With approximately half of Torontonians having been born outside of Canada, it’s no surprise that the GTA has a 61 million dollar market for ethno-cultural vegetables among Chinese, South Asian, and Afro-Caribbean communities. That is understandable, because it is expected that new Canadians would want to have access to crops they enjoyed back home. Currently, most of these foods are imported, although some can grow in Canada. Some new Canadians have already clued in on this and have been growing these crops right here on Canadian soil! Others are showing great interest in growing these and more conventional crops. Like many Canadian farmers, new Canadians have chosen farming as a supplementary source of income.

Princess Bella from Ohio

Niagara Culinary Trail

Niagara Culinary Trail Transition Funding secures long term support and investment for the Trail. Niagara’s main culinary regions are located along this trail to include Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines and Jordan, Vineland, Beamsville, Grimsby, Welland, Fonthill and the Effingham Hills, and Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, Ridgeway and Crystal Beach. The Niagara Region is filled with small artisan growers and producers.  Local food is available throughout the Niagara Region, where farm fields are protected by Ontario’s Greenbelt.

As I reflect on my days at university, I remember lots of late nights, group assignments and painfully long lectures. This is not to say that my entire experience was dreadful. On the contrary, I had many wonderful academic experiences with truly inspiring professors and classmates. But every now and then, the university experience rears its ugly head in an effort to dim the good experiences and opportunities that present themselves.

Whether or not you are a student, this is not meant to discourage you, but as a reminder that there is always something you can do to improve your life and that of others, even amidst life’s gloominess. I can’t help but think how much more enjoyable stressful university days could have been had I put more energy into supporting something positive—like local food!

Last week the snow clouds parted and warm starry skies gave us a taste of spring. With the new season quickly approaching, things are heating up for the Greenbelt. We’re celebrating the first day of spring with our international greenbelts conference – bringing the stars out for everyone to see.

Last week my husband and I decided to break out and get some time on our own. We packed our snow pants to go trekking in the Ganaraska Forest, near Port Hope, Ontario. These days the only time I get out in the snow is to continuously drag a toboggan for my two year old up a little hill near my house in downtown Toronto – so I gladly welcomed a hike in the snow. However,  since I am in my fifth month of pregnancy, we both knew it was not going to be a three or four hour hike like it used to be. Trekking in knee high snow the peace and tranquility of the silent forest along the Ganaraska river made me appreciate that nature like this is still here for us. The work we do with the Foundation serves to preserve places in the Greenbelt like the Ganaraska forest so that my daughter can enjoy open spaces with her own family one day too.

With nearly 20 million people, São Paulo is one of the world’s largest metropolitan areas. However, the area’s rapid growth in the last few decades has relied on the unsustainable consumption of natural resources within the region.  In 1989, significant public opposition to a large road building project that would have adversely impacted water resources led to a larger, more broadly based civil society movement that called for the creation of a reserve to protect natural lands. It ultimately resulted in the establishment of the São Paulo City Green Belt Biosphere Reserve in 1994.

During Greenbelts: Local Solutions for Global Challenges from March 22-March 24 at the Radisson Admiral Hotel in Toronto, Ontario, Rodrigo Victor, Director-General of the São Paulo State Forest Institute, will speak about how the Biosphere Reserve has since been an important tool in fostering the systemic and integrated management of the metropolis’ urban and peri-urban systems. He will explain how its success depends on a governance system that includes representation from a cross section of government agencies and non-government organizations, and will outline the comprehensive projects and activities of the Forest Institute including research, support for agriculture, youth eco-job training programs, and environmental protection policies. 

Beyond Imaginings Extension

The “Beyond Imaginings” photo exhibition at Harbourfront Centre continues into 2012. Over the past year, this exhibition has brought a public focus to the importance of Ontario’s Greenbelt. The show focuses on three areas of importance: natural beauty, working the land, and the people of the Greenbelt, presenting 72 stunning images, created by 8 Ontario photographers. They depict all that the Greenbelt offers—protected and restored natural environment, wildlife, agriculture, and recreation.

11th Halton Eco Festival Sponsorship

This is a sponsorship of the 11th Annual Halton Eco Festival. It is a one-day, environmental fair for sustainable living scheduled for April 9, 2011. Those expected to attend include 70 exhibitors and educational speakers. Exhibitors share information about home and garden, alternative healthcare, solar and geothermal energy and much more.

Today is the sixth birthday of Ontario’s Greenbelt and the response on twitter has been overwhelming!...

By adding ‘twibbons’ (changing profile pictures to Greenbelt’s logo) supporters of Ontario’s largest protected space showed their love and to wish the Greenbelt a very happy birthday.