May 1, 2018

Statement from the Greenbelt Foundation on Doug Ford's Pledge of Support

We welcome the news that Ontario PC Party leader Doug Ford has committed to the preservation of Ontario’s Greenbelt.

The Greenbelt Foundation congratulates the Hon. David Crombie on his appointment as Chair of the Greenbelt Council as well as the other accomplished individuals joining the council.

Don River (Photo: Kevin Van Paaseen - Globe and Mail)

It’s World Health Day today and on this day I can’t help but reflect and remember when I first moved to Toronto 4 years ago. At the time, I had not anticipated that I would spend so much time exploring Toronto’s ravines, especially the Don River. In fact, my image of Toronto was of a concrete jungle bustling with business folks and tourists. It was nice to be proven both right and wrong at the same time. Toronto is definitely a busy city but right within its boundaries it’s host to a whole other type of life.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 3, 2018

 ERIN SOIL HEALTH COALITION LAUNCHES WITH FARMER FORUM

One-year pilot project will bring farmers in Erin together with citizen scientist volunteers to improve soil health

Erin – The Soil Health Coaltion is bringing together dozens of Erin farmers to launch a collaborative pilot program to improve soil health and water quality in the Greenbelt. With funding support from the Greenbelt Foundation, the Soil Health Coalition is inviting farmers to work with one another to share their knowledge of soil management approaches and measure results.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2018

 GREENBELT FOUNDATION NOW ACCEPTING FUNDING APPLICATIONS

The Greenbelt Foundation has launched two new funding streams to protect and enhance Ontario’s Greenbelt

Applications are now open through the Greenbelt Foundation’s Prosperous Greenbelt and Resilient Greenbelt funding streams. Eligible charities and non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit their project ideas by April 10, 2018. The Greenbelt Foundation’s priorities for these funding programs include promoting a sustainable rural and agricultural Greenbelt economy, maintaining the integrity of Greenbelt systems for public benefit, restoring and enhancing Greenbelt systems, and protecting vulnerable water resources for residents, agriculture and businesses.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2018

WINNERS OF THIRD GREENBELT PHOTO CONTEST CELEBRATED AT MCMICHAEL CANADIAN ART COLLECTION

Winning photos celebrate our connections to the Greenbelt and all it has to offer

On March 25, the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, the Professional Photographers of Canada and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection announced the winners of the Third Greenbelt Photo Contest at a special event at the McMichael, where photos will be exhibited until July 15, 2018.

From “Day Zero” in Cape Town, South Africa to Jordan and Israel’s depleted reservoirs to droughts in the Prairies it seems like water and access to water is being discussed more often and with more urgency than ever before. It makes sense though, as water is vital to maintaining life, and without it there wouldn’t be any life to begin with.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 21, 2018

 FRIEND OF THE GREENBELT AWARD PRESENTED TO DAVID CROMBIE AND CO-ORDINATED REVIEW ADVISORY PANEL

The Greenbelt Foundation celebrated David Crombie and the Co-ordinated Review Advisory Panel for their leadership in enhancing and growing the Greenbelt

Toronto – On March 20, David Crombie, accepted the 2017 Friend of the Greenbelt Award on behalf of the Advisory Panel for the 2015 Co-ordinated Land Use Planning Reivew. The award was presented by the Greenbelt Foundation at a reception hosted by Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Dowdeswell celebrating David Crombie, Keith Currie, Rae Horst, John MacKenzie, Leith Moore, and Debbie Zimmerman for their leadership in enhancing and growing the Greenbelt.

Maple Syrup season is here! After years of trying to make it to a Sugarbush festival I finally succeeded! On a sunny Sunday afternoon, my friends and I hopped into the car and headed out to Kortright Centre to learn about and try everything maple they had to offer. If you’ve never been to Kortright Centre I implore you to go, it’s been a staple in my life since before I can remember and is how I first fell in love with the natural world. I was excited to return back to my roots and share in the adventure with my friends.

Upon our arrival we headed into the main building where they were serving pancakes with maple syrup and a gift shop offering a host of maple goodies for purchase as well. It was tempting to just sit down and dig in but the maple demonstrations beckoned us onward and so we continued out the back, down the stairs and to our first stop.

Hot rocks used to turn sweet water into maple syrup.

An official from Kortright Centre stood there with forked branches in hand, picking up hot rocks from the fire and placing them in a hallowed out troth which looked to be holding water. Upon further inspection (and explanation) we discovered that this was how the indigenous people turned “sweet water”, or the maple trees sap, to the more concentrated version of what we know as maple syrup. It was a long process back then, taking a week of round-the-clock work to obtain the smallest amount of syrup. Now, that’s what I call dedication.