Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program in Thornhill

The City of Vaughan and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) are bringing a Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP) to a neighbourhood in Thornhill. The SNAP program is about neighbourhood revitalization to make our communities more sustainable and become more 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 will align 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. Solutions could be things like:

• improving paths and public parks
• renovating institutions
• helping neighbours meet neighbours
• helping homeowners improve their own energy efficiency and protect their homes from floods

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.

The Thornhill SNAP study area is located between Bathurst Street and Yonge Street and between Hwy 407 and Steeles Avenue.

Deliverables

Neighbourhood Engagement

 The SNAP team hosted the first 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. In addition, the team met with stakeholders and sent out surveys.

Through community engagement, five motivating themes and three integrated project ideas have been identified. Each integrated project has its own design principles and proposed actions. The projects include:

1. Connected People, Places and Ecosystems:
• Active TransportationTrail Plan
• Green Infrasructure Plan
• Park and Open Space Revitalization
• Programming and events for education, culture and communtiy connections
2. Residential Retrofit Program
3. Greening and humaninzation of multi-unit residential, institutional and commercial properties

To co-develop the Action Plan, the SNAP team launched an online engagement strategy that occured between June - September 2020 and included the following:

• two virtual open house sessions
• three virtual workshops to begin visioning for the signature projects
• one-on-one meetings wtih various community stakeholders and organizations

To check out the draft SNAP Action Plan map visit trca.ca/snap-thornhill.

Upcoming public engagement/events:

• Session 1, 10:00am-12:00pm: Registration Link.
• Session 2, 2:00pm-4:00pm: Registration Link.

• Workshop overview - agenda and modules
• Meet the facilitators