The David Suzuki Foundation will continue to build the case for protecting natural capital in and around the Greenbelt. They are partnering with the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health to promote the health benefits of near-urban nature, and to emphasize the connection between the Greenbelt and healthy communities. They will also undertake an analysis of municipal growth plans in the region to assess the degree to which local governments are adopting policy options to best protect their natural capital. This work will help equip and build a community of decision-makers and influencers that will support the non-market and health benefits of nature.

Growing the Greenbelt in Halton and Peel Region

This funding supports a project to protect important natural and hydrological features in the region by engaging residents to participate in on-going planning processes to expand the Greenbelt in Halton and Peel Regions.  Sierra Club will collaborate with community groups and municipal staff and councilors around the importance of protecting natural heritage, including its environmental, economic and health benefits.

Expanding and Enhancing the Greenbelt in the city of Toronto

Toronto’s ravines and parks are one of the city’s most distinct features, and play an important ecological role. Toronto Park People are providing support to help the city and the province overcome the challenge in growing the Greenbelt along the Humber and Don River Valleys, and engaging an excited public in designating Rouge Park as Canada’s first urban national Park.

 Photo credit: Tides Canada

The Greenbelt provides Ontario and the Greater Golden Horseshoe region with a vibrant natural resource base serving as a solid anchor for the region’s agricultural, tourism and recreation industries. Constituting a significant component of the province’s natural capital, the Greenbelt has garnered global recognition for the province.

Produced by Econometric Research Limited, this study identifies, quantifies and showcases the economic contributions of the Greenbelt to the provincial economy and local areas dependent on its resource base. It provides objective, meaningful and sound estimates of the economic contributions of the main economic activities in, or based on, the natural capital base of the Greenbelt.

Two great Canadian cities will include greenbelts in the near future. The Québec government announced in their budget on Tuesday that $60 million will be used to develop greenbelts in Montréal and Québec City.

An investment of $50 million will be made to develop natural space, preserve biodiversity and improve Montreal’s living environment. The greenbelt in Montreal will become as hip as places like the Plateau neighbourhood.

There is no doubt water is important – it brings life, health and vitality to every aspect of our lives. Where would people be without water? Well, it makes up more than two-thirds of our bodies, so without water, we wouldn’t be alive!

The Greenbelt protects many watersheds across the province, providing fresh, clean, and safe water to drink. With a staggering 533,000 acres of lakes, wetlands, and river valleys (and woodlands), the region’s water system removes contaminants from our drinking water and helps to provide drainage to prevent flooding.

The colour green has long been synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day. From green leprechauns and lucky clovers, to delicious green beer. However for me, the colour green has a different meaning entirely.

With a predominantly female staff, the Foundation celebrates bright successful women today.

In light of the maple syrup season coming early for parts of Ontario, I thought I’d also get a jump start on my maple syrup activities (I looked into the implications of an early maple syrup season, as I didn’t want to be delighting over someone else’s, i.e. the maple syrup producer's, misfortune. Apparently while this isn’t the norm, an early season has happened in the past, about 20 years ago.)