In an effort to supply repeatedly requested information, the Task Force is preparing a series of brief documents/brochures to address these concerns. Back to brochure list.

Task Force to Bring Back the Don

Task Force to Bring Back the Don (PDF)

Composition
The Task Force to Bring Back the Don is made up of 23 members, including three Councillors and 20 citizen members who are residents of the City of Toronto and who have a commitment to, and interest in, the Don River and its watershed. The Chair and Vice-Chair(s) are chosen by the Task Force from among the citizen members.

Term of Appointment
Task Force members are appointed for the Term of Council, or until their successors are appointed. The Task Force elects a citizen Chair and Vice-Chair(s) at the beginning of each term, or as determined by the Task Force.

Goal
The Task Force to Bring Back the Don is committed to 'bringing back' a clean, green and accessible Don River within the City of Toronto.

Principles
The Task Force to Bring Back the Don operates in accordance with three principles:

• The Task Force is a 'citizen-driven' advisory body of City Council;
• The Task Force works with natural processes to bring back the Don;
• The Task Force is committed to working in partnership with all agencies and organizations that share its goal.

• Educate and involve Toronto's citizens in the restoration of the Don Watershed;
• Fundraise and establish partnerships for Don Watershed restoration projects;
• Undertake Don Watershed restoration projects in partnership with City departments, outside agencies, community groups, the private sector and individual volunteers;
• Act as a watchdog and advise City Council with respect to issues affecting the Don Watershed;
• Work with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and its Don Watershed Regeneration Council;
• Advise City Council with respect to the establishment of City-sponsored stewardship groups in conjunction with other environmental initiatives;
• Work with community-based stewardship groups from all watersheds within Toronto on watershed restoration issues and responses.

Teams
Members of the Task Force are expected to participate actively on at least one working team. Teams discuss specific issues and make recommendations to the Task Force. The Habitat Restoration Team deals with habitat protection, creation and restoration projects and stewardship of special areas. The Communications, Outreach and Marketing Team produces and/or organizes two issues of a newsletter per year, new web site information, media contacts, handouts on specific issues and displays at special events. The Policy and Planning Team deals with planning issues and City policies. Issues are often discussed by more than one team.

Members of the public are encouraged to become active members on any of these teams without being a member of the Task Force itself. Call 416-392-0401 to request more information about these teams and their meeting dates and/or locations.

'Clean, green and accessible' means a great deal to those who wish to bring back the Don River, Valley and Watershed. Most people understand what these words mean; however, a few issues need to be clarified.

Clean - 'Clean' refers to two somewhat different but related conditions:

1. Clear of litter and illegally dumped garbage
2. Free of anthropogenic (human-made) pollutants in the soil, water and air.

We promote initiatives that prevent or reduce the former problems, and we judge initiatives positively that clean up or reduce releases of the latter. Note that releases of pollutants to water or air may occur at considerable distance from the Don River; therefore, we may provide advice to the City on developments, projects or activities anywhere in the Don Watershed.

Green - 'Green' as applied to the Don Valley means biologically diverse and healthy. We promote biodiversity in the Don Valley, not simply anything that is coloured green. Because native plants tend to create conditions that optimize species diversity, we are selective in protecting and restoring plant species native to the local region. While we are sensitive to challenges that come with urbanization, we wish to 'mend the web of life', as much as possible; therefore, we advise against, and reject, the introduction of species to the Don Valley, that are not native or that are invasive. We frequently attempt to control such species.

In addition, we support measures that minimize negative impacts related to anthropogenic activities in the Watershed. Such measures may include, for example, low impact development and the consolidation of infrastructure located in the Valley. In general, we apply an ecological net gain principle in order to strive to achieve the highest overall benefit for the Valley.

Accessible - 'Accessible' may be achieved in various degrees in different areas. We encourage the opening of the Don Valley to low-impact human access. We discourage high-impact (generally meaning 'motorized') accessibility because it tends to impair the Valley for other uses, yielding an ecological net loss. Accessibility is not an absolute goal; we may promote the creation of 'sanctuaries' (areas with no human access) in certain locations for the benefit of wildlife; however, in general, we believe that human contact with the natural environment in the Don Valley can create conditions that are positive for all creatures - human and non-human - that use the Valley. We promote access for all people, acknowledging that differences in abilities may create differences in the extent and mode of access that is desirable or possible.

You may need the free Adobe Acrobat Viewer to view PDF files.