Greenbelt drives economic opportunity, study says
Environment | January 12, 2012
Innovative planning aids advancement of food, farming and environment By Lilian Schaer It might be hard to find a bigger advocate for Niagara Region than Patrick Robson. Ask him about the opportunities for food, farming and culture in the area and the region’s head of planning quickly lists half a dozen initiatives that are helping to rejuvenate Niagara’s economy as it transitions away from... Continue reading
Announcing Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation New Grants
Press Releases | January 10, 2012
For Immediate Release January 10, 2012 Attention: Southern Ontario Assignment, GTA, Urban Affairs, Food, Lifestyle, Environment Protecting Water and Restoring Wetlands in the Greenbelt -Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation Announces New Grants- (Toronto, Ontario) – Water is the focus of a new round of grants announced today by the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation... Continue reading
The Greenbelt is a great thing for Ontario. It’s a world-leading law that protects 1.8 million acres of prime farmland and green spaces around the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It gives us clean water, healthy local food and $2.6 billion per year in ecological services. Over 90% of Ontarians agree that the Greenbelt is one of the most important contributions to the future of our Province, and 93% strongly support it.
The Greenbelt Foundation is
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Developing a successful culinary tourism platform for Niagara
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Supporting interested Greenbelt Farmers to Go Organic
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Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park
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Supporting the creation of new multi-cultural crops and development of ethnic local food guides in Toronto and York Region
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Increasing amount of Greenbelt food in food share program 140%
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Participating strategically in growing the Greenbelt by working with Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Guelph
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Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research
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Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel schools, City of Toronto, City of Markham and others
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Convincing Peel school boards to buy Greenbelt food for students
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Hosted the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto in March 2011 with speakers and delegates from over nine countries
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Supporting the development of multi-cultural crops and training new Canadian Farmers
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Supporting development of action plans for a variety of agricultural areas and commodities
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Building a local food economy from developing new markets to enhancing distribution channels
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Creating a network of Farmer’s Markets to help improve our local food economy
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Creating Greenbeltfresh.ca, the leading electronic marketplace to source local, Greenbelt foods from over 600 producers
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Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands
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Partnering with Harbourfront Centre to tell the story of Ontario’s Greenbelt to 12 million people via a year-long, outdoor photography exhibit
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Reaching over 75 million by placing 220 permanent highway and regional road signs to ensure Ontarians and visitors know about this valuable protected area
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Supporting food policy council in Durham to create food charter
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Contributing $2.65 million to Greenbelt farmers to improve their operations (leveraging millions of dollars from federal sources), and to employ the opportunities of the Green Energy Act
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Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress by farmers
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Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel, U of T. City of Toronto Facilities and Markham
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Funding research and analysis on greenbelts around the globe which concluded that Ontario’s Greenbelt is the most robust in the world, with a strong legal and policy framework
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Engaged Hamilton schools to switch to Greenbelt food for their students
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Funding the Holland Marsh Growers’ transition from an export, commodity focus to one that serves the local market with value- added products
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Bringing thousands of Ontarians out into the Greenbelt each year through grantee activities and the Annual Tour de Greenbelt cycling event
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Funding policy changes to encourage more local food to be sold in Durham
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Hosting the successful Tour de Greenbelt to promote Ontario’s Greenbelt as a tourism destination
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Identifying barriers to opening markets for Greenbelt farmers and proposing solutions
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Supporting the creation of an award-winning Greenbelt granola bar
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Supporting changing the City of Toronto policy to adopt a local food purchasing bylaw for city facilities
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Engaging with over 170 million Ontarians directly through our marketing, events and communications activities
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Providing grants and support to significantly increase sales at farmers’ markets
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Enhancing Farmers’ Markets, increasing sales for farmers in the Greenbelt and beyond
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Supporting tourism initiatives including in the Niagara and Caledon areas
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Contributing to greater sales of Greenbelt wines at the LCBO
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Successfully merging social welfare initiatives with environmental concerns
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Supporting the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to foster strong Greenbelt Plan implementation at the municipal level
The Greenbelt Blog
World Crops: An Exciting Year in ReviewEarly last week the Globe and Mail featured an article on the growing popularity of world crops in Canada. Recognizing Canada’s rapidly changing demographics and the $800 million market, farmers...
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