About Us

We believe that as we learn to balance environmental, economic and social objectives, our journey - like riding a bicycle - can be simple, joyous, and efficient.

Simple - Sustainability starts now with simple and practical actions.
Joyous - This journey can bring great satisfaction and joy.
Efficient - We can live better, doing more with less.

DSA is located in the hamlet of Brougham (north Pickering) in the Commercial House, a 149 year old building. When the Commercial House was built in 1860 it was a full day’s journey to Toronto. By 1927, when this early Ontario Hotel was converted to a private home, faster transportation had made a stop-over in Brougham unnecessary. The Commercial House was operated by carriage maker, Samuel Webb. Legend says that Mr. Webb decided to build Brougham’s second hotel after getting into a heated argument with Charles Matthews over a checkers’ game. Mr. Matthews was the owner of the Brougham Hotel (located across Highway 7 until 1986, when it was demolished).

Remnants of the Town Jail can still be seen in the basement of the Commercial House. Restoration of the Commercial House and transformation in the Green House began in 1982. Many recycling and conservation programs have started here, helping Durham residents protect and preserve their environment as well as their heritage. In 1993, the original lettering on the building Commercial House was restored by Artist Bert Bokkers.

Jack McGinnis has been a pioneer in the conservation field since 1974, the year he started Canada's first multi-material curbside recycling program. He started the Recycling Council of Ontario in 1978, and from 1977 through 1983 he led the design and development of Blue Box recycling - the system now used each week by more than 70 million people across North America. Jack has been working with energy conservation and climate change education for 25 years, internationally and here in Ontario.  As a resident of the Durham Region for more than 30 years Jack is proud of the leadership show here by residents, businesses, schools, and our municipal officials.

Angela Wheeler applies her expertise in the sustainability and conservation fields to a variety of leading edge sustainable development, energy conservation and waste diversion projects. Through RDC Group, Angela balances creative thinking with logical design when working on program design and implementation, public education, communications and event coordination. Angela holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Western Ontario and has project management experience working on commercial and residential land development projects.                                                                                                               

Gail Lawlor has been involved in the energy, waste and water sectors for the past 25 years. Through her consulting company, Energy Matters, Gail provides training development and delivery, research, and project implementation expertise to a variety of clients. Gail's background includes a Bachelor of Environmental Studies, an Adult Education Diploma, and practical experience as an air sealing contractor, energy auditor and environmental products retailer. She also has extensive experience with volunteer committees including the Recycling Council of Ontario, the Ontario Water Works Association and is a founding member of Durham Environmental Network (DEN) and Durham Conservation Centre (now Durham Sustain Ability). Through the Durham Conservation Centre, Gail administered the first depot and curbside recycling program in Pickering and the energy retrofit of the Commercial House in Brougham.                                                                           

Shawn is a more recent "convert" to environmental matters but brings with him more than 15 years experience from the private sector using advanced techniques and technologies to help companies better manage their business. As the Founder and Committee Chairman for the Pitch-In Brooklin Program he has used those same skills to mobilize his community towards an improved environment. As a Partner in the Baleen Group he helps companies achieve their goals - both financial and environmental.

Bob is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies and has given hundreds of keynote presentations corporate, university, government, and NGO audiences. Bob applies business and leadership development experience from his 34-year career at IBM Canada to engage the business community in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities associated with sustainability issues. He is the author of The Sustainability Advantage, The Next Sustainability Wave, and The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook. See www.sustainabilityadvantage.com for more information.

Glenda Gies has been involved in community-based recycling and environmental work since co-founding Durham Recycling in 1978. A member of the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO) since 1983, she served as a Board Member, Chair, head of the Conference Committee, and chair of the Policy Committee. Glenda has also been an active participant in other environmental groups in Durham, and is currently the Executive Director of Waste Diversion Ontario (WDO), a non-crown multi-stakeholder organization reporting to the Minister of Environment.

Terry Green has over 20 years experience developing and managing creative environmentally sustainable solutions for clients in the private and public sectors. His background combines solid technical and engineering experience based on a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering, and extensive business management experience while running a $100 million environmental outsourcing business in the energy sector for 10 years, integrated with a broader human motivational perspective through a recent Masters of Arts in psychology. His consulting company Greenpath provides advisory services for organizations and communities in the field of sustainable development.

Durham Sustain Ability has received funding support from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment's Community Go Green Fund.  

Durham Sustain Ability recognizes the Ontario Trillium foundation as our core funder. The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

Green Communities Canada is a national association of non-profit organization that deliver innovative, practical environmental solutions to Canadian households and communities. Durham Sustain Ability is a proud member.