Eat Local Map Project

Environment Hamilton is creating an Eat Local Map, which is a directory of farms, stores, and other locations in Hamilton where residents can access locally-grown fruits and vegetables and locally-raised meats. The majority of farmers in the Hamilton area reside in the Greenbelt and the Map tells the story of the Greenbelt, how it preserves farmland and contributes to a local food system. The Map also educates residents about the importance of eating local to their health, the environment, and farm families.

Toronto, April 24, 2007 /CNW/ – The Ontario government has won a prestigious national planning award for its Greenbelt Plan, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Gerretsen announced today.

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation is pleased to sponsor the Green Living Show, April 27 to April 29, 2007 − Toronto’s first consumer show dedicated to all things green. The Green Living Show takes place from April 27 to April 29, in Hall A of the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, and will showcase some of the boldest and most innovative solutions to the global environmental crisis. Visitors will learn how to lead a sustainable life from the 250+ earth-friendly exhibitors and expert seminars. Be sure to drop by Booth #1239 to “Discover Ontario’s Greenbelt”. The space is designed as an exciting interactive exhibit for the whole family. There you’ll be able to: • Explore the abundance of food and drink that's grown right in our own “backyard”! • Discover all there is to see and do in the Greenbelt. • Learn how to protect this precious natural environment. The Discover Ontario’s Greenbelt space will feature a selection of groups with loads of information to help you get the most enjoyment out of "Our Living Countryside"... WALK the Greenbelt... with the Oak Ridges Trail Association TASTE the Greenbelt... with the Grape Growers of Ontario & Local Flavour Plus LOOK at the Greenbelt... with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy EXPLORE the Greenbelt... with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority What are you waiting for? Experience all the Greenbelt has to offer... at this year's Green Living Show, April 27 to April 29, 2007, in Hall A of the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

Hamilton, April 12, 2007 – In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Bruce Trail, the Bruce Trail Association (BTA) has released “40 Great Years, 40 Great Hikes”, a collection of short hikes designed to entice both new and experienced hikers to explore the Bruce Trail. “The 1 to 7 km hikes selected for our ’40 Great Years, 40 Great Hikes’ program are aimed primarily at new hikers and especially families, but we think that even experienced hikers will enjoy the challenge of completing as many of these hikes as they can in this, our 40th anniversary year” said Robert Ellison, BTA President.

In 1967, after 5 years of careful planning and trail building by volunteers, the Bruce Trail, stretching from Queenston in the south to Tobermory in the north, was officially opened at a ceremony in Tobermory.

Comprehensive Charter a First for Canada Niagara, April 18, 2007 – The Wine Council of Ontario has launched Sustainable Winemaking Ontario, the first program of its kind for Canada, in an effort to preserve and protect the environment.

“We are very excited about this comprehensive program which will be a great asset for wineries in helping them with continuous improvement in the sustainability of our environment,” said Norm Beal, Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario.

The program was developed after more than three years of research on best environmental practices around the world and is meant to provide benchmarking and tools for assessment and improvement.

The Holland Marsh: Challenges and Opportunities in the Greenbelt

Nature Walk for the Environment 2007

The 10 km Nature Walk for the Environment takes place on the Waterfront Trail in Hamilton. Hundreds of participants learn about nature through interpretive signage and raise money for local environmental projects. This year's campaign focuses on the Cartwright Nature Sanctuary, helping to build awareness of one of the important ecological treasures in the Hamilton area. The walk is proceeding from the Waterfront Trail in Hamilton into Cootes Paradise in the Greenbelt. 

Toronto, March 27, 2007 – Farmers in Niagara lead all regions across the Greenbelt in undertaking environmental improvement projects which qualify for cost-sharing grants from the $1.4 million Greenbelt Farm Stewardship Program the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation has announced. The program has received over 400 applications since it was introduced eight months ago; of those, 223 are from farmers in the Niagara region or some 56%. As the farmers complete their environmental projects they will receive over $750,000 in grants from the program. The program is so popular with farmers across the Greenbelt that the $1.4 million has been allocated in just eight months, rather than over two years as was anticipated. The Foundation is now considering adding more money to the program.

The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, 4-H Ontario, Citizens’ Environment Watch, Gallery 1313, Save the Oak Ridges Moraine Coalition, Toronto Environmental Alliance, and the Wine Council of Ontario… are proud to present the ten finalists for the Green Belt Prize. The Green Belt Prize – promoted by CityTV, CP24 and A Channel Toronto and hosted on CityTV.com – is a talent competition for Ontarians to express their views on the Greenbelt. We received hundreds of applications and the best entries were invited to tape their auditions. We now have ten finalists who have told us why the Greenbelt is important to them. Check them out and vote for your favorite. The lucky winner will be belted with the “Green Belt” and will receive $10,000 to continue to showcase the Greenbelt in their chosen art form. So be sure to view the Green Belt Prize videos of the ten finalists at www.CityTV.com. Find out why the Greenbelt is important, and how these finalists conveyed the beauty, the bounty, and the fun of the Greenbelt in their chosen art form. The Green Belt Prize contest closes 11:59 P.M. (EST) Monday, April 23, 2007.

Smartliving Guide

Eneract, a charitable organization committed to delivering innovative solutions to environmental problems since 1994, in partnership with Green Enterprises Toronto produces a Smartliving Guide, which is a listing of environmentally-friendly businesses, products and services for customers. It serves as a forum for local, particularly small, green businesses to build their market base, providing information on household products, services, food and drink, green cleaning supplies, transportation options, and health and beauty.