Repair Café or want to help out as a Volunteer, you can email Becky at feralfolc@gmail.com

Earth Day Event- Picton Garden Tour: Beyond the Lawn
2024-04-27 13:00 - 16:00
Did you know that the County has changed their bylaw to support local efforts to naturalize lawn?
The Picton Garden Tour, taking place during PEC Earth Week, features six gardens that showcase low-cost lawn naturalization design ideas to enhance biodiversity, recharge groundwater, and add seasonal beauty to our community.
The tour is a joint initiative hosted by the County of Prince Edward, the County Garden Club, Victoria Taylor Landscape Architect | VTLA Studio, Dropseed Native Plant Nursery, Wild by Design, Base31, and private garden owners. Each garden will have a host present to answer your questions and to share details about the design process, costs and plantings.
Visit the gardens at your own pace or in any order, or register to take the County Transit tour bus (space is limited). Use the form to register for either the tour bus or the self-guided option. Once you register, you will receive a map showing the locations of the gardens.
Participants may enter a draw to win a prize from Dropseed Native Plant Nursery (Opening May 2024). Two winners will receive a voucher for five native plants (4” pots) each.
The event is free and will take place rain or shine.
More Information: https://www.thecounty.ca/sustainability/community-and-events/picton-garden-tour-beyond-the-lawn/
Click here to learn more about the County’s revised Grass and Weeds By law.

Earth Day Event- Tree Giveaway
2024-05-04 09:00 - 12:00
The Emerald Ash borer (EAB) is in the process of decimating local population of Ash trees in the County and in much of Ontario. To offset this loss, municipality is hosting a tree giveaway for people impacted by the EAB and those wishing to plant trees on their private property.
A total of 2,000 trees will be available at:

The Prince Edward Community Centre – 375 Picton Main Street (Entrance off of MacStevens Drive)
The Wellington and District Community Centre (111 Belleville Street)
Roblin Lake in Ameliasburgh (13 Coleman Street).

Residents can collect up to 10 free saplings from the above locations for planting on their property.
Trees will be available on a first come first serve basis. Varieties available will depend on the supplier.

Earth Day Event-Environmental Expo
2024-05-04 10:00 - 17:00 | Prince Edward Community Centre, 375 Picton Main Street, Picton, Ontario, K0K2T0, Canada
On May 4, we’re STEPPING UP FOR CLIMATE with our second annual climate event.
After you pick up your seedlings, join us for a full day of innovation information! Bring your questions about climate adaptation, mitigation and environmental protection to experts from local organizations at our expo.
Test drive an EV with Plug ‘N Drive and join us for several panels and workshops to learn more about the positive changes you can make at home, the innovations our municipality is undertaking, and hear about some of the big ideas we might be seeing to meet the challenges of climate change.
Picton Main Street will be closed due to construction so the event can be accessed using the fairgrounds entrance off of Mac Stevens Drive to the left of the MacEwen facility.
Learn More: https://www.thecounty.ca/county_news_notices/environmental-expo-set-for-may-4/

Garden in a Box Giveaway
2024-05-05 13:00 - 15:00 | London Avenue Park, 26 London Avenue, Picton, Ontario, Canada
Premade garden kits will be provided and collected in the picnic area. Registration can be done through the Prince Edward Learning Centre.
The garden in a box event is sponsored by The County Garden Club, The Ameliasburgh Garde Club and the Master Gardeners.
It includes a wooden box, veggie, herb and flower seedling/seeds. There will be demonstrations on how to plant these boxes. We will have kids activities.

Hazardous and Electronic Waste Mobile Event
2024-05-11 09:00 - 14:00, 2024-07-13 09:00 - 14:00, 2024-08-10 09:00 - 14:00, 2024-10-19 09:00 - 14:00 | Wellington and District Community Centre, 111 Belleville Street, Wellington, Ontario, K0K 3L0, Canada
All residents are invited to dispose of their household hazardous and electronic waste free of charge at several mobile events located within Prince Edward County.

The mobile events hosted by Quinte Waste Solutions will take place at the Wellington and District Community Centre (111 Belleville Street) from 9 am – 2 pm on the following dates:

Saturday, May 11
Saturday, July 13
Saturday, August 10
Saturday, October 19

Household hazardous and electronic waste can be found in almost every room of your home. These products, if thrown in the garbage or poured down the drain, can have negative effects on the environment including an impact on groundwater and surface water such as creeks, rivers, and lakes.
Click here to view the schedule and see a full list of items that are accepted at mobile events.
Please note that motor oil and scrap metal are not accepted. Motor oil must be dropped at the hazardous waste depot in Belleville. Operating hours are available on the Quinte Waste Solutions website.

Chimney Swifts S.O.S.!
2024-06-17 19:00 - 21:00 | C.A.P.E, 347 Picton Main Street, Picton, Ontario, K0K2T0, Canada
Please join the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists, the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario’s PEC branch (ACO PEC) and The CAPE for Chimney Swifts S.O.S.! Learn about the unique relationship between Picton’s heritage buildings and Chimney Swifts – a Species at Risk in Ontario. The CAPE (the old Picton Legion) has a chimney that Swifts still use.
Chimney Swift S.O.S. will feature a presentation by Winifred Wake from Nature London. Winnifred has dedicated much of her life to studying, promoting, and protecting Chimney Swifts. Heritage architect Edwin Rowse will talk about adaptions that can be used to protect chimneys while allowing them to function as Swift habitat. PECFN will present a summary of Swift Watch data. We’ll conclude the evening with an architectural walking tour of downtown Picton heritage buildings, conducted by members of ACO PEC, that have been used by Swifts.

Public Information Centre: Organics Management Feasibility Study
2024-10-30 17:30 - 19:00 | Sophiasburgh Town Hall, 2771 County Road 5, Demorestville, Ontario, K0K 1W, Canada
The County of Prince Edward will present the preliminary results of the organics management feasibility study at a public information centre (PIC) on Wednesday, October 30.
The PIC will be held at the Sophiasburgh Town Hall (2771 County Road 5, Demorestville) between 5:30 pm and 7 pm.
The preliminary results of the study have identified the rear portion of the Sophiasburgh Works garage property as the preferred location for the potential facility. The study also recommends aerated covered static pile composting for the facility, a system used to biodegrade the organic material without physical manipulation. Advantages of this system include its efficiency and ability to mitigate odours near the site.
At the PIC, staff will provide information on potential site layouts, the proposed technology, and the mitigation of potential impacts. Attendees will have a chance to ask questions about the process and provide feedback.
The study team will gather the public input before finalizing the report and presenting the outcomes to Council at a future meeting. At that time, Council would decide whether to move forward with constructing the facility.
Study Background
In 2022, Council directed staff to prepare a study to evaluate the feasibility of a municipal organics management facility. The municipality is exploring this option in order to decrease reliance on external management sites and reduce the fixed costs associated with disposing of organics. These costs will increase in coming years due to growth and inflation.
Over the past several months, the municipality and its consultant, GHD, have evaluated options for managing organic waste on a municipally operated site. The municipality held three PICs in March 2024 to share with the public the municipal properties being considered for an organics management facility.
If you have questions regarding this study, contact Albert Paschkowiak, Environmental Services and Sustainability Supervisor, at 613.476.2148 extension 4004 or email apaschkowiak@pecounty.on.ca.

Curbside Battery Collection
2024-11-04, 2024-11-05, 2024-11-06, 2024-11-07, 2024-11-08, 2024-11-09, 2024-11-10, 2024-11-11 and 4 more dates
Quinte Waste Solutions will be collecting dead, intact household batteries with your blue box.
Proper disposal:
Step 1: Gather up dead, intact household batteries including AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V, & button cell batteries, placing a small piece of masking tape on exposed terminals of 9V, 6V, and button cells. Place all of your batteries inside a clear re-sealable bag.
Step 2: Seal the bag of batteries and place them ON TOP of your papers blue box. We collect your batteries on the dates corresponding with your regular collection day(s).
Curbside battery collection takes place the following weeks:
March 11- 22, and November 4-15

Curbside Battery Collection
2025-03-10 - 2025-03-14, 2025-03-17 - 2025-03-21
All residents are invited to dispose of their dead, intact household batteries curbside from Monday, March 10 to Friday, March 14 and Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21.

AA, AAA, C, D, 9V, 6V, and button cell batteries will be collected on the dates corresponding with your regular recycling collection days.
To dispose of your batteries, place a small piece of masking tape on exposed terminals of all lithium, button cell, and rechargeable batteries to prevent fire hazards. Place the batteries inside a clear re-sealable bag. Seal the bag and place it on top of your papers blue box.
Please note: larger batteries, light bulbs and electronics are not accepted in this curbside program.
Quinte Waste Solutions reminds you to have your blue box to the curb by 7 am on your collection day.
Outside of the designated collection dates, residents can bring their batteries and other hazardous waste to the Household Hazardous & Electronic Waste Depot (HEW Depot) in Belleville for safe disposal.
For more information, contact the County of Prince Edward at 613.476.2148 extension 1023, 613.962.9108 extension 1023 or info@pecounty.on.ca.

Climate Action Plan: Public Consultation
2025-03-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Ameliasburgh Town Hall, 13 Coleman Street, Ameliasburgh, Ontario, K0K 1A0, Canada
The County of Prince Edward is taking action on climate change as a participant in the Partners for Climate Protection(PCP) program. The input and feedback from the public is crucial as the municipality and the community work toward creating a Climate Action Plan for both mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change at both the municipal and community level.
Background
County Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. In 2021, the municipality took another step in implementing effective measures to mitigate climate change when it became an active member of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.
The PCP program is a national network of more than 400 municipalities with the shared goal of taking action against climate change and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions. As a member of the PCP program, the municipality is committed to meeting five milestones over the next 10 years:

Milestone 1: Creating a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and forecast
Milestone 2: Setting emission reduction targets
Milestone 3: Developing a Local Action Plan
Milestone 4: Implementing the Local Action Plan
Milestone 5: Monitoring and evaluating progress

These steps are followed by the corporation and by the community in a collaborative approach to developing a plan to address climate change. Municipal staff are leading the portion of the action plan aimed at reducing the GHG emissions within the local government’s direct control or influence. The Climate Action Plan Working Group is responsible for quantifying the GHG emissions generated within the community as a whole.
Public Consultation
In order to get the broadest possible input from the community, a series of upcoming public consultation events will ensure that proposed actions reflect the wishes of County residents:

Saturday, March 22, 10 am – 12:00 noon – Ameliasburgh Town Hall
Saturday, March 29, 10 am – 1 pm – Wellington and District Community Centre
Wednesday, April 2, 3 – 4 pm – Youth engagement at The ROC in Picton
Wednesday, April 9, 4:30 – 6:30 pm – Milford Town Hall
Saturday, April 12, 12 pm – 2 pm– Prince Edward Community Centre in Picton

At each of the consultation events, participants are invited to:

Learn more about the work being done by County staff and the Climate Action Plan Working Group
Explore the initial GHG findings
Put forward their views on proposed actions as well as their own suggested remedies. All viewpoints will be taken into account as we develop the way forward for the County.

Learn More: https://haveyoursay.thecounty.ca/climate-action-plan

Rescheduled- Climate Action Plan: Public Consultation
2025-03-29 10:00 - 13:00 | Wellington and District Community Centre, 111 Belleville Street, Wellington, Ontario, K0K 3L0, Canada
The County of Prince Edward is taking action on climate change as a participant in the Partners for Climate Protection(PCP) program. The input and feedback from the public is crucial as the municipality and the community work toward creating a Climate Action Plan for both mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change at both the municipal and community level.
Background
County Council declared a climate emergency in 2019. In 2021, the municipality took another step in implementing effective measures to mitigate climate change when it became an active member of the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program.
The PCP program is a national network of more than 400 municipalities with the shared goal of taking action against climate change and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions. As a member of the PCP program, the municipality is committed to meeting five milestones over the next 10 years:

Milestone 1: Creating a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and forecast
Milestone 2: Setting emission reduction targets
Milestone 3: Developing a Local Action Plan
Milestone 4: Implementing the Local Action Plan
Milestone 5: Monitoring and evaluating progress

These steps are followed by the corporation and by the community in a collaborative approach to developing a plan to address climate change. Municipal staff are leading the portion of the action plan aimed at reducing the GHG emissions within the local government’s direct control or influence. The Climate Action Plan Working Group is responsible for quantifying the GHG emissions generated within the community as a whole.
Public Consultation
In order to get the broadest possible input from the community, a series of upcoming public consultation events will ensure that proposed actions reflect the wishes of County residents:

Saturday, March 22, 10 am – 12:00 noon – Ameliasburgh Town Hall
Saturday, March 29, 10 am – 1 pm – Wellington and District Community Centre – Rescheduled to Saturday, April 5, from 10 am to 1 pm at the Wellington and District Community Centre

Wednesday, April 2, 3 – 4 pm – Youth engagement at The ROC in Picton
Wednesday, April 9, 4:30 – 6:30 pm – Milford Town Hall
Saturday, April 12, 12 pm – 2 pm – Prince Edward Community Centre in Picton

At each of the consultation events, participants are invited to:

Learn more about the work being done by County staff and the Climate Action Plan Working Group
Explore the initial GHG findings
Put forward their views on proposed actions as well as their own suggested remedies. All viewpoints will be taken into account as we develop the way forward for the County.

Learn More: https://haveyoursay.thecounty.ca/climate-action-plan
