International Cool Climate Chardonnay Event

The "International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration" is a new event to profile Niagara’s VQA wine and grape industry on the world stage taking place from July 22^nd-24^th 2011.The International Cool Climate Chardonnay Association is a not-for-profit group dedicated to promoting world class Chardonnay and its members include many top VQA wineries in the Niagara Region.This is a special opportunity to exhibit Ontario’s best VQA wines and source new international markets for our growers and winemakers. A Farmers’ Marché Breakfast, featuring local fruit, cheeses and specialty foods from Ontario’s Greenbelt producers will be held each morning.

Cootes to Escarpment Part 2

The project builds on the vision of the Cootes to Escarpment Park System that the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) and partners developed in 2009.As a first step to achieving that vision, RBG is leading the implementation of a Land Securement Strategy to bring more lands, identified in the Park System Master Plan, into public hands and avoid further fragmentation of the ecologically rich and sensitive lands in the future.This vision has tremendous public support and a strong partnership with community leaders such as the Cities of Hamilton and Burlington, Halton Region, Hamilton and Halton Conservation Authorities, the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, and Hamilton Harbour Remediation Action Plan.

New Crop Animation Project

The Stop Community Food Centre has been working to increase access to healthy food for individuals and families in Toronto.A new partnership with Vineland Research and Innovation Centre and Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association experiments with growing new world crops in Ontario soils and “taste tests” locally grown varieties with ethno-cultural communities.This project connects Greenbelt farmers with the multi-million dollar world/ethno-cultural crop market in the GTA.

Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network

The project builds on the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network’s (GFMN) successful first year by continuing to provide support for market managers. The Network supports regional collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional development among market organizers with the goal of increasing the success of markets. The Network also conducts research on increasing markets’ customer base, and coordinates promotions for markets.

Katie Holmes, actor and wife of Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise, was spotted at Whittamore’s Farm, in Markham this weekend.

Her arms were full, laden with a bag containing fresh fruit pies and, of course, her 4-year-old Suri.

Holmes, who is here making a TV mini-series on the Kennedys, took her daughter berry picking around 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

On June 17^th, 2010, Harbourfront Centre unveiled a new large-scale, outdoor photographic exhibition along Toronto's waterfront displayed within 40 freestanding structures. The subject: Ontario's Greenbelt. Eight emerging contemporary photographers have created large scale images that document their exploration of Ontario's Greenbelt.

Toronto, May 3, 2010 – Contributions from over 50 artists have created the Quilt of Possibilities – a dynamic quilt that celebrates the Ontario Greenbelt’s 5th Anniversary. Each square evokes a personal connection that each maker has with this important landscape.

We threw a party a few days ago. A celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Niagara Escarpment Plan – Canada’s first green plan. We shared fabulous food and wines from Greenbelt producers, and we heard from and saw past and future leaders of Niagara Escarpment protection.

Promoting the Grape Growing Industry through the Niagara Wine Festival

The successful Niagara Wine Festival has witnessed a record number of guests in recent years, attracted by the festival’s celebrity hosts which have included Don Cherry and Peter Mansbridge.

The Grape Growers of Ontario works towards sustainable growth of Ontario’s grape industry, and hosts an annual wine festival to celebrate their fruits of labour.

Each September, the Grape Growers of Ontario furthers viticultural awareness through the Niagara Wine Festival, combining local food and wines to celebrate the Niagara Peninsula’s 100,000 protected acres of tender fruit and grape crops and the people that tend them. The Grape Growers of Ontario produces the Festival Kick-Off Luncheon and distributes educational materials, including 2,000 brochures, to inform visitors about this abundant area of the Greenbelt.

Phase I:
$15,000 2007

Phase II:
$15,000 2008

Phase III:
$20,000 June 8, 2009 & 2010