About Green Step

BACKGROUND: Quite simply, sustainability is something`s ability to endure. The challenges that we face within, and outside of, our community relate to societal systems that are not sustainable. The three areas that Green Step will be addressing are environment, energy, and economy. Our society is created by how we value these three factors and how they affect each other.

The purpose of Green Step is to put ideas into action and promote these actions to the greater community. There are many incredible things being done within our community to make people and organizations more resilient and sustainable. Some of the greatest contributors to Green Step are already doing things to help our community.

MOVING FORWARD: We can all do more to make our community more resilient and sustainable. We can all learn more, and teach what we know to those around us. This evolution will require greater awareness within our community. Our community deserves a legacy that can be passed along to future generations. The future of this community depends on active involvement by individuals and organizations. If you are, or know someone who is interested in improving our environment, our energy systems, or our economic realities, please follow the evolution on the Green Step section of the Barrie Chamber website at www.barriechamber.com/GreenStep.

Green Step HISTORY: While attending a conference in early 2010, Sybil Goruk watched a documentary about this planet's uncertain future. Moved by this film, she started thinking about how every person should be taking action to give the environment a better chance. While in Toronto, she noticed that many of the businesses had visible signs and notices about recycling and conservation; this realization sparked the notion that businesses have a huge impact on the environment, and that they can be encouraged to get involved in the education of Barrie residents. When she returned to Barrie, Ms. Goruk looked into the existing "green" groups, and found that there was no real cohesive group of people reaching out to educate the business community as a whole. As the Executive Director of the Greater Barrie Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Goruk realized that she had the unique opportunity to start such a group.

Over the following months, Ms. Goruk shared her idea with a number of groups and organizations in the area; she gathered local experts together, they started talking, momentum picked up, and Green Step was born.