Community
Sustainability
Plan

 

The Community Sustainability Plan aims to improve quality of life for Oxford's current and future generations and to balance Oxford's collective economic, community, and environmental interests.

What is sustainability?
Implementing the plan

Print version with further details


Vision

A vibrant, prosperous, and responsible Oxford for all.


Mission

To achieve community sustainability throughout Oxford.


Sustainability framework

This image illustrates a sustainability framework of nested circles, recognizing that community and economic activity occurs within environmental, or ecological, limits

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is an approach to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. It takes into account the short and long-term ecological, social, and economic consequences of our actions and emphasizes both environmental and human well-being as essential ends in themselves.

Oxford has adopted the lens of sustainability to create an integrated and effective approach to addressing challenges, including economic and social inequities, human health, ecosystem decline, and community development.

Multi-Criteria Assessment Tool

Oxford's Multi-Criteria Assessment Tool is a framework to help guide councils, organizations, businesses and others in making decisions that support a sustainable future.

Developed by the Steering Committee working with Sustainability Solutions Group and IndEco, it uses a "made in Oxford" weighted, multiple-criteria approach to establish a score that can then be used to assess different courses of action.

Sustainability framework

This framework provides a guide through which Oxford can work together to build a sustainable, resilient, and vital future. The goal of Future Oxford is to articulate how we balance these interests in a model that informs decisions about our future.

About Oxford County

Located in the heart of southwestern Ontario, Oxford has a population of approximately 109,000 residents. Oxford is "growing stronger together" through demonstrated partnerships with residents, businesses, the County of Oxford, and the eight area municipalities: Blandford-Blenheim, East Zorra-Tavistock, Ingersoll, Norwich, South-West Oxford, Tillsonburg, Woodstock, and Zorra.

One of Ontario's foremost farming communities, Oxford's location at the crossroads of Highways 401 and 403 has contributed to the development of a significant commercial and industrial sector. Oxford is home to a thriving local arts, culture, and culinary community, and boasts conservation parks, natural areas, and more than 100 kilometres of scenic trails.

Community


GOAL 1i:
An Oxford that is accessible for all citizens


GOAL 1ii:
A knowledgeable and equitable Oxford


GOAL 1iii:
A creative Oxford

Targets to be established by community teams. All targets refer to 2015 as a base year.

 
1iA

Provide high-quality and accessible health care, social services, support programs, and housing that meet the needs of all citizens.

Targets

  • Reduce core housing need in Oxford by X% by 2020 and Y% by 2030.
  • Reduce % population living in poverty by X% in 2020 and by Y% in 2030

Actions

  1. Create partnership opportunities that encourage the private sector to invest in affordable housing.
  2. Foster collaboration among citizens, community partners, and all levels of government to advance preventative health (including decreasing substance abuse and improving mental health) through active living and building social capital.
  3. Encourage infill development including mixed-use projects and/or small homes, secondary homes, and in home suites on existing lots.
1iB

Develop accessible intercommunity transportation options to reduce reliance on personal automobile ownership.

Targets

  • Reduce the average distance driven per resident by X% from 2007 levels by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Provide frequent, cost-efficient transportation options that connect all of Oxford and larger to hubs outside of Oxford.
  2. Provide real time transportation information on-site, online, and in an Oxford transportation guidebook to highlight routes, connections, and timetables.
1iC

Promote and support volunteering.

Targets

  • Increase the percentage of the population that volunteers by X% by 2020 and by a further Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Increase the use and awareness of the Volunteer Opportunities Directory in Oxford.
  2. Enhance the capacity of volunteer organizations through:
    • expanded recruitment programs;
    • training support for all ages;
    • a public recognition program; and,
    • addressing transportation needs of volunteers.
1iD

Ensure that affordable, healthy food options are accessible to all residents.

Targets

  • To be Determined in conjunction with development of the Food Security Plan

Actions

  1. Develop a food security plan that supports food affordability and accessibility of food to all of Oxford's population.
  2. Promote backyard gardens, community gardens, and community food hubs in partnership with community partners and schools.
1iE

Promote engagement in decisions that affect the public good.

Targets

  • Increase voter turn-out rates to all elections by X% by 2020 and a further Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Ensure broad communication, engagement and community awareness of government initiatives/plans and community programs/services.
  2. Develop a collaborative voter engagement program, including supporting volunteers to stimulate voter turnout and a voter information package on sustainability issues for all elections.
1iiA

Ensure access to affordable education for all ages.

Targets

  • Increase the number of residents with post-secondary education by X% by 2020 and to the Y% by 2030.
  • X% functional literacy within Oxford by 2020 and Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Work to develop a university campus in Oxford.
  2. Expand opportunities for post-secondary programs, including:
    • self-directed learning opportunities;
    • co-op programs;
    • skilled trade programs;
    • employment training programs; and
    • loans and grants for students.
  3. Ensure high-speed/high-capacity broadband throughout Oxford.
  4. Provide access to collaborative spaces and services for people who are participating in online studies and support self-directed learning.
1iiB

Advance the community dialogue on sustainability issues.

Targets

  • Increase the sustainability quotient by X% by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Create and support community sustainability roundtables to lead a region-wide dialogue on sustainability issues and the implementation of sustainability actions.
  2. Establish an environmental responsibility program in collaboration with schools.
  3. Support organizations and programs working to eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
1iiiA

Promote arts, recreation and culture.

Targets

  • Increase the number of participants at arts, recreation, and culture activities by X% by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Encourage relevant organizations to convene to develop:
    • an arts and culture plan; and
    • a funding initiative and a strategy to use under-utilized facilities and spaces to support a thriving arts, recreation, and culture community in Oxford.
  2. Support and promote collaborations among theatres, galleries, and museums (e.g. such as Oxford Creative Connections).
  3. Enhance and promote arts and recreation programming within schools and for residents.
  4. Develop a major arts and culture tourist destination in Oxford.

Economy


GOAL 2i:
A thriving local economy


GOAL 2ii:
A local economy that supports and fosters community sustainability

Targets to be established by community teams. All targets refer to 2015 as a base year.

 
2iA

Build a vibrant economy.

Targets

  • Grow the total number of jobs in the region in relation to projected population growth targets by X% by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Enhance collaboration between all local and regional economic development officers and agencies.
  2. Develop a mechanism to enhance support of local business expansion and retention.
  3. Support companies that can process Oxford-based agricultural products (e.g. dairy, soy, corn, market vegetables, and fruit).
  4. Amend zoning to encourage on-farm processing.
  5. Promote emerging employment opportunities to youth.
  6. Encourage high-tech manufacturing in Oxford.
2iB

Cultivate entrepreneurship throughout Oxford.

Targets

  • Increase the number rate of successful new start-ups per year (including youth) by X% by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Enhance employment mentorship programs for new entrepreneurs.
  2. Provide incentive programs to support equity and diversity.
2iC

Encourage production and consumption of locally produced food and products.

Targets

  • Increase the quantity of local food consumed/purchased by 25% by 2020 and 50% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Enhance the visibility and capacity of farmers' markets to showcase Oxford farmers and local products for Oxford residents and beyond.
  2. Incentivize and encourage local restaurants and grocery stores to use or sell local products.
  3. Ensure preservation of farmland through proactive land-use and other policies.
2iiA

Grow the sustainable economy.

Targets

  • Oxford has the highest percentage of sustainability related jobs in the province by 2020.

Actions

  1. Develop an Oxford job strategy that stimulates the sustainable economy, including an inventory of sustainability related jobs.
  2. Develop incentives to support ecological farming approaches or techniques.
  3. Ensure appropriate access to Community Employment Services across Oxford.
  4. Support local business through procurement policies and full-cost accounting by government and public sector organizations.
  5. Encourage green entrepreneurship through incentives and programs.
  6. Organize job fairs in each community and promote existing online employment resources.

Environment


GOAL 3i:
Oxford is recognized, within and by the world, as a leader in environmental action

Targets to be established by community teams. All targets refer to 2015 as a base year.

 
3iA

Protect and restore the ecosystem.

Targets

  • Plant 10,000 native species trees per year.
  • Restore and/or rehabilitate X ha of native species, grasslands, wetlands, and natural features per year.
  • X% tree cover in settlement areas by 2020 and Y% by 2030.
  • X% overall tree cover by 2020 and Y% by 2030

Actions

  1. Develop a green infrastructure plan including a tree planting strategy.
  2. Create a biodiversity plan to preserve and enhance biodiversity in Oxford, with a focus on native species.
  3. Establish a Natural Heritage System within the Official Plan to increase and connect green space to support biodiversity and to protect significant natural features in Oxford.
  4. Encourage sustainable agricultural practices.
  5. Develop a plan that encourages restoration of abandoned pits, quarries and brownfield sites.
  6. Create a region-wide plan for adaptation to climate change.
3iB

Move away from fossil fuels and enhance low carbon transportation.

Targets

  • Reduce Oxford greenhouse gas emissions by X% below 2013 levels by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.
  • 100% Renewable Energy by 2050.
  • Increase the percentage of low carbon transportation usage by X% by 2020 and by Y% by 2030.

Actions

  1. Develop an Oxford Energy Plan and reduction target strategy.
  2. Provide incentives for renewable energy, retrofits, zero-energy homes, passive housing, and other advanced low-carbon strategies.
  3. Encourage local electric utilities to use renewable electricity through a renewable energy (solar) lease program.
  4. Develop a marketing strategy and campaign to educate elementary and secondary students and the public at large about energy conservation initiatives.
  5. Develop a plan to ensure Oxford is carbon-positive by 2050.
  6. Develop a plan to ensure Oxford achieves 100% Renewable Energy by 2050.
  7. Evaluate the impact of new developments on Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
  8. Develop funding initiatives to stimulate energy and demonstration projects, including district energy projects throughout Oxford.
  9. Advocate for Building Code revisions to reduce fossil fuel consumptions through green construction and retrofits.
  10. Develop an Oxford program to support companies tracking and reducing their GHG emissions (along the lines of Climate Smart).
  11. Develop a network of bike lanes throughout Oxford, including physically separated trails where feasible, paved shoulders and bike stands.
  12. Develop a transportation demand management strategy that includes programs and incentives for ridesharing (including school buses), active transportation, bike sharing, and workplace mode-shifting with a particular focus on marginalized residents.
3iC

Achieve Zero waste in Oxford.

Targets

  • Reduce total waste disposed per capita by 40% by 2020 and by 60% by 2030.
  • Achieve the highest total waste diversion rate/capita in Ontario by 2020.

Actions

  1. Develop a waste reduction and diversion strategy to ensure the Oxford County Waste Management site can meet Oxford's total landfill disposal needs of residents and businesses to at least 2100.
  2. Enhance and incentivize reuse and recycling programs.
  3. Develop a composting strategy to divert 100% of organics from landfill.
  4. Actively investigate the potential for waste to energy projects that support renewable energy principles and targets.
  5. Advocate for sustainable packaging reform in Ontario.
  6. Prohibit the importation of contaminated excess soils.
3iD

Ensure long-term protection of all source water.

Targets

  • Reduce municipal water consumption per capita served by X% by 2020 and by Y% by 2030

Actions

  1. Develop a County-wide water management plan to protect all source water, similar to municipal source water protection plans now in development.
  2. Enhance water efficiency programs, including conservation awareness, xeriscaping, and incentives for rainwater capture and grey water systems.
  3. Develop regulations for sustainable water use for quarrying and gravel extraction.
  4. Develop a penalty structure for industries that dump into or pollute water systems.
  5. Prevent importation of sewage from outside Oxford.
  6. Encourage river and stream bank soil erosion protection and water quality protection from manure and/or chemical products.
  7. Develop water metering throughout Oxford

Steps towards implementation

Sept 9, 2015: Future Oxford Community Sustainability Plan approved by Oxford County Council, then tabled at all eight area municipal Councils over fall. Council also appoints Steering Committee as Transition Board

Oct 28, 2015: Public reception to share Plan with community.

Fall 2015: Community Oxford, Economy Oxford and Environment Oxford action committees are formed to set action plans to achieve each set of targets

Jan 28, 2016: Appointment of new Future Oxford Board, an independent community-based partnership board to carry out the work of the Plan with the help of community volunteers serving on various sub-committees

Read more about the plan for implementing and reporting

Getting here: Steps to building the Plan

Mar 26, 2014: Oxford County Council approves development of a community sustainability plan

June 25, 2014: Community Sustainability Steering Committee members announced

Nov 2014-Apr 2015: Community engagement opportunities and activities take place

June 24, 2015: Draft plan presented to County Council for review, then tabled at area municipal councils