With snowy winter weather approaching, those that commute may feel the effects of the trip to work more than in the milder months. However, the effects on our commuter population is much more than a longer drive time.
Attached is an article that originally appeared in the Toronto Star examining the impact commuting has on people through the experiences of one GTA family.
Successfully merging social welfare initiatives with environmental concerns
Engaged Hamilton schools to switch to Greenbelt food for their students
Hosting the successful Tour de Greenbelt to promote Ontario’s Greenbelt as a tourism destination
Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel schools, City of Toronto, City of Markham and others
Funding policy changes to encourage more local food to be sold in Durham
Supporting the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to foster strong Greenbelt Plan implementation at the municipal level
Funding the Holland Marsh Growers’ transition from an export, commodity focus to one that serves the local market with value- added products
Identifying barriers to opening markets for Greenbelt farmers and proposing solutions
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
Hosted the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto in March 2011 with speakers and delegates from over nine countries
Building a local food economy from developing new markets to enhancing distribution channels
Supporting tourism initiatives including in the Niagara and Caledon areas
Engaging with over 170 million Ontarians directly through our marketing, events and communications activities
Supporting development of action plans for a variety of agricultural areas and commodities
Developing a successful culinary tourism platform for Niagara
Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research
Supporting food policy council in Durham to create food charter
Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress by farmers
Partnering with Harbourfront Centre to tell the story of Ontario’s Greenbelt to 12 million people via a year-long, outdoor photography exhibit
Contributing to greater sales of Greenbelt wines at the LCBO
Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel, U of T. City of Toronto Facilities and Markham
Creating a network of Farmer’s Markets to help improve our local food economy
Supporting changing the City of Toronto policy to adopt a local food purchasing bylaw for city facilities
Supporting the development of multi-cultural crops and training new Canadian Farmers
Enhancing Farmers’ Markets, increasing sales for farmers in the Greenbelt and beyond
Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park
Supporting the creation of an award-winning Greenbelt granola bar
Bringing thousands of Ontarians out into the Greenbelt each year through grantee activities and the Annual Tour de Greenbelt cycling event
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
Convincing Peel school boards to buy Greenbelt food for students
Providing grants and support to significantly increase sales at farmers’ markets
Supporting the creation of new multi-cultural crops and development of ethnic local food guides in Toronto and York Region
Creating Greenbeltfresh.ca, the leading electronic marketplace to source local, Greenbelt foods from over 600 producers
Reaching over 75 million by placing 220 permanent highway and regional road signs to ensure Ontarians and visitors know about this valuable protected area
Supporting interested Greenbelt Farmers to Go Organic
Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands
Participating strategically in growing the Greenbelt by working with Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Guelph
Increasing amount of Greenbelt food in food share program 140%
May marks the beginning of the farmers’ market season. Your weekly market starts up, familiar faces reappear, and your neighbourhood is reenergized after the long winter months. To make sure...
Read more from our Blog »Dufferin Wellington Peel: total economic impact of Greenbelt ag, forestry, fishing rec & tourism = +$493M http://t.co/dMqj9cnI @TownofErin about 12 hours ago
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