The Toronto Declaration for Global Greenbelts:

Local Solutions for Global Challenges

 On March 23rd and 24th, 2011 over 210 delegates from 16 countries gathered for the first Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto, Canada. Delegates identified universal and well-established benefits to people who live and work in all greenbelts and surrounding communities. The result:  a call to action to establish an International Greenbelt Network.  The Network will maximize greenbelt benefits, and protect and expand their boundaries.

On March 22nd, ReelGreenbelt finalists joined us at the Raddison Admiral at Toronto's Harbourfront to find out who would take home the big prizes...

Ultimately, three young men from the University of Waterloo took home the grand prize with their encompassing and entertaining hip-hop message. 

March  24  2011 - 

I’m honoured to be here with you today. You’ve had the comic act and the music – I’m the pep talk.

This Global Greenbelt Conference signals one of the most important movements of the twenty-first century. I won’t call it “the movement to save Nature,” since no matter what we human beings do to it, some of what we call “Nature” is likely to survive our worst efforts. Microbes at the bottom of the ocean will likely make it through. So it’s not Nature this movement aims to save – it’s us. It’s a movement to save the human race, through preserving and improving the conditions that we ourselves need in order to remain alive and healthy within functioning societies. As such, the Greenbelt initiative is part of a huge group of other conservation organizations – everything from international ones like World Wildlife to Nature Conservancy to Birdlife International, to national and provincial ones like Nature Canada and Ontario Nature, all the way to very local ones.

Last Call for Media: International Conference on Greenbelts to find Global Solutions for Environmental/Economic/Social Challenges

TORONTO - March 21, 2011 At a time when Canada’s international reputation on the environment is in question, we have a national treasure in our backyard and the world wants to learn from our success. You are invited to attend the first ever International Greenbelts Conference, a gathering of experts from greenbelts across the world.

If you haven't already heard about it, check out our International Greenbelts Conference:globalgreenbeltsconference.ca   

Promoting the Ontario Grape Growing Industry

This is an annual luncheon held to raise awareness of Ontario’s grape growers, promoting the grape growing industry through the Niagara Wine Festival. A celebrity speaker is usually part of the luncheon. Most of Ontario’s grape growers are located in the Greenbelt and this event informs visitors about this abundant area of the Greenbelt.

Media Advisory

Attention: GTA and Southern Ontario Region Editors and Reporters/Culture/Environment/Policy

Local Story with International Outcomes: Media Passes Available for Journalists

Toronto March 9, 2011 – At a time when Canada’s international reputation on the environment is in question, we have a national treasure in our backyard and the world wants to learn from our success. You are invited to attend the first ever International Greenbelts Conference, a gathering of experts from greenbelts across Europe, Australia, South America, and the United States. This solutions-oriented conference will discuss how greenbelts can help address key agricultural, environmental, and social challenges. 

Who: If you are a Southern Ontario journalist or a reporter in Ontario’s Greenbelt with an interest in covering

        environmental, planning or policy stories – Join us

HOUSE STATEMENT 

THE HONOURABLE CAROL MITCHELL 

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS 

MARKING THE SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREENBELT 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011 

Recently my five year old son has been asking to put maple syrup on just about everything and even to drink it on it’s own.  It seemed obvious that we needed to take our annual trip to the Kortright Centre for Conservation for their Maple Syrup Festival (running until April 10^th).

According to a statement released by Wendy Cheropita, Director of Marketing for The Wine Council of Ontario, they are reaching out to consumers with a new brand. "Wine Country Ontario" has been introduced to replace the former "Wines of Ontario", expanding on the already successful trademark and highlighting Ontario wine as an experience, a product and a community...