Impact Report

2024-2025

We believe that by acting today, we can leave our children a community
that is more resilient, vibrant, caring and sustainable.

This has been another significant year for Reep Green Solutions as we celebrate our 25th year! I am excited to be a part of the board at this stage in the organization’s history to not only celebrate how far we have come but also plan for our impact in the years ahead.

It is heartwarming for me to see and hear the great reputation and reach that Reep has in our community when I think back to its humble beginnings as a joint project between the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment and Elora Environment Centre. Reep’s leadership over the years has truly proven Margaret Mead correct in saying “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has”.

Reep’s Executive Director, Patrick Gilbride, is now in his second year of managing the organization and has confidently navigated the ongoing changes in the local environmental and political landscape to ensure that Reep continues to provide important services that meet the needs of our community. Whether it is through having a home energy audit, getting a tree planted, participating in building a community rain garden, or an educational workshop, there are so many ways that Reep is truly ‘planting seeds’ in our community for a more resilient, vibrant, caring and sustainable future.

This Impact Report marks 25 years of Reep Green Solutions helping people to take action on climate change. The accomplishments in that time have been remarkable, especially when I think back and compare it to what I was like at 25, just beginning to figure out what the world was all about. In contrast, Reep has become firmly established as a trusted and sage source of advice for people in the community, a relationship that has only deepened over time. 25 years represents an entire generation’s worth of positive impact. More importantly, it is an opportunity to recognize our community’s progress as symbolized in our 10k goal of meaningful actions on climate change.

It is also humbling when we think about turning 25 from the perspective of indigenous teachings to honour seven generations of our past and to plan ahead seven generations into our future. The next generation of Reepers are bringing fresh ideas, anchored in our many strong relationships and partnerships in the community. At the same time, we remain rooted as an organization in the values that have guided us from the beginning—community connection, climate action, and hope for a better world.

Thank you to all who make this work possible: our team, partners, funders, and especially everyone who has taken action to improve our future. You are part of something bigger—planting seeds today for a healthier tomorrow.

We recognize the enduring presence of the Indigenous people with whom we share this land today, their achievements and their contributions to our community. We value their traditional knowledge about how to live sustainably on this land that we share and will leave for our future generations.

Read our full territorial acknowledgement.

25 Years of Community Action

This year is a special one for Reep Green Solutions. We are celebrating 25 years of helping people in Waterloo Region live more sustainably. Thanks to your support, we have helped thousands take action on climate change and work toward a greener, stronger future for our children and community.

How Close Are We To Our 2030 Target?

By 2030, people impacted by Reep Green Solutions have taken 10,000 meaningful actions to collectively shift our community to a resilient, low-carbon future.

Here is our total so far:

77%

Meaningful Actions (2020-2024)

Rooted in Reep’s Beginnings: A Message from Our Former Executive Director, Mary Jane Patterson

Congratulations to Reep Green Solutions on 25 years of making a difference!

It’s amazing to think that Reep started as a small, two-year energy project at the University of Waterloo in 1999, and has grown into the strong, lasting organization it is today. Since then, thousands of homes in the Waterloo Region have been checked for energy efficiency. But the biggest impact came from homeowners who followed our advice like cutting greenhouse gas emissions, lowering their energy bills, and making more eco-friendly choices.

Even though I’ve been retired for two years, I still feel like part of the Reep team. I still say “we” and “us” when I talk about Reep, because once a Reeper, always a Reeper!

New Generation Takes Root: Meet Sydney Daniels, Communications Assistant at Reep

I have loved nature for as long as I can remember. From playing in my mom’s garden, trying to befriend animals, and later joining my school’s eco club. A defining moment for me was when the tree I had “adopted” through a school program was cut down due to the Emerald Ash Borer. That loss fueled my passion for conservation and inspired me to start sharing environmental knowledge through photography and community education.

In January 2023, I joined Reep as a Marketing & Events Assistant for my first co-op placement. The job felt made for me as it was community-focused and rooted in climate action. It also happened to be Mary Jane’s final year before retirement, which made it feel like I was stepping in at a time of transition and opportunity.

Program Updates

All reported numbers are from the most recent fiscal year (April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025).

Meaningful Actions

Supportive Actions

In 2020, we set a goal to support 10,000 meaningful actions by 2030. We’re also tracking our progress to make sure we’re reaching that goal and making a real difference in the community.

This year, people in our programs completed 2,401 meaningful actions. These included installing heat pumps, planting native plants, adding insulation to basements, and helping to build rain gardens. Every action helps to build a community that is more sustainable.

These actions also support our local efforts to fight climate change and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

On top of that, participants took 4,310 supportive actions 2401 over the past year by participating in consultations, webinars, and hands-on workshops to learn how to live more sustainably.

Home Energy Efficiency

EnerGuide Evaluations

Last year, we visited 385 homes to provide 63 Initial evaluations and 341 final evaluations. The greater focus on final evaluations reflects the wind down of several incentive programs (Greener Homes; HER+).

“I was very happy with the energy evaluation I got from Les, Registered Energy Advisor. He seemed very thorough and knowledgeable. He took the time to answer all my questions and talk through different options I could do with my home.” – EnerGuide Evaluation Participant

Invested in the Local Economy

Home energy upgrades are good for the local economy! Our participants made significant investments in their home retrofits last year, totaling $10M to stay in the local economy. These are dollars that stay in our community and create local jobs. Participants also received $2M in rebate incentives to help cover those costs.

“We were very pleased with all the interactions we had with Les, Registered Energy Advisor. He was very patient with the questions we had for him and his answers certainly satisfied our concerns.” – Participant

Retrofits Installed

Out of the 749 energy efficiency upgrades that we documented, the most common were 183 heating or cooling systems and 172 insulation upgrades. These homes will save an estimated $380,000 in energy costs.

“We had fantastic service from start to finish. We especially appreciated the added service Andrew, Registered Energy Advisor, provided to help us pick the right heat pump for our home. Thank you! – Participant

Jame’s Journey to a More Resilient, Comfortable Home

Reduction in Energy Costs

Tonnes of GHG Emissions Reduced Annually

Gas Reduction

m³

When Jame first heard about Reep Green Solutions' EnerGuide Home Energy Evaluation through word of mouth, he knew he had found a trusted guide. Hearing that Reep was a “leader in the space”, he reached out to learn more about how to improve his older home’s energy performance.

Healthy Yards and Neighbourhoods

Healthy Yards Features

After a resident has received a Healthy Yard Consultation, they are given site-specific advice and landscape plans to help them with their projects.

Permeable paving, naturalized lawns, native trees and rain barrels are some of the projects residents have completed.

“I like watching how the seasons and the garden meld together. I have a rain garden, and I find myself cheering for the garden whenever it rains and celebrating all the water that is collected.”

– Jennifer Haliburton, Healthy Yards Participant

Healthy Yards Consultations

Each year, we meet with Kitchener property owners to help them design beautiful yards that can handle the effects of climate change.

Many people have made big improvements, like:

Soaking up rainwater on their property
Reducing water runoff onto the street
Making their yards better for plants and animals

We asked participants what they liked most about the visit. One person said:

“I really liked the helpful and personalized advice on how to manage rainwater. It felt like the advisor gave me a full landscaping plan that will really improve my yard.” – Healthy Yards Participant

Outreach Event Participants

We help the City of Kitchener with projects to manage stormwater in parks and urban creeks in a sustainable way.

We connect with the community through planting events, workshops, festivals, walks, talks, and more!

“In spring 2024, The Creek Collective came to Reep Green Solutions with an idea for a community mural event near Reep House by Schneider Creek.

With support from Reep, The Creek Collective got their first LoveMyHood grant. Over 50 neighbours of all ages came out on a nice June Saturday to paint murals inspired by Schneider Creek. The two mural panels were put up on tunnel railings, making the area much more beautiful.” – Geoff Martin, The Creek Collective

Community Canopy: Growing Equity, One Tree at a Time

Community Canopy is a project that works to address inequities that are present in tree canopy distribution. In lower canopy areas, people miss out on important benefits that trees provide like shade, cleaner air and water, homes for wildlife, and a stronger sense of community. The pilot phase of this program started in 2024 in partnership with the City of Kitchener and was supported through Green Communities Canada’s Living Cities Fund.

The City of Kitchener and Reep Green Solutions worked together in a coordinated effort to plant more trees in public and private places in a neighbourhood where they are needed the most. These efforts resulted in 54 large stature trees planted across 21 private properties along with 100 large stature trees added to public spaces in this neighbourhood.

This pilot presented opportunities to work with community members to determine where they wanted trees most. One such event was at Monsignor Haller Catholic Elementary School, where students and staff helped to plant nine new trees.

By working together and teaching people about trees, Community Canopy is helping create a greener, healthier, and fairer future for everyone. Learn more and help to expand our urban forest by planting more trees in neighbourhoods with the greatest need: Community Canopy – Reep Green Solutions

From Seed to Canopy: Expanding Native Tree Planting Across the Region

With support from Canada’s 2 Billion Trees Program and help from volunteers, Reep’s Native Tree Nursery project has built a greenhouse at Springbank Farm on land provided by rare Charitable Research Reserve.

We trained 12 certified seed collectors in the Region who, along with our staff, collected, prepared, and planted seeds from 34 native tree and shrub species. These species were chosen because they are well suited to our local climate.

In 2024, 42 volunteers gave 286 hours of their time to help grow and distribute over 3,000 native trees to local homeowners and for community planting projects. These included partnerships with the City of Kitchener, City of Cambridge, and the Wiijindamaan Indigenous Land-Based Futurity. Our trees and greenhouse have also supported groups like Reforest London, Let’s Tree Wilmot, and Trees for Woolwich.

Report Highlight: Protecting our watersheds. Preparing for climate change.

In 2016, the City of Kitchener evaluated the ecological health of all 29 of its watersheds and their creeks. Now, the City and Reep Green Solutions are working together with residents across public and private lands to improve the health and quality of the watersheds that received the lowest grades and highest priority for improvements. Funded by the City of Kitchener, Reep provides educational resources, hands-on experiences, and landscape design consultations to the private property owners in the neighbourhoods around Kitchener’s new public stormwater management projects.

Reep in the Community

Swap Shop Attendees

Swap Shop was a community-driven event at the Reep House aimed at promoting sustainability and affordability.

Zero Waste Challengers

Our Zero Waste Challenge had 75 participants, 60 people and 15 pets, all working to reduce the amount of waste that they create.

Reep Open House Attendees

Event Attendees

Reep held 63 in-person events with 1633 participants and 8 webinars with 370 attendees. People were eager to learn different ways to take action on climate change.

Our sustainable living monthly newsletter provides the support to live more sustainably. Stay connected to hear about year-round workshops and events. Join our mailing list at Reep Green Solutions.

Growing Solutions: How Two Students Turned Food Waste into Community Action

Spenser Morouney and Ethan Gosnell grew up in Kitchener. They never expected composting to become a big part of their climate action journey.

But as university students, Ethan studying Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo and Spenser studying Environmental Science at Laurier, they faced a common problem: no composting, no recycling bins, and no good way to manage waste in their apartment buildings.

Tree of the Year

The Tree of the Year award celebrates an extraordinary tree that holds deep significance in its community. This year’s Tree of the Year campaign was sponsored by the Echo Foundation. Trees tell stories, support wildlife, and contribute to the health of our environment. They stand as symbols of natural beauty and resilience, inspiring us to connect with and protect the green spaces around us.

In addition to our Tree of the Year award, we also celebrated 3 honourable mentions. These trees may not be the tallest or oldest but hold a special place in our hearts. Each of these trees embodies unique characteristics, from beloved wildlife habitats to helping combat climate change. Explore this year’s winners and discover their special stories here.

Your donation directly fuels the expansion of our Tree Trust program. Every dollar helps us care for beloved legacy trees, plant the next generation, and educate our community about the power of urban forests. Together, we’re building healthier, greener neighborhoods, one tree at a time: Contribute to protecting and caring of legacy trees today! Be sure to select ‘Tree Trust- Waterloo Region’ from the dropdown provided in the donation page.

ClimateActionWR

ClimateActionWR is a collaboration between local groups, community members, and local governments in the Waterloo Region. It is co-led by Reep Green Solutions and Sustainable Waterloo Region. ClimateActionWR works together to help the community take action on climate change, with a goal to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050 (compared to 2010 levels), and 50% by 2030.

This year, we worked to include more voices in our planning. We added new members to our Steering Committee and created a new Community Leadership Table. This updated structure brings together people from different organizations, schools, and community groups. It helps us to get more climate action from the TransformWR strategy, gives us a broader view, and leads to stronger, more meaningful change.

Event Attendees

This past year, we held a variety of events, including our Low-Carbon Expo, a climate event for seniors, and a panel discussion about climate hope.

Community Members Engaged

Each year, we go to community events to talk with people about local climate action and how everyone can help with the TransformWR climate plan.

Workshop Attendees

We presented 4 times to various community groups and post-secondary classes about TransformWR. In addition, we held 13 Taking on Climate Change Workshops.

“The Taking on Climate Change workshop was a great way to get the community involved in climate action. The information was easy to understand and meaningful. Because the group was intimate, we could focus on the specific questions and interests of the guests. We covered a variety of topics, like the basics of climate change, how it affects our local area, and simple things people can do to help in their everyday lives. Calculating our carbon footprints led to lots of great questions and conversations! I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to learn more about climate action, whether for themselves, their workplace, or their community.” – Anna Harrison, Climate Action & Sustainability Coordinator, Township of Woolwich

Request a workshop for your workplace or community group

Report Highlight: Waterloo Region Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report

The partners of ClimateActionWR shared a new report on greenhouse gas emissions in our community for 2022. The report shows emissions from transportation, buildings, waste, and farming. It was presented to all 8 municipal councils in Waterloo Region to show how we’re doing on our goal to cut emissions by 80% by 2050, and by 50% by 2030. The report says we are not on track and need to invest more to reduce emissions in a big way.

Donors Drive Climate Action

A Growing Relationship Rooted in Trees and Sustainability:
Marlene first found out about Reep Green Solutions in 2010–2011, soon after moving to the area. While staying near Belmont Village and looking for a home, she often walked around the neighbourhood. That’s when she noticed the Reep House was being renovated. Once it opened, she and her family visited often to get ideas on how to make their future home more energy efficient. She was especially inspired by the rain barrel system and permeable driveway, which sparked her interest in sustainable living.

Years later, Marlene’s connection with Reep grew through a shared love of trees. In 2020, she helped found Let’s Tree Wilmot (LTW), and their first tree planting event took place on October 24. Reep’s Executive Director, Patrick Gilbride, attended with his son, marking the start of a strong partnership based on shared environmental values. Marlene also received support from Trees for Woolwich, and since then, LTW, Trees for Woolwich, and Reep have worked together, sharing ideas, applying for grants, and helping each other with community projects.

Sustainable Giving Newsletter: Keeping You Connected to Impact

Each quarter, our Sustainable Giving Newsletter brings our donors closer to the heart of Reep Green Solutions. It’s more than just an update; it’s a reflection of your impact. Through stories of change, program milestones, and behind-the-scenes insights, we show how your generous support helps individuals and families in our community live more sustainably. Thank you for staying engaged, inspired, and invested in a greener future.

Donating is a Meaningful Action

Total Donations

Donations are an important way for people to create a positive impact. By donating to Reep Green Solutions, donors support programs that lead directly to meaningful actions that help fight climate change.

Donations are vital to the sustainability of Reep. We extend our deepest gratitude to the donors who decided to support us this year.

Financial Summary

The financial information in this section comes from audited statements for April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, reviewed by Clarke Starke & Diegel LLP.

Over the past fiscal year, Reep Green Solutions experienced an expected but still significant 20% drop in revenue, primarily due to a 60% decline in client fees resulting from the continued wind down of the Greener Homes Program. Additional revenue from grants helped to offset this trend. Cost reductions were implemented across several areas to keep the deficit modest. Investments in program development will continue through the next fiscal year to further Reep’s mission which will also serve to improve the organization’s financial resiliency.

Item	2024 to 2025	2023 to 2024
Revenue
Core Funding & Grants	$461,195	$355,569
Contracts	$391,528	$462,976
Client fees	$229,969	$573,171
Donations	$44,429	$31,321
Other income	$57,251	$51,572
Total revenue	$1,184,372	$1,474,609
Expenses
Salaries and benefits	$872,954	$1,012,917
Program delivery — contracted services and supplies	$173,563	$159,121
Outreach and community engagement	$20,565	$18,804
Rent and occupancy	$14,435	$13,662
Professional fees	$35,102	$34,251
Staff and organizational development	$8,437	$12,901
Office and administration	$38,007	$35,559
Insurance	$15,470	$15,102
Amortization	$7,457	$15,141
Interest and bank charges	$10,052	$20,678
Total expenses	$1,196,042	$1,338,136
Totals
Excess (Deficiency) of Revenue over Expenses	($11,670)	$136,473
Executive Search Fees	-	$26,294
Excess of Revenue over Expenses (Including Executive Search Fees)	-	$110,179