Research & Policy Articles

Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Greenbelt Assets

Foundation Occasional Paper Series | May 14, 2012

Produced by Econometric Research Limited, this study identifies, quantifies and showcases the economic contributions of the Greenbelt on 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. Continue reading

Ontario's Local Food Champions 2012

Greenbelt Research | February 24, 2012

This year’s Ontario’s Local Food Champions represent the dynamic changes happening across foodservice. Here are the highlights: School Food Action Coalition: Peel District School Board, Compass Group Canada (Chartwells), Peel Public Health and EcoSource Continue reading

Ontario Greenbelt Environics Polling 2011

Greenbelt Research | November 1, 2011

Now in its sixth year, support for Ontario’s Greenbelt remains strong according to a recent poll conducted by Environics Research Group*. “Red, blue or orange, regardless of political preference, the Greenbelt enjoys great loyalty,” said Burkhard Mausberg, CEO of the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation. Continue reading

The Living Greenbelt

Environment | October 25, 2011

Climate Change Adaption: Ontario's Resilient Greenbelt

Foundation Occasional Paper Series | August 15, 2011

Produced by Ray Tomalty, Ph.D and Bartek Komorowski, MUP at Smart Cities Research Services, this report examines the potential impacts, both positive and negative, of climate change on the long-term viability of the Greenbelt and proposes a suite of measures to adapt to these changes. The main focus is on climate change impacts on the Greenbelt Plan’s main areas of concern: natural heritage,... Continue reading

Inside and Out: Sustaining Ontario's Greenbelt

Greenbelt Research | July 13, 2011

Planting the First Seed: Creating Opportunities for Ethnic and Young Farmers in the Greenbelt

Food & Farming | March 17, 2011

Valuing Wetlands in Southern Ontario's Credit River Watershed

Economy | January 10, 2011

David Suzuki Foundation - Value of Greenbelt Eco-Services Study

Foundation Occasional Paper Series | November 29, 2010

Ontario's Greenbelt in an International Context

Greenbelt Research | March 8, 2010

The goal of permanently protecting Ontario’s Greenbelt is central to the vision articulated in the Greenbelt Plan.This report documents the experience of greenbelts around the globe and identifies lessons applicable to ensuring the permanence of Ontario’s Greenbelt, which this year achieves a five-year milestone. [The eleventh installment in the Occasional Paper Series presented by the Friends of... Continue reading

The Greenbelt Foundation is

Supporting the creation of an award-winning Greenbelt granola bar
Bridging farming and hiking interests to acknowledge environmental progress by farmers
Reaching over 75 million by placing 220 permanent highway and regional road signs to ensure Ontarians and visitors know about this valuable protected area
Funding policy changes to encourage more local food to be sold in Durham
Bringing thousands of Ontarians out into the Greenbelt each year through grantee activities and the Annual Tour de Greenbelt cycling event
Supporting interested Greenbelt Farmers to Go Organic
Participating strategically in growing the Greenbelt by working with Toronto, Peel, Halton, and Guelph
Supporting the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance to foster strong Greenbelt Plan implementation at the municipal level
Engaging with over 170 million Ontarians directly through our marketing, events and communications activities
Supporting food policy council in Durham to create food charter
Supporting changing the City of Toronto policy to adopt a local food purchasing bylaw for city facilities
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
Funding the Holland Marsh Growers’ transition from an export, commodity focus to one that serves the local market with value- added products
Supporting tourism initiatives including in the Niagara and Caledon areas
Identifying barriers to opening markets for Greenbelt farmers and proposing solutions
Contributing to greater sales of Greenbelt wines at the LCBO
Developing a successful culinary tourism platform for Niagara
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
Funding visionary planning processes such as the new Cootes to Escarpment Park Management Plan, and a massive reforestation plan in Rouge Park
Supporting the development of multi-cultural crops and training new Canadian Farmers
Supporting development of action plans for a variety of agricultural areas and commodities
Supporting the creation of new multi-cultural crops and development of ethnic local food guides in Toronto and York Region
Securing local food procurement commitments for Peel schools, City of Toronto, City of Markham and others
Increasing amount of Greenbelt food in food share program 140%
Providing grants and support to significantly increase sales at farmers’ markets
Enhancing Farmers’ Markets, increasing sales for farmers in the Greenbelt and beyond
Successfully merging social welfare initiatives with environmental concerns
Building a local food economy from developing new markets to enhancing distribution channels
Hosting the successful Tour de Greenbelt to promote Ontario’s Greenbelt as a tourism destination
Engaged Hamilton schools to switch to Greenbelt food for their students
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
Convincing Peel school boards to buy Greenbelt food for students
Supporting the Credit Valley Conservation Authority to protect and restore wetlands
Partnering with Harbourfront Centre to tell the story of Ontario’s Greenbelt to 12 million people via a year-long, outdoor photography exhibit
Assisting in designing new policies to protect Lake Simcoe through timely research
Hosted the first ever Global Greenbelts Conference in Toronto in March 2011 with speakers and delegates from over nine countries
Creating Greenbeltfresh.ca, the leading electronic marketplace to source local, Greenbelt foods from over 600 producers

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Walls Come Alive in York Region Elementary Schools

This is my first blog about my exciting journey of painting Greenbelt murals in York Region elementary schools. I will start with how all began. I was one of 40...

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RT @marketmilton: It’s going to be a beautiful day tomorrow for the second week of the farmers' market! Who's coming? 3 days ago