The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation, September Seventh Entertainment, CBCMusic.ca, and the Hamilton Spectator Present: Feist, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois with Brian Blade, Gord Downie and the Sadies, Sarah Harmer, Mix Master Mike, Jesse Cook, Brady L. Blade, Sr. and the Hallelujah Train, & more! Live at the 2012 Greenbelt Harvest Picnic!

This was the title of a speech at a recent meeting of environmental foundations. It may sound obvious. But then it’s amazing how often I encounter tone, language and behavior – atone to smashing heads – in my life.

We all see and hear them. The political bully. The sports bully. The religious bully.

June 7, 2012

Celebrating Ontario VQA Wine

Award Recognizes LCBO, Wine Council of Ontario, and Grape Growers of Ontario for Contributions to the Greenbelt

(Toronto, Ontario) – Today, the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation announced the 2012 winners of the Friend of the Greenbelt Award. Recognizing the significant economic contributions the Ontario wine industry brings to the Greenbelt, this year’s award was shared among three organizations: the Wine Council of Ontario, the Grape Growers of Ontario and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).

For Immediate Release

June 6, 2012

Internationally Significant Skandatut Site Saved

New Cultural Heritage Landscape Park to Celebrate Nature and First Nations History

Vaughan, ON – Vaughan City Council voted unanimously last night to accept a deal to save Skandatut, an internationally significant cultural heritage site in the Greenbelt, on the historic Humber River in Vaughan, Ontario.

Ontario Greenbelt watersheds save taxpayers hundreds of millions by protecting waterways and drinking water

May 30, 2012

TORONTO - The globally renowned Ontario Greenbelt provides more than $1 billion a year in economic benefits, according to a report released today by the David Suzuki Foundation.

The World Crop Project-Learning Gardens 2012

This grant will help the Vineland Research Institute and project partners lay the foundation for the World Crop Learning Gardens for the 2012 season.  The gardens will continue to provide reach into diverse ethno-cultural communities in the Greater Toronto Area, and will connect them both to the Greenbelt and to the growing availability of Greenbelt-grown world crops.

This grant will support the annual Celebrity Luncheon as part of the kick-off to the 2012 Niagara Wine Festival. This event is a celebration of locally grown Greenbelt food, and 100% Ontario wine.

Ben the Horse (Credit: James Callan)

The weather couldn’t have been better in the Greenbelt last weekend and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go on a two-hour horseback ride in Dufferin County with Rawhide Adventures on Peace Valley Ranch.

Soon to be a National Park, the Rouge River Valley in northeastern Toronto is a spectacular treasure. Covering hundreds of green acres, the Rouge Park is the largest urban park in North America. It is also a valuable part of Ontario’s Greenbelt.

I recently had the chance to spend the day hiking in the Park and aside from its stunning beauty, I just couldn't believe that I was about a 30 minute car ride away from downtown Toronto. There was no noise, no honking horns, no rushing taxis or cyclists.

The Toronto Zoo has something we might refer to as celebrimals (a.k.a. celebrity animals.) There’s Charles the silverback gorilla, Twiga the Masai Giraffe, and of course the new baby polar bear Hudson.

But what about the lowly Blanding’s Turtle? His name is Colin, and Toronto Zoo staff have tracked him since he was a mere 3 1/2 years old as part of the Urban Turtle Initiative.