North Shore REEP
North Shore reep
North Shore Regional Energy and Emissions Plan (NS-REEP) is an innovative economic and community development instrument focused on reducing energy costs, improving energy services, and reducing climate impacts for municipalities, businesses and residents on the North Shore.
Energy and Emissions Report
Report of Consultation
Regional Energy & Emissions Plan Summary
Manitoulin Island and the North Shore Communities
The Smart Green Communities Team has now completed Two (2) Regional Energy and Emissions Plans (REEPs) as part of a 2-year project, funded by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
The REEPs deliver critical information on current energy and emissions usage and future climate scenarios, predicting how climate change will affect Manitoulin Island and the North Shore. They also offer strategies and solutions on how to address these scenarios with best practice solutions.
The REEPs identify that should a ‘business as usual’ (BAU) approach continue, Manitoulin Island & the North Shore could be greatly impacted by climate change and could expect the following in the coming decades:
Winter
- Milder winters lead to increased occurrence of freezing rain and ice storms resulting in more pronounced damage to the environment and man-made infrastructure.
- Ice storms could down power lines impacting household heating, electrical, and communication systems.
- Increased occurrences of snow melt, followed by refreezing can cause more severe potholes and damage to infrastructure.
- Warmer winters could increase the survival rate of insects and ticks.
- In northern Ontario in 2071-2100, summers will warm by 3 to 5°C and winters by 4 to 9°C compared to 1971- 2000. [1]
Spring
- An increase in precipitation / water content could increase the occurrence of flooding, and the risk of harm to life and property – due to the spring melt.
- Extreme precipitation events and infrastructure of all kinds will be vulnerable to conditions such as stormwater and waste water infrastructure overwhelmed, impacting water quality, water quantity and ecosystem. [2]
- Melting/freezing phases in winter and spring seasons can cause potholes, drivers would need to either avoid the potholes, deal with construction or take the damage (and associated cost of car repairs).
Summer
- Summers could be hotter & drier, and the increase in demand for cooling systems (AC/fridge/freezers/fans, etc.) could place an added burden and demand on the energy grid.
- Without adequate energy infrastructure improvements, you could see parts of the energy grid go offline and, in some cases, complete power outages in communities.
- Health risks from increased occurrences of heat warnings can expose vulnerable populations of elder residents to heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
- Prolonged periods of high temperatures could also exacerbate the effects of drought-like conditions for agriculture leading to premature deaths, crop failures, water shortages & forest fires.
- Increased risk of diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile Virus and other dangerous diseases transmitted from mosquitos, ticks and other vectors.
- Beach contamination can occur as a result of extreme precipitation events, typically characterized by high bacteria counts linked to ear, nose and throat infections. [2]
Fall
- Longer growing season for agriculture as warm summer temperature extends into the fall season.
- Dramatic weather patterns will cause damage to infrastructure, increase power outages and impact health and safety of residents.
Increased risk of diseases such as Lyme disease, West Nile Virus transmitted by mosquitos, ticks and other vectors due to rising summer temperatures, shorter winters, ecological changes, increased human exposure and faster maturation cycles for pathogens. Hotter temperatures will result in increased chances of wildfires, especially when paired with sudden heavy rainfalls as they tend to drain away or evaporate quickly because the ground cannot absorb large quantities of water at once, causing forests to dry out between storms.
The highs and lows of temperature and precipitation events will lengthen and happen more often. (Consecutive days without precipitation and/or happening more often)
All considered, Northern Canada is predicted to be one of the most impacted places on earth – given the effects of climate change.
Altogether, it is safer and cheaper to prepare for climate change than ignore its predicted effects.
community
information
Baldwin
- Size: 83.20km2
- Population (2016): 620
- Population Density / square km: 7.5
Key Information
- Named after Mr. F.A Baldwin, the Township of Baldwin is a predominantly rural community located on Highway 17, 3km east of Highways 6 and 17.
- The Township was incorporated in 1927.
- Baldwin Township has no heavy industry within its boundaries; however, Domtar Paper Products is a paper mill that is located approximately 2km away within the jurisdiction of the Town of Espanola, and serves as an important employment base to the residents of Baldwin.
Espanola
- Size: 82.82km2
- Population: 4996
- Population Density / square km: 60.3
Key Information
- Located on the Spanish River, The Town of Espanola originated as a company-owned town by the Spanish River Pulp and Paper Company and was incorporated in 1958.
- The Town of Espanola is a service hub for the LaCloche Manitoulin region.
Narin & Hyman
- Size: 160.82km2
- Population: 342
- Population Density / square km: 2.1
Key Information
- Named after a railway engineer’s hometown of Nairn, Scotland, Nairn & Hyman is a township that was created because of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s development.
- The township was officially chartered as a municipality and was formed from the geographic townships of Nairn, Lorne and Hyman in 1896.
- Historically, established as a logging industry, Nairn Centre was the core residential area.
- With the decline in logging-based activities, the Spanish River instead now provides opportunities for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, swimming, hunting, camping, and several kilometres of scenic off-road trails.
- Nairn Centre is relatively close in proximity to the City of Greater Sudbury, which provides additional opportunities for employment in the mining, manufacturing, retail, business, tourism, and forestry sectors, among others.
Town of North Shore
- Size: 239.08km2
- Population: 497
- Population Density / square km: 2.1
Key Information
- The Township of North Shore is located in the District of Algoma which has three primary village areas known as Serpent River, Spragge and Algoma Mills.
- Spragge was originally known as Cook’s Mill – a name which was based on a sawmill operation owned by the Cook Brothers Lumber Company founded in 1882.
- The village of Spragge once had sawmill activity but that was terminated in the 1930s.
- The town also had a thriving mining industry through the discovery of uranium and copper deposits in the area.
Sables-Spanish Rivers
- Size: 815.21km2
- Population: 3214
- Population Density / square km: 3.9
Key Information
- The township of Sables-Spanish Rivers was created in 1998 by amalgamating the towns of Massey and Webbwood with the township of Spanish Rivers and the unorganized geographic townships of May and Shakespeare.
- It was named for Massey’s location at the junction of the Spanish and Aux Sables rivers.
- The annual Massey Fair is held here in late August.
Town of Spanish
- Size: 108.67km2
- Population: 712
- Population Density / square km: 6.6
Key Information
- The Town of Spanish is located in Algoma District along the TransCanada Highway (17) at the mouth of the Spanish River that leads into the North Channel of Lake Huron.
Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nations
- Population: 1130
Key Information
- The word ‘Sagamok’ is loosely translated as “two points joining”.
- The Sagamok First Nation Community is located on the north shore of Lake Huron.
- Sagamok’s culture and language is Anishinabek and its population primarily comprises the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Pottawatomi tribes, also known as the “Three Fires Peoples”.
Serpent River First Nations
- Population: 355
Key Information
- Serpent River First Nations is located on the North Channel of Lake Huron, including the Serpent River Basin. The town of Elliot Lake is located further north.
- The Serpent River First Nations Community largely comprises the Anishinaabe tribe, a signatory to the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850.