Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP)
The City of Vaughan and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) are bringing a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP) to Thornhill. The SNAP focuses on neighbourhood revitalization and aims to make our communities more sustainable and livable. We look for urban renewal opportunities such as flood risk reduction, energy and water conservation, tree planting and natural heritage enhancements, improving walkability and accessibility, recreation, and even arts and culture.
The Thornhill SNAP aligns municipal objectives with resident interests and fulfills Action 5.1.3 in Green Directions Vaughan 2019. The program aims to identify innovative solutions to community risks and challenges.
To find out ways to get involved, get in touch with the SNAP team or learn more about the Thornhill SNAP, visit the project website at trca.ca/snap-thornhill.
Upcoming Events
Nature in Your Neighbourhood - Thornhill
Friday November 3rd, 6 - 7:30 pm
J.E.H. MacDonald House
121 Centre Street, Vaughan, ON, L4J 1G3
As the weather gets cooler and the leaves begin to change, we start to move into a new seasonal cycle and get ready for the colder months ahead. Join the City of Vaughan, TRCA and Kandy Kennedy of KKennedy Indigenous Consulting for a fun, family-friendly event all about the changing seasons.
We'll learn from Indigenous Ways of Knowing about the fall harvest, and dive into the unique adaptations wildlife use in order to get ready for winter.
This event is intended for ages 6+, adult accompaniment required.
The Thornhill Action Plan
Council approved the Thornhill SNAP Action Plan in September 2021. The Action Plan is based on technical objectives, planned municipal projects and resident priorities and it provides recommendations for climate change and sustainability actions on both private property and in the public realm.
Through community engagement, five motivating themes and three integrated action areas were identified. Each integrated action area has its own design principles and proposed actions. The action areas include:
- Connected Places, People and Ecosystems
- Residential Retrofits
- Greening and Humanization of Commercial and Institutional Properties and Multi-Unit Residential Buildings (MURBs)
Signature Projects
Within the Connected Places, People and Ecosystems action area, there are three public realm signature projects. Concept plans for these projects are linked below. Over the next 5 years, the SNAP Team will work with the community and City staff to create detailed designs and implement these projects.
These signature projects align with City initiatives - Active Together Master Plan, Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, Parks Redevelopment Strategy, Green Directions Vaughan 2019, Term of Council Strategic Priorities – and build on community needs and environmental objectives, and are tied to capital infrastructure projects.
Action Plan Development
The SNAP team launched the action planning process with a neighbourhood workshop on Sunday, January 26, 2020 to hear from community members first-hand about what makes their neighbourhood special and how they envision its future. The objective of the workshop was to bring community and partners together to explore the past, present and future of Thornhill, identify shared neighbourhood objectives and motivating themes and identify project ideas.
To co-develop the Action Plan, the SNAP team launched an engagement strategy that occurred between June - September 2020 and included the following:
- two virtual open house sessions
- three virtual workshops to begin visioning for each of the signature projects
- one-on-one meetings with various community stakeholders and organizations
- one virtual volunteer capacity building meeting
- one meeting with three First Nation groups
- mailed out survey
- newsletter and email exchange
- online public comments on the draft action plan
Completed Green Infrastructure and Community Engagement Projects
Oakbank Pond Community Engagement Project
With the help of 13 community volunteers, a native pollinator garden was planted at Oakbank Pond Park in September 2021, and educational signage was installed in the garden, and along the boardwalk.
Hefhill Park Tree Planting Project
With the help of 10 community volunteers, 125 trees and shrubs were planted at Hefhill Park in September 2021.
York Hill District Park Tree Planting Project
With the help of 8 IKEA Canada volunteers, 165 trees and shrubs were planted at York Hill Park in September 2022. The project is part of the larger Environmental Learning Zone that will be established in the southern area of the park/.
These projects were made possible by support from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and York Region.
