October 2010 - The Bulletin Magazine

Circles...
Transition
Towns
by Vicki Pinkerton
Transition Towns are coming to our area. This spring I interviewed Sue McKee
and Chris Oliver (pictured on the front cover), two members of Transition York
Region. They are trying to build change into not only our community, but also to
make an impact on the world we inhabit.
Transition Towns are created when a group of people get together in response to the
idea of peak oil and climate change. They are looking for person sized ways for their
areas to address some of the issues that will be confronting communities in the not too
distant future. Peak oil, is a term that is used to mark the peak of global oil production. It
is a moment in time when the world reaches its maximum oil production capacity, and begins
to have less and less affordable oil. There doesn't seem to be any scientific dispute about the fact that peak oil will
happen, the only question seems to be when. Some experts say it is already here and others see it coming within two
to twenty years. Transition Towns are grass root initiatives all over the world looking at ways that ordinary people can
move from oil dependence to local resilience. This shift in thinking will ease us into a new world.
Both Sue and Chris spoke enthusiastically about things that people can do in their lives to help lessen the impact of
extremely expensive oil. Driving less, by walking, biking and taking transit is one idea. Sue was trying to walk or
bike to any destinations that were under 5 km. "That takes planning," she said, "because even though 5k will only
take a few minutes in the car, I have to think about it and plan for extra time if I am on the bike." Chris and his
brothers have formed a company that employs cutting edge alternatives to warm and power homes. He said that all
new structures can be built to maximize the energy used. Both Chris and Sue advocate many other strategies
including, having or sharing gardens and eating local food where ever possible.
Transition Towns ask people to go back to their roots, rediscovering community the way it once was and yet in a new
way. They invite literally everyone to roll up their sleeves and get moving; children and teens with their energy and
uncapped imaginations, elders with their memories of how their parents made due in times of scarcity and everyone
else with an interest in moving forward. Politicians are asked to imagine a place where people live, work, shop and
grow things within walking or biking distance.
In a transition group, participants look at their own skills and strengths, spearheading projects that interest them. The
projects are as diverse as the people who join. What do you think might happen if oil became unaffordable to most
people in community? What things could you imagine might need to be tackled? There are groups investigating
everything from arts and education to ways to make a living in our communities, and strengthening local economies.
There are also people looking into ways to share and recycle so that we can use less of the earth's resources. Working
together can solve any problem.
Sometimes the problems of the global community seem overwhelming. Sometimes it is easy to look the other way.
Governments and corporations tell us that they are doing everything possible. Are they? Margaret Mead said, "Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has." Both Sue and Chris talked about the people they meet who are inspired by the transition community They spoke
about the energy and excitement generated by those who know that each small thing they do is causing far-reaching
ripples in our communal pond. In their enthusiasm, I sensed reclamation of the power people working together create.
Transition York Region is a new community forming inside of our community. There are still relatively few Transition
Towns in Canada but there are more every month. This small group started in Holland Landing is reaching out to
East Gwillimbury and gathering momentum. It has been embraced by citizens across the Region and now and has
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