Strategic Communications to Advance Greenbelt Priorities   

Purpose 

The Greenbelt Foundation is seeking a creative and strategic Communications Specialist to advance the visibility, clarity and impact of strategic Foundation initiatives. Working closely with the Foundation’s Research and Policy and Communications teams, the Communication Specialist will develop strategies and support implementation of coordinated awareness campaigns, develop compelling key messages and content, and lead targeted public engagement activities.  

Strategic initiatives centre on Foundation activities related to nature-based solutions, soil health and recreation.  

Background 

The Greenbelt Foundation is an independent charitable organization dedicated to promoting and sustaining Ontario’s Greenbelt. In addition to its grants program which supports community and sector capacity, the Foundation undertakes evidence-based research and policy work, strategic programs, and promotes the Greenbelt and engages the public and stakeholders. By ensuring continuous, progressive investment in the Greenbelt, the Foundation nurtures a living, thriving Greenbelt for all to enjoy. 

Project Objectives 

1. Developing communication strategies that advance the Foundation’s strategic initiatives, increasing awareness, engagement of target audiences and measurable impact. 

2. Strengthening awareness of the Foundation’s activities related to enhancing natural infrastructure and regional resilience, improving soil health and agricultural productivity, and revitalizing the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail. 

3. Delivering clear, consistent and compelling messaging and content across appropriate channels. 

4. Engaging target audiences in key conversations about the Greenbelt, its regional contributions and future opportunities. 

Scope of Work 

1. Build a strong understanding of the Foundation’s strategic initiatives goals, activities and partnerships 

• Meet with Foundation staff and partner stakeholders to develop an understanding of the Foundation’s three (3) strategic initiatives related to 
• Investments in natural infrastructure and regional resilience 
• Soil health practices and agricultural productivity 
• Revitalization of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail 
• Develop / refine communication goals and objectives for each initiative. 

2. Develop a coordinated communication strategy for the Foundation’s strategic initiatives, inclusive of 

• SMART objectives 
• Target and segmented audiences 
• Key messages 
• Communication channels and tools 
• Implementation plan and timeline 
• Feedback and evaluation mechanisms to support success  

3. Engage target audiences in conversations over digital channels, traditional media and through key events, including 

• Digital campaign to profile the Greenbelt’s natural infrastructure and climate resilience, with local municipal examples 
• Summer event series profiling Greenbelt farmers’ actions to improve soil health 
• Public engagements through an online survey and in-person open houses on revitalizing the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail 

4. Guide the framing and positioning of reports profiling the Foundation’s impact including 

• Monitoring report on municipal use of natural infrastructure 
• Outcomes of multiyear soil health program and adoption of agricultural best practices 
• Profile of a preferred route and enhancements for the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail 

5. Develop communication assets to support implementation of the communications strategy, including key events and report releases, in collaboration with the Foundation. 

6. Monitor and evaluate results of the communications strategy and recommend adjustments, as needed.  

Deliverables 

• Coordinated communications strategy elevating the profile of the Foundation’s strategic initiatives and impact 
• Communications capacity to support the roll-out of the strategy, including key events and the development and release of identified reports 
• Development of effective communication assets and an increase in the engagement of target audiences in Foundation initiatives 

Timeline & Work Plan 

The work is expected to take place over eight (8) months, from May-December 2026. 

Budget 

A maximum budget of $80,000 + HST is allocated for this project and does not include the design / production of communication assets which will be paid directly by the Foundation 

Qualifications & Experience 

• Post-secondary degree in Communications, Public Affairs, Journalism, or a related field; expertise in environmental, agricultural, or public policy issues is a strong asset.  
• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in strategic communications, preferably within a nonprofit, public sector, or mission-driven organization.  
• Proven track record of leading and delivering integrated communications strategies for programs, research or policy initiatives.  
• Exceptional writing and editorial judgment, with demonstrated ability to develop compelling narratives for diverse audiences.  
• Extensive experience designing and executing digital and social media campaigns, including content strategy, audience targeting and performance monitoring.  
• Strong experience managing creative development processes, including working effectively with designers, agencies, and external vendors.  
• Demonstrated ability to support high-impact events and public engagement processes.  
• Advanced project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet tight deadlines, and adapt in a fast-paced environment.  
• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to align communications approaches with broader organizational objectives and policy goals.  

Proposal Submission  

Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals to Shelley Petrie at spetrie@greenbelt.ca by May 1, 2026. The proposal must include the following:  

• Understanding of the assignment and proposed approach, including database design and outline of user manual.  
• A work plan for completing the project, including tasks and milestones  
• Detailed budget  
• Candidate’s strengths and experience, as they pertain to this project including CV  
• Summary of work or projects completed within the past 3-5 years that are of a similar nature and scope to this project, including three relevant references  

Evaluation and Selection  

The Greenbelt Foundation will evaluate proposals based on qualifications, methodology, experience, and cost-effectiveness. The Greenbelt Foundation reserves the right to request additional information or clarification from proposers during the evaluation process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  

Inquiries  

For any inquiries or clarifications regarding this request for proposal, please contact Shelley Petrie at  spetrie@greenbelt.ca.  

Trail Data Management and Collection Guidelines

Purpose

The Oak Ridges Trail Association (ORTA) and the Greenbelt Foundation invite proposals from qualified consultant teams to design and implement a geospatial database for the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail (ORMT). This database will serve as a central platform for storing trail attributes and administrative data, supporting efficient data collection, management and long-term monitoring.

In addition to the database, the consultant will develop a plain language user manual and workflow to support volunteers in collecting, uploading, and maintaining data, ensuring long-term quality and sustainability.

Background

The ORMT has been stewarded for over 30 years by a dedicated community of volunteers and partners, including ORTA and the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust. ORTA oversees volunteer teams that regularly audit the trail, collecting information on trail segments, infrastructure, and user amenities. The Greenbelt Foundation is working with ORTA to standardize data collection protocols, and create a centralized system to store, digitize, and manage this data.

Over the past year, geospatial data on key trail features has been collected and priorities identified for future data collection. This project seeks a consultant to build a centralized geospatial database that allows volunteers to easily upload, access, and manage data. The consultant will also produce a plain-language user manual that will help volunteers use of the database. Together, the geospatial database and user manual will support consistent, efficient, and sustainable data management, helping strengthen trail maintenance, planning, and reporting.

Project Objectives

The project will focus on:

1. Designing and building a geospatial database that supports visualization, analysis, and future updates of trail attributes and landowner data.
2. Developing protocols and tools for data collection that are volunteer-friendly, efficient, and reliable.
3. Uploading, validating, and organizing data from prior audits, new collection efforts, and landowner information.
4. Creating a plain language user manual to guide volunteers in accessing, updating, and maintaining the database over time.

Scope of Work

1. Geospatial Database Development

• Design and build a geospatial database to store trail attributes and related geotagged photos and documents.
• Structure the database for long-term sustainability and ease of use by a volunteer-led organization and ensure scalability for future data updates.
• Upload and validate existing datasets, including prior trail audits and geotagged photos.
• Group related attributes into logical layers to support visualization, analysis, and reporting.

2. Protocol Development for Data Collection and Platform Setup

• Recommend field data collection tools suitable for volunteers.
• Establish workflows linking field-collected data to the database.
• Define data validation rules to minimize errors.

3. Database & Data Collection User Manual

• Develop a plain language GIS user manual suitable for training volunteers, including instructions for accessing, navigating, editing, uploading, and validating data.
• Define data standards including naming conventions, metadata requirements, and validation rules.
• Include procedures for ongoing maintenance, quality control, and troubleshooting.

Deliverables

• A geospatial database containing validated trail attribute data
• A plain language user manual that is suitable for training new volunteers.

Timelines

The project is expected to be completed by August 2026.

Inputs Provided by ORTA

• GIS platform licenses as required.
• Access to ORTA volunteers for testing and validation.
• Existing trail spatial data and prior trail audit datasets.

_{*This table provides a high-level overview of the key attribute categories and example sub-attribute fields for the project. A full and comprehensive list of attributes, subcategories, and associated data fields can be provided to interested parties by email.}

Proposal Submission

Interested parties are invited to submit their proposals to Samantha Bennett at sbennett@greenbelt.ca by May 11, 2026. The proposal must include the following:

• Understanding of the assignment and proposed approach, including database design and outline of user manual.
• A work plan for completing the project, including tasks and milestones.
• Detailed budget.
• Candidate’s or team’s strengths and experience, as they pertain to this project including CV(s).
• Roles and level of effort for each team member (if more than one).
• Summary of work or projects completed within the past 3-5 years that are of a similar nature and scope to this project, including three relevant references.

Evaluation and Selection

ORTA and Greenbelt Foundation will evaluate the proposals based on qualifications, methodology, experience, and cost-effectiveness. ORTA and Greenbelt Foundation reserve the right to request additional information or clarification from proposers during the evaluation process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Inquiries

For any inquiries or clarifications regarding this request for proposal, please contact Samantha Bennett at sbennett@greenbelt.ca.