Toronto, June 3, 2009 –The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is pleased to have received a Bronze Award for excellence in communications by the 2009 Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program. Sponsored by the Council on Foundations, a non-profit membership association of more than 2,100 grant making foundations and corporations, the award recognizes effective communication efforts to increase public awareness of foundations and corporate giving programs.

The award for the Greenbelt Foundation’s 2007/2008 Annual Report was presented at the Council’s 60th Annual Conference in Atlanta Georgia in May. “It is a great honour to receive this recognition,” said Burkhard Mausberg, President of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. “A lot of time and effort goes into producing our Annual Report and this award in communications just goes to reiterate what great dedication our staff has.”

Measuring the Possibilities Greenbelt Public Awareness 2009 – 796 KB

The 2009 public awareness polling by Environics.

Toronto May 20, 2009 – The award-winning Bike Train Initiative is announcing ticket sales and new routes for the 2009 season. Get active, travel local and cycle Ontario this summer.

Downtown Farmers' Market Feasibility Study

Oshawa is the largest urban centre in the Durham Region, and hosts a weekly farmers’ market from May to October of every year.

The Regional Municipality of Durham seeks to foster relationships between producers, processors and consumers, through an innovative, centralized, year-round market for local food in a historic downtown Oshawa building. This work includes a feasibility study on the proposed location, a review of best management models, and cost determination associated with the proposed market.

Toronto May 12, 2009 – The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation today awarded Robert MacIsaac the 2009 “Friend of the Greenbelt Award” for his inspiring leadership in establishing the Greenbelt in southern Ontario.

Guelph May 1, 2009 -  Fifty high school students from across Ontario are geared up to make a Bushel Basket of Change in their communities after their participation in the three-day 4-H Greenbelt Youth Forum.

Toronto April 29, 2009 - EcoSource is helping Peel District School Board students learn about the importance of enjoying local, sustainable food through a partnership that began in 2007. More than 30 schools in the Peel board are working with EcoSource through its Youth and Local Food program, which aims to connect teachers and students with local farmers. As part of the program, EcoSource is helping secondary schools source local food for their hospitality programs and promote their local catering service. Students participate in EcoSource’s local food workshops in the classroom and on Greenbelt farms where students have the opportunity to plant and harvest food and to learn about local food production.

Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network

According to a study by Farmers Markets Ontario, over 15 million people visited the 154 farmers’ markets in Ontario in 2008. From 1999-2008, the estimated annual growth in sales at farmers’ markets was 7.3%.

The Farmers’ Market Network helps to support local agriculture, and enhance public spaces, while making fresh food accessible for all.

The establishment of the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network enables market managers to run stronger markets, advocate for market-friendly policies at the municipal level, and to conduct consumer and policy research.

There’s so much to celebrate in Ontario’s Greenbelt! It’s the largest in the world and the Globe and Mail recently called it a “model for the world,” not just for its size but for leadership in policy and protection. It filters our water, provides fresh air and grows wholesome food, and since its inception it has provided over $10 billion worth of eco-services to Ontarians. 

Toronto, April 1, 2009 – Dust off your helmet – spring has sprung and it’s time to break out the banana seats and get ready to ride. The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is pleased to announce the second Tour de Greenbelt cycling extravaganza! An innovative and exciting opportunity for Ontarians and visitors to bicycle their way through Ontario’s Greenbelt, the Tour de Greenbelt is now open for registration.