Toronto, November 19, 2009 - We all get by with help from our friends. That's why the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is privileged to count among its friends two new Board members: Dr. David McKeown, the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, and Mr. Rod Northey, prominent environmental lawyer and partner at Fogler, Rubinoff, LLP. They join our seven current Board members to help steer our grant-making for environmental and agricultural initiatives for the good of the Greenbelt. 

Toronto, November 18, 2009 - Farmers on the Greenbelt can now do more than produce healthy, local food: they can do their part to reduce emissions. Thanks to the Greenbelt Green Energy Program for Agriculture, growers and producers located on the greenbelt will receive financial support for green energy generation and conservation measures, energy audits and more.

November 2009

This paper is an update of our 2008 paper Greenbelt Agriculture: A Breakdown of Agricultural Facts and Figures in the Greenbelt, based on 2006 Statistic Canada Census of Agriculture. From fruits, vegetables, livestock, wines, cheeses, oilseeds to grain, this report provides a snapshot of agriculture within the Greenbelt and looks at the unique features of the Greenbelt near urban agriculture. [The ninth installment in the Occasional Paper Series presented by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.]"Greenbelt Grown: A Profile of Agriculture in Ontario's Greenbelt" by Victoria Di Poce, Ellise Goarley & Burkhard Mausberg.

Do you know a grower/producer in the Greenbelt who deserves to be recognized for their leadership, innovation and sustainable farming practices? If you do, now is the time to nominate them for the Friend of the Greenbelt Award.

Welcome to the Greenbelt grower/producer nomination process to help the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundationrecognize and celebrate growers/producers in the Greenbelt. Since 2006 the Friend of the Greenbelt Award has been given to Greenbelt thought-leaders and innovators to celebrate their efforts and achievements. Past winners include Sarah Harmer (the celebrated singer), William Davis (former Premier of Ontario), Martha Shuttleworth (President and Founder of the Neptis Foundation) and Robert MacIsaac (Chair of the 2004 Greenbelt Task Force).

This year the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is committed to recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of the agricultural community in the Greenbelt. But we need your help to find the growers/producers who best represent this vibrant community.

Ontario's Greenbelt in an International Context

This report provides an update and expansion on the 2007 research paper, “Ontario’s Greenbelt in an International Context.” Greenbelts around the world face tremendous pressure from infrastructure expansion and resource extraction. The laws and policies protecting Ontario’s Greenbelt are some of the strongest of their kind in the world; however, there is much to be learned from challenges and successes experienced by other greenbelts that have existed for decades.

Cultural Food Guides for York Region

The project develops two local food guides, one for the South Asian Community and one for the Chinese community. The guides inform residents where they can purchase locally grown ethnic foods. The guides also serve as stimulus for Greenbelt farmers to take advantage of a new market opportunity.

Toronto, October 20, 2009 - The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation today announced a number of recent grants for projects that strive to make the Greenbelt stronger still. All 25 of the grants announced today aim to fulfill theFoundation's goal of preserving and enhancing the Greenbelt's agricultural, rural and ecological integrity.

“Don’t Sit Still” Tour and Greenbelt Performance—Greenbelt Day Celebrations

TVO Kids hosts and Envirogirl perform the “Don’t Sit Still” tour and Greenbelt performance as part of Greenbelt Day celebrations at the 2009 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. It is a special interactive performance geared especially to kids to teach them the importance of the Greenbelt in a fun way.

Toronto, October 6, 2009 - The Honourable Steve Peters, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, hosts the Queen's Park Plate tonight where MPP's and mayors along with farming and environmental advocates celebrate a Greenbelt-grown harvest. Proprietors from across the Greenbelt regions will tempt taste buds with local food offerings that draw their inspiration from all corners of the globe. 

Erin, October 7, 2009 - Farmers are proud of their work to protect our land, air and water and are sharing this with trail users in the Greenbelt. The first in a series of interpretive signs describing these environmental achievements was unveiled today by Jackie Fraser, AGCare Executive Director, on the Elora-Cataract Trail in Erin, Ontario.  

"Farmers and our conservation partners are proud to share their environmental achievements with hikers, trail users, and outdoor enthusiasts along the Greenbelt trails," said Fraser. "The colourful and informative signs showcase a range of advancements made by farmers from general environmental planning on farms, to specific achievements in greenhouse gas reduction and reduced energy use."