Resilient Relationships
Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust
www.oakridgesmoraine.org

$32,000
Grant Stream: Resilient Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 24, 2019

The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is providing long-term protection and stewardship of key natural heritage and agriculture lands across the Oak Ridges Moraine and surrounding Greenbelt lands. They are doing this by building relationships with agricultural and rural landowners, in areas identified in existing land securement strategies and targeted for protection. The project focuses primarily in the regions of York, Peel, and Simcoe County, and takes a 'cores and corridor' approach in order to protect and grow the ecological connectivity and biodiversity in the area. The project will result in minimized fragmentation of natural areas, protected connectivity corridors, reduce water pollution, maintain and improve soil health, and improve ecological resilience.

To accomplish this goal, the Trust is enhancing its relationship with residents that have existing protections on their land, identifying feasible ecological and agricultural Best Management Practices (BMPs), and exploring opportunities to support implementation of stewardship initiatives. To protect additional lands, the Trust is focusing on priority areas, identified in their Natural Heritage Strategy (NHS). They are developing relationships with landowners, and directing their outreach and education activities to those areas by hosting nature walks and organized property visits.

Critters and Creeks
The Riverwood Conservancy
www.theriverwoodconservancy.org

$15,000 (over 5 months)
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: July 1, 2019

Building on the success of their Critters and Creeks program, Riverwood Conservancy is embarking on a new project that celebrates and enhances the biodiversity within Riverwood Park and the Credit River Valley in Mississauga. With a focus on pollinators and airborne wildlife, this project will engage 830 volunteers and school children in hands-on restoration efforts and environmental programming. Bee and bird populations across North America are in decline and public awareness of biodiversity loss is critical to conservation efforts. This project will build a greater understanding and appreciation of pollinators and other airborne wildlife, as well as the important role they play in our ecosystem. This will have a direct impact on the health and viability of local airborne wildlife and the broader river valley ecosystem. 

Lake Simcoe Greenlands Mapping
Rescue Lake Simcoe
rescuelakesimcoe.org

$124,895 (over 18 months)
Grant Stream: Resilient Greenbelt
Grant Approved: May 6, 2019

Rescue Lake Simcoe Charitable Foundation (RLSC) is collaborating with local stakeholders and residents to identify a set of key recommendations in preparation for the Province’s review of the Lake Simcoe Protection Plan (LSPP). Community mapping is being used to support the project by illustrating the connection between natural-cover levels and watershed vulnerabilities. Ultimately, this will help policymakers understand the long-term health and resiliency of Lake Simcoe. The LSPP currently recommends that 40% of the watershed be in “high quality natural cover." This project will map-out how much of the area’s greenland is currently protected, and what remains to be done to reach the 40% natural cover target. Furthermore, the RLSC is:

• Developing a GIS-based mapping tool to help illustrate levels of greenland protection and enhancement across the watershed; 

• Producing two reports outlining the options to achieve the 40% natural cover; 

• Developing a rationale for increasing natural cover, including ecosystem goods and service provisions, recreation, and support for nature/lake-based tourism, etc; 

• Integrating the results of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) into the mapping, reports, and rationale; and,

• Supporting the TEK assessments by local First Nations.

Connecting Communities and Creating Resilient River Valleys in the Greater Toronto Area
Ontario Streams
www.ontariostreams.on.ca

$25,000 (over 6 months)
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 24, 2019

Ontario Streams is engaging over 380 volunteers in hands-on riparian restoration and stewardship activities at key sites within Richmond Hill, Markham, and Brampton (along Lynde Creek, as well as the Don, Humber, and Rouge rivers). The volunteers will engage in removing stream debris, performing native tree and shrub plantings, and support the installation of natural erosion control structures. These initiatives will promote awareness and increase the resilience of our urban river valleys, particularly as extreme weather events challenge our flood-mitigation efforts. The project will deepen the participants’ understanding of aquatic health indicators, the structure of GTA watersheds, and the broader Greenbelt ecosystem. Volunteers will gain the knowledge and skills required to take action and improve the health and ecological-functioning of local urban river valleys. Through a series of 4 community outreach events, Ontario Streams will educate the public on the ecological significance of our urban rivers valleys. They will strive to better connect the public to our natural systems by fostering greater appreciation and understanding of aquatic life. Ontario Streams will also hire 6 youth to implement stream-restoration projects and provide training, enabling them to become environmental stewards and Greenbelt champions.

Thornton Bales Greenbelt Route Accessibility
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
www.lsrca.on.ca

$15,923 (over 6 months)
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 24, 2019

With support from the Greenbelt Foundation, Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority is transforming the entrance to Thornton Bales Conservation Area into a dedicated trailhead for the 475km Greenbelt Cycling Route. The transformation includes creating an information kiosk about the trail, the Greenbelt and the Moraine, installing a bicycle repair station with tools and pumps, as well as rest area benches and bike racks, and renovating the parking lot to create accessible parking. Renovations and enhancements will also allow access to a scenic viewpoint on the edge of the Oak Ridges Moraine, and increase visitor access to the 4.2km hiking loop at the Thornton Bales site. The project will include building fencing around restricted areas along the edge of the Moraine, geared to protecting sensitive local ecology from the impacts of visitors.

Green Thumbs Growing Kids
greenthumbsto.org

$2,500
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: July 8, 2019

The Green Thumbs Growing Kids’ Farm Visits initiative, funded by the Greenbelt Foundation, engaged 24 youth in four hands-on educational trips to Wheelbarrow Farm in Sunderland Ontario. The trips were geared to providing the youth with the opportunity to learn about the Greenbelt, local food production in a rural setting, organic farming practices, and the Greenbelt’s role in local farm protection.

2019 Celebrity Luncheon
Grape Growers of Ontario
www.grapegrowersofontario.com

$15,000
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 3, 2019

The Grape Growers of Ontario’s 'Annual Celebrity Luncheon Fundraiser' celebrates and promotes local food and drink by showcasing Greenbelt-grown grapes, food, and wine. The 2019 event, which was supported by the Greenbelt Foundation, reinforced the important economic relationship between vintners and grape growers. It highlighted the wine industry's positive impact on local tourism, and recognized the Greenbelt's role in protecting local vineyards and the Ontario wine industry. Over 370 Ontario grape growers, winemakers, and members of the public attended the event.

Youth and Community Greening the Rouge Watershed
Friends of the Rouge Watershed
friendsoftherouge.ca

$20,000 (over 5 months)
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 24, 2019

Friends of the Rouge Watershed is engaging youth and other community volunteers in restoration and stewardship initiatives within the Greenbelt-protected Rouge watershed. With support from the Greenbelt Foundation, Friends of the Rouge will engage 2,000 volunteers in the planting and maintaining of 6,000 native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers; in addition to naturalizing 20,000 square metres of accessible public lands. The planting and educational activities will deepen participants’ understanding of watershed health, the Greenbelt more broadly, and the interconnectedness of these natural systems. Local leaders, including elected officials from all levels of government will be engaged in the planting events. The Friends of the Rouge Watershed will host roughly 50 guided hikes and in-class presentations to high school students that highlight the ecological and social importance of urban river valleys. Friends of the Rouge will also train 12 local high school students through their 'Grey Tree Frog Apprentice Program' to become environmental leaders, educators, and stewards within their school communities.

Gates Open: Find Your Flavour Tour Route
Durham Region Farm Fresh Marketing Association

$19,730 (over 5 months)
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 24, 2019

With support from the Greenbelt Foundation, Durham Region Farm Fresh Marketing Association has developed an agri-tourism route that connects visitors with eight farms in Durham Region, allowing the visitors to experience first-hand their sustainable agricultural practices, meet the farmers who produce their food, and sample local farm products. To support this project, a first edition of a “Cycle the Greenbelt in Durham” map has been designed, printed and promoted. A “Gates Open: Find Your Flavour Tour Ride” Adventure Passport, featuring the eight farms, has also been developed. Using the Cycle Route and Adventure Passport as guidance, visitors are able to access the eight farms on a self-guided tour, shop farm-gate sales, and take part in educational activities, where they learn more about farming in the Greenbelt. A launch event in October of 2019 successfully featured the eight host farms and was attended by approximately 2,000 enthusiastic visitors.

Doctors Mclean Urban River Valley Outreach
Corporation of the City of Vaughan

$11,092 (over 4 months)
Grant Stream: Prosperous Greenbelt
Grant Approved: June 24, 2019

Supported by the Greenbelt Foundation, City of Vaughan’s 'Doctors Mclean Park - Urban River Valley Outreach Project' successfully broadened public awareness of the City’s trail enhancement efforts, including its Great Walks Program; an initiative that encourages local residents to explore the City’s ravine and trail systems. As part of the project, City of Vaughan, in partnership with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, designed and planted two native-plant pollinator gardens at Doctors Mclean Park; an ecologically-significant greenspace within the Greenbelt-protected Humber River valley. Additionally, City of Vaughan hosted an outdoor open-house at the park where they educated the public on the ecological and social significance of the river valley. Permanent educational signage is to be printed and installed at the pollinator garden in 2020, further spreading awareness about this important part of the Greenbelt.