Photo: Greenbelt Foundation President Burkhard Mausberg (right) with Jens Gemmrich of Frogpond Farms, Ontario’s only organic winery and located on the Greenbelt.

The Cuvée Gala is a red carpet celebration of the outstanding Ontario wine and food in the heart of Niagara wine country. The coveted Cuvée Awards are announced at this black-tie event where the winemakers select the winners and guests mingle with the stars of the Ontario wine and culinary scene.

When the Greenbelt Plan was released in 2005, its goal of protecting environmentally sensitive lands and farmlands from urban development and sprawl was one of a number of bold moves by the government to come to grips with rapid growth in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Five years on, what has been the impact of permanently protecting prime farmland, forests, wetlands and watersheds? A recent report authored by the Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) puts the achievement in international perspective and provides a context for answering a variety of important questions, including:

Tonight is the opening reception for Artists Survey The Greenbelt: A unique exhibition which celebrates the 5th anniversary of Ontario’s Greenbelt.

Hosted at Gallery 1313, the exhibit has been curated by Patrick Macaulay, Head of Visusal Arts at Harbourfront Centre, and Phil Anderson, the Director of Gallery 1313.

A Whitetail buck will shed his antlers every year, usually sometime in late December through Feb.

Whitetails have an average life span of 8 to 11 years.

Ontario Greenbelt last night participated in a fabulous foodie fundraiser for Haiti relief.

The event, which saw dozens of restaurants and wineries donate their delicious wares, was the brainchild of Joel Solish and Suresh Doss.

Greenbelt Express-Bike Train 2010

The “2010 Greenbelt Express” project promotes the Greenbelt as an attractive destination for cycling tourism, with a sustainable transportation option for travel between Toronto and Niagara by train. Bike Train integrates GO Transit services in addition to VIA Rail, broadens the network of Greenbelt cycle tourism ambassadors and completes a strategy for long-term financial sustainability of the program, while investing in market research to help measure the economic and tourism impacts in Niagara.

Greenbelt Fresh Online Marketplace Launch

The Greenbeltfresh Online Marketplace, a Foundation-led initiative, is a cornerstone of our efforts to support the local food economy. The tool is being developed to help growers/ producers find new market opportunities. "Greenbelt Fresh Online Marketplace Launch" will launch the Marketplace website in two "beta" launches and a formal launch.

Eat Local Map 2010

The “Eat Local Map” project is a collaboration between Environment Hamilton and the City of Hamilton to increase urban residents’ access to local food. The map will list farmers, markets and other retail locations. It educates residents about the importance of local food to their health, the environment, and farm families. The majority of farmers in the Hamilton area are in the Greenbelt. This Map tells the story of the Greenbelt, how it preserves farmland and contributes to a local food system, highlighting the Greenbelt as a protected local food source.

Roy Thomson Hall will host an emergency relief fundraiser for Haiti on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.  Doors open at 6:30p.m.

Eat, Drink and Give has teamed up with a number of Toronto restaurants and Ontario and international wineries, to plan an evening of food and wine, with all proceeds going to Médecins sans Frontieres/Doctors without Borders.  Roy Thomson Hall generously donated the space for the fundraiser.

In a letter issued today, Dina Meghdadi of MSF Canada, stated that, “MSF is very grateful to the staff, volunteers and donors of Eat, Drink and Give for their generous support and hard work”.

What is sustainable horticulture? What can it do for Canadian? Join horticulturalists, landscape professionals, scholars and the public as they craft answers to these questions, February 16 to 19, 2010 at the Royal Botanical Gardens. The conference will feature experts on everything from agriculture in urban settings to water management - and everything in between.