TRCA’s 2018 Annual Report

July 19, 2019

I am pleased to share with you the online version of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s 2018 Annual Report, which, for the first time, explains your hard work and achievements through a series of reproducible metrics or key performance indicators.

Transformation, the title and theme of this year’s report, speaks to our efforts to transform TRCA into a modern sophisticated organization, to the transformative work we do in influencing our stakeholders through education, and to our work that includes protecting and restoring special places throughout our jurisdiction.

Since joining TRCA in late 2017, my focus, and that of our Senior Leadership Team, has been on modernizing our organization and building stronger relationships with external stakeholders to ensure our long-term financial sustainability. I am pleased to say that we have made great headway in the last year to advance our updated Strategic Plan objectives.

We have grown our budget significantly, from $117 million in 2017 to a projected $215 million in 2020. Importantly, our growth is coming in the areas that the Province has defined as our core mandate responsibilities.

We also have provided value-added advice on sustainability and climate change actions within our communities. Our staff responses to extreme weather events, such as the Bolton Flood and the highest recorded lake levels in history, have been greatly appreciated by our partners.

In 2018 we advanced the five-year update to TRCA’s Strategic Plan, which places greater emphasis on TRCA’s mandated roles and responsibilities, and on the valuable implementation role TRCA plays for its partners. Included in the Strategic Plan are projected strategic accomplishments and key performance measures, which are now directly illustrated in our 2018 Annual Report.

Areas of focus in our updated Strategic Plan include:

1. Expanding TRCA’s fee-for-service work for government, private sector and non-profit stakeholders to facilitate the efficient delivery of initiatives in areas of TRCA expertise
2. Reducing flood risks and protecting communities through improvements to TRCA’s flood forecasting and warning program, with emphasis on increasing communication channels prior to, during and after events
3. Working with partner municipalities to implement flood remediation, erosion monitoring maintenance work, stormwater system retrofits, low impact development, green infrastructure and water quality and habitat restoration projects to realize more sustainable developments
4. Advancing TRCA’s Regional Trails Strategy, Natural Heritage Strategy and Master Plans
5. Investing in infrastructure to provide safe, accessible and functional facilities to the public

The updated Strategic Plan also speaks to improving TRCA’s role in the development and infrastructure review process involving member municipalities, industry and other stakeholders, with the aim of facilitating more timely and comprehensive reviews to create certainty for all involved.

I am very passionate and excited about our mandate and the transformative work we do. I have learned to appreciate the many great things that TRCA accomplishes every day with the support of our partners and the great work of our staff, volunteers and supporters.

Please take a few minutes to explore TRCA’s 2018 Annual Report. I look forward to working closely with staff to continue to make positive change together for the betterment of our organization.

Sincerely,

John MacKenzie, M.Sc.(Pl) MCIP, RPP
Chief Executive Officer
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)