Mission

“We inspire people to build healthy inclusive neighbourhoods through community gardening and the celebration of food”

Values

At Greenest City, our work is guided by the following core values:

Respect.We foster respect for the environment, the community and each other through the actions we take, the programs we run and the way in which we communicate with others.

Leadership.We recognize leadership comes in many different forms and support community members in the discovery of how they can lead. We encourage community members to set an example for others by sharing their knowledge and learning in culturally and age appropriate ways.

Personal Growth.We provide the space, support and opportunity for people to learn and take initiative.

Collaboration.We reach beyond traditional boundaries to collaborate with individuals and groups with environmental, health and social interests.

Diversity. We embrace diversity by recognizing and sharing the knowledge, experience and stories of community members.

History

For over a decade, Greenest City has been bringing individuals in different neighbourhoods together to create healthier, more sustainable communities. Over the past few years we have been concentrating on urban agriculture as a way to connect people to food, to each other and to opportunity. Together we’re growing more hopeful future.

2008
In 2008 we expanded our impact by engaging over 500 participants in over 12,000 hours of programming. To include more youth we planted a new Youth Garden in the Dunn Parkette. Attendance at events and our annual “Food Earth and Culture Festival” doubled!

In recognition of this work, Greenest City was voted one of the best community projects in the City of Toronto at the Green Toronto Awards. We were also one of 10 organizations chosen to receive The Wellesley Institute's "10 in 10" Urban Health Award that recognizes the "unsung" heroes that have made a significant contribution to the health of urban communities in the GTA from 1998-2008.

2007
In response to needs identified in the Parkdale community, we opened an office in Parkdale and launched “From the Ground UP”, a program comprised of the Youth Green Squad (a summer employment and leadership program for at-risk youth), the HOPE Community Garden and related educational programming.

We partnered with Sketch and over 10 other community organizations to engage a diverse group of community members.

We brought neighbours together to celebrate culture, local food and environmental action with the “Food, Earth and Culture Festival” We were honoured to be selected as finalists in the Green Toronto Awards “Youth” category for our amazing Youth Green Squad.

2004-2006
Greenest City began to engage a new group in our community greening and gardening focus, by working with at-risk youth in west Toronto on a project called Bike Roots. Youth were engaged in a leadership pilot program that included growing food at community gardens, training and skills development in organic and pesticide-free gardening, and using bicycles with trailers to transport garden produce to community kitchens and households.

In 2006, Bike Roots won a Bicycle Friendly Business Award (BFBA) from the City of Toronto for “Best Skills Development”. The project was highly successful in inspiring youth to engage in community as leaders in greening their communities and learning about sustainable gardening and transportation practices. This project informed the design of the Youth Green Squad.

2003
Urban agriculture has always been a part of Greenest City’s work. In 1996, Greenest City helped 18 GTA communities start community gardens, as part of the Multicultural Greening Project. This project involved more than 300 gardeners of Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Somali, Tamil, Indian, Caribbean, Sri Lankan, European, Arab, Philippine, and Pakistani decent, male and female, young and old.

The gardeners learned sustainable urban agriculture practices and helped the environment by growing their own food.

2002
Greenest City was awarded Stockholm Partnership Award for Sustainable Cities for innovative solutions for development in metropolitan areas. The award recognized the International Walk to School Day event.

2001
Greenest City won the Ministry of the Environment's Award of Excellence for outstanding achievements in climate change initiatives.

1999
We founded the Cool Shops program, which encouraged retailers to reduce energy consumption. Sixty (60) energy audits were completed and nine Cool Shops were certified. The program reduced over 26,970 kWh of electricity and prevented release of more than 35.7 tonnes of GHGs in its first year alone. You can find a continuation of this program at the Clean Air Foundation.

1996
Greenest City initiated “Active and Safe Routes to School”, a program to support children walking to school, help increase physical activity and decrease GHG emissions associated with driving. The program was so successful, it was adopted by a national organization can be accessed through Green Communities Canada.