Grow the Greenbelt to Protect our Water
EcoSpark (Oak Ridges Moraine Partnership)
$37,930  (1 year)
ecospark.ca
stormcoalition.org
ontarionature.org

The Partnership (EcoSpark, Ontario Nature, STORM) will actively engage in recently announced Provincial consultations to grow the Greenbelt and protect important water systems. The Partnership will continue to play a key role in advancing the ‘bluebelt’ campaign by providing technical support to community groups, engaging the public and other stakeholders to attend Open Houses; and comment through the Environmental Bill of Rights. Additionally, the Partnership will continue to participate in provincial efforts on two related issues - providing input on natural heritage and agricultural system mapping in the Growth Plan area; and, finalizing new watershed planning guidelines.

Engaging stakeholders in the ecological/organic agriculture sector in Greenbelt Expansion Consultations
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario
$8,080 (three months)
efao.ca

The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO), in partnership with the Organic Council of Ontario (OCO), will engage the ecological/organic farming community in the provincial consultations to expand the Greenbelt and protect water systems. Together the organizations have a combined membership of 1,280 farmers across Ontario and 500 in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The partners will support and facilitate understanding of the issues among farmers and facilitate their attendance at Open Houses; and, individual submissions.

Greenbelt Farmers' Market Network 2017
FoodShare
foodshare.net

$30,000  (1 year)
Date Approved: April 3, 2017

Since 2009, the Greenbelt Foundation has been an active supporter of the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network. For the 2017 market season, the Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network will focus on business training for both market managers and farm vendors, and continue to promote farmers’ markets through local news and events. The Network will host their annual Market Manager’s Day to provide professional development to over 60 market managers and 40 active farm vendors. They will also launch a digital match-making tool to connect managers and farmers; and share lessons on market loyalty programs, cashless market tools, and the economic impacts of bringing new products to market. Additionally, the Network will continue to provide one-on-one support to market managers.

Celebrating the “Greenbelting” of Toronto’s Urban River Valleys
Toronto Environmental Alliance
torontoenvironment.org

$10,500  (over 6 months)
Grant Approved: July 3, 2017

To celebrate the addition of three of Toronto’s urban river valleys (ravines) to the Greenbelt (Etobicoke Creek, the Humber River, and Don River), the Greenbelt Foundation supported the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA) in hosting local celebrations and creating/distributing ‘Welcome to the Greenbelt’ tours for the public. Each celebration included a short ceremony acknowledging the addition of a given urban river valley to the Greenbelt, engaged local leaders, and presented opportunities for ongoing stewardship. An educational tour followed the ceremony to further engage the public. For each river valley, TEA developed a 2-page brochure that includes information about the Greenbelt, facts and activities about the ravine, and a map of the local area with access points.

World Crops - Learning Gardens 2017
The Stop Community Food Centre
thestop.org

$5,000  (1 year)
Grant Approved: 2017

In 2017, the Greenbelt Foundation supported The Stop Community Food Centre in supplying twenty ‘Learning Gardens’ with six varieties of world crop vegetables. Stop partnered with Peter Mitchell, as the project manager, to distribute the plants and growing medium to the various gardens. They provided ‘Three Sisters’ crops (corn, beans, and squash) and worked with First Nation communities to celebrate heritage.

2017 Celebrity Luncheon
Grape Growers of Ontario
$15,000  (1 year)
grapegrowersofontario.com

The 2017 Grape Growers of Ontario Celebrity Luncheon features Colonel Chris Hadfield, and showcases locally produced food and wine.

Strengthening the Simcoe Country Greenbelt Coalition 
Midhurst Rate Payers' Association
$20,000  (1 year)
simcoecountygreenbelt.ca

This project will build the capacity of the Simcoe County Greenbelt Coalition to support efforts to educate local residents about water protection and smart growth.

Today, the Province released the Agricultural System and Natural Heritage System for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH), identifying and protecting prime farmland, agricultural infrastructure, and natural features as our region grows.

Have you been inside a gym lately? Maybe you’ve found it a bit busier than usual, full of people working on their New Year’s resolutions.

If you’re looking to keep an exercise-related resolution, I encourage you to leave the gym and do something a little different – head outdoors! You won’t even have to go that far; here in the GTHA we are lucky to be close to Ontario’s Greenbelt, a fantastic site for many winter sports.

When Henry James recently came across an article about Green Infrastructure and water quality by the Foundation, it struck a chord. The grade 12 student at Crescent School in Toronto had recently conducted his own experiment looking at water quality in his community and believes green infrastructure is the solution.