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Not much effort needed to `drastically reduce' waste: Govender continued from p.38 If she found she produced waste while outside her home, she had to bring it back and deal with it properly. Govender aimed to eliminate as much excess packaging as possible, even if it was recyclable. She turned down straws and toothpicks at restaurants, bought bread directly from the bakery without a bag and made all of her own personal care and cleaning products. She also didn't buy any new clothing or products during the year, even secondhand -- with exception of secondhand baby necessities, as Govender became a mom during her challenge year. "As a new mom and a cat guardian, the two biggest components that I eliminated from my landfill waste were diapers and cat litter. My husband and I used cloth diapers for our little one, and used them without much issue even while travelling and camping," she said. "For cat litter, I switched to little wood pellets that expand into flushable sawdust when wet. I bought it in bulk from a farm that makes it from wood waste and I prefer it over our old litter." Govender said she was often asked why she couldn't buy secondhand items during her challenge. She will tell her inquirers she wouldn't actually be rescuing second-hand things from the landfill, but only delay their arrival there. "And second, buying as much as we want as long as it's secondhand still feeds into the idea that we need so much stuff," she explained. "For that to be a viable lifestyle choice requires that lots of other people buy things new and get rid of them before the end of their useful life." Govender said the challenge made her very aware of the hidden waste people produce, such as interview. "But it's been the last five years, or so, where I've been more serious about it." Outside of the challenge, Govender buys her "new" clothing secondhand or through hand-medowns because she says it takes a lot of energy and resources to make new clothing. Same thing with her furniture and she's already been making a lot of her own personal care products to avoid the packaging. The Oakvillian said, overall, she found it didn't take much effort to drastically reduce her waste production in the year. "Especially with some incredible support from my family and friends, but I think it would have been nearly impossible to completely eliminate it without removing myself from society," she explained. "When it comes to the throwaway, conveniencedriven lifestyles we live in our society, not only does it not have to be that way, it cannot be that way if we want to leave behind a livable planet for future generations," continued Govender. "We need to make some changes and that change can start with each one of us. We don't have to sit around and wait for better options to become available." Govender chronicled her entire #HaltonWasteChallenge year through her blog, available online at haltongreenscreens.ca/blog. She is also proposing another challenge for herself next year, coinciding with the Mindful Consumption theme for the 2017 Halton Enviro Guide by the Halton Environmental Network. Govender said she will try one new thing each week to further reduce her consumption, and will once again invite Halton residents and students to join her in her challenge. Heather Govender displays some of the unavoidable waste she accumulated in a year, such as old shoes, a pair of sunglasses and a Happy Birthday balloon. Govender amassed 1.1 kilograms in a year after taking on a waste-reduction challenge she began in October 2015. | Jayson Mills photo medical waste, packaging for ingredients of restaurant food, and leftovers from restaurants, since very few use compost. "At my dental appointments, I refused the bib," she noted. "At one appointment, the hygienist accidentally wiped some of her tools on my shirt out of habit." Govender admits she's been environmentallyaware since she was a young girl. "I was that child who'd carry around a pop can all day, just so I can recycle it, if there wasn't a bin available," she told the Beaver in a previous The 28th annual Expressions in Art Show and Sale is coming to the St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre from Nov. 4-6. It will feature Canadian and an international group of artists from the U.S., Ukraine and Europe, as well as local artists Johnny Filipchuk and Marsha Strycharz. Proceeds from the sale will go to the Oakville hospital and restoration of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. The art show will feature paintings in oil, watercolours and acrylics, mixed media, jewelry, sculptures, pottery and fine art. Admission is a donation of $10 and includes a meet-and-greet with the artists, wine and hors d'oeuvres during the opening reception on Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. The show continues Nov. 5-6 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. with free admission. A traditional cloth doll workshop takes place at noon. For more details, call 905-337-8436. The St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre is located at 1280 Dundas St. W. Expressions in Art Show and Sale this weekend 39 | Thursday, November 3, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Exhibit tour Oakville Galleries will be offering an exhibition tour of Zin Taylor: Five Units of Haze Saturday (Nov. 5) at 2 p.m., at its Gairloch Gardens location, 1306 Lakeshore Rd. E. Shakespeare 400 Oakville Symphony presents Shakespeare 400 Saturday (Nov. 5) at 8 p.m. and Sunday (Nov. 6) at 2 p.m. at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St. Guest artist will be cellist Paul Marleyn. The program includes: Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Nicolai, Overture to the Merry Wives of Windsor. For tickets, call 905-815-2021 or visit www.OakvilleCentre.ca. Art exhibit at Allegro By the Water's Edge, an exhibition of landscape paintings by artist Ana Gribbons continues until Nov. 20 at the Allegro Gallery Café inside Whole Foods Market, 301 Cornwall Rd. An artist's reception will be held Sunday (Nov. 6) from 5-7 p.m. In the Arts... General $8.50 | Children & Seniors $6.50 | All seats Tues $5.00 Acknowledge Exceptional. Help us celebrate the junior citizens who make our communities better. Nominate someone age 6­17 for a 2016 Ontario Junior Citizen Award! Maya Burhanpurkar 2010 Ontario Junior Citizen, Shanty Bay, ON ShowtimeS for November 4-10, 2016 DOCTOR STRANGE (PG) Fri - Thu: 1:30, 4:15, 6:45, 9:15 TROLLS (G) Fri - Thu: 12:45, 2:50. 5:00, 7:00, 9:45 HACKSAW RIDGE (18A) Fri - Thu: 1:00, 3:45, 6:50, 9:10 THE ACCOUNTANT (14A) Fri, Mon & Tue: 1:20, 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 Sat, Sun: 4:30, 7:10, 9:50 Wed: 7:10, 9:50 Thu: 1:20, 4:30, 9:50 INFERNO (14A) Fri: - Thu: 1:10, 3:50, 7:20, 9:45 STORKS (G) Do you know someone who is involved in worthwhile community service, is contributing while living with a limitation, has performed a heroic act, demonstrates individual excellence, or is going above and beyond to help others? If so, nominate them today! Nomination forms are available from this newspaper, and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association at www.ocna.org or 416-923-7724 ext. 4439. Sponsored by: ONTARIO JUNIOR CITIZEN AWARDS Sat, Sun: 1:20 171 Speers Road, Oakville (at Kerr St.) 905-338-6397 (MEWS) www.film.ca