The Evergreen workshop experience (Photo: Evergreen)

Winning a new grant starts with writing a superb proposal. “Getting More Green” is one of Evergreen’s leading workshops with hands-on activities and useful resources to help groups get results from their grant proposals. Join us on Monday, January 17, 6–9pm for this invaluable workshop hosted by Evergreen and University of Toronto Mississauga.

Check out some comments from previous workshop participants:

“The group activities really drove the point home and facilitated good conversation within group conversation.  It was good to look at funding from the funders’ perspective.” —from the 2009 workshop at Black Creek Pioneer Village

“Group activities, [a] list of funding sources and other handouts, and viewpoint of funders looking a potential projects.” —from the 2009 workshop at Black Creek Pioneer Village

“There was a nice mix between presented material and hands-on activities.  Case studies and experience of presenters also helpful.” —from the 2008 workshop at Evergreen Brick Works

Find out more about the workshop and how to register on our Events Calendar!

Bike Advocacy Event, Photos: Brian Liberty

Over 170 attendees braved the first snow in Toronto as they walked, biked or used the Evergreen Shuttle to attend the first Bike Advocacy event at Evergreen Brick Works presented by Toronto Cyclists Union (TCU), 8-80 Cities and Evergreen.  Keynote speaker Gil Peñalosa, executive director of 8-80 Cities, talked about designing cities and redesigns that focus on accessibility for all road users.

“Everyone is a cyclist and a pedestrian at some point in the day,” Gil explained, addressing why building functional systems that ensure the safety of everyone is vital.

The afternoon portion of the workshop led by TCU’s Andrea Garcia, director of advocacy and operations, included a wonderful list of knowledgeable speakers.

Dale Duncan, former assistant to Adam Vaughn, provided helpful tips on how to engage your local councilor and build a relationship with them.

Al Rezoski, manager for City of Toronto, spoke on infrastructure changes and how to effectively engage the city in redesign to support a complete streets view point.

Last but not least, Dave Meslin, founder of the TCU, provided some helpful insight on how to leverage all the good things that our new Mayor wishes to do with bikes and infrastructure inside and out of downtown.

Breakout sessions followed with the main event to map actual changes that each of the attending wards would work on implementing this year. Attendees also participated in a trail evaluation through 8-80 Cities to help make the trails more accessible and safe development of the trail routes and access. Group walks and rides to the site were also arranged by CultureLink Newcomers Program, U for Change, Community Matters and the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office.

Thank you to all who attended and to the partners for making this all come together.

Read more about winter cycling in the Toronto Star.

UTSC Garden Celebration, (Photos: Tooba Shakeel)

University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) Garden saw a successful season of growth! On Sept 29, students and staff at UTSC celebrated the harvest by enjoying a delicious salad made from vegetables grown in the University Community Garden. Participants also enjoyed Gourd Bowling using butternut squash!

UTCS Community Garden, (Photos: Tooba Shakeel)

UTSC Garden was established in the spring of 2010 in partnership with the UTSC Sustainability Office and Evergreen. The aim was to provide students and community members a chance to practice gardening and grow vegetables. During the celebration, participants harvested pepper, zucchini, eggplant, onion, parsley, oregano, lemon grass, basil, rosemary, nasturtium and much more. Not only did everyone enjoy a delicious salad but participants also took plenty of vegetables home. The garden has been put to sleep for winter and we hope to have an even better growing season next year!

Click here for information on UTSC Sustainability Office projects and events.

Just another day at the office (Photo: Laura Smit)

Evergreen BC’s corporate volunteers work hard, in and out of the office.  The following groups dedicated time, money and effort toward restoring nature in Vancouver this year, giving our urban forest (and our stewardship groups) a huge boost!

Congratulations to what we think are some of Vancouver’s greenest corporate citizens:

HSBC: 159 person hours; 340 plants

Diageo: 54 person hours; 228 plants

HSBC International: 42 person hours; 125 plants

BC Housing: 78 person hours; 220 plants

PwC: 150 person hours; 152 plants

SAP: 132 person hours; 315 plants

Fido: 105 person hours; 162 plants

From sending out employees in droves to trying out new restoration techniques, we at Evergreen BC want to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of our corporate volunteers and send them a huge thanks for taking the time to bring a little more nature to the city for everyone.

Want to join in on the fun? How many plants can you and your office team put in the ground? To get started, head to our web site and book your stewardship event today.

Welcome to our experts!

	Keynote speaker Sue Humphries, Headteacher (1965-2002) at The Coombes School, London, England. Trustee, Learning Through Landscapes Trust.
	Daniel Rainham, PhD, Chair in Sustainability and Environmental Health, Environmental Science Program, Research Associate, Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre (AHPRC), Dalhousie University
	Melanie Sifton, Director, Humber Arboretum & Centre for Urban Ecology
	Paul Gifford, Education Manager, Evergreen
	Kim Sanderson, MA, Policy Advisor, Research and Innovation Group of Community Services, City of Edmonton Chair, International Play Association
	Hilary Inwood, Teacher, Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, University of Toronto
	Sharon Danks, Environmental Planner, founding partner Bay Tree Design, inc., Berkeley, California
	Heidi Campbell, Senior Designer, Evergreen
	Rebekka Hutton, Urban Agriculture Manager, Evergreen
	Shannon Crossman, Spiral Garden, Centre for the Arts, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto
	Robert Vine, Spiral Garden, Centre for the Arts, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto

Don Tapscott takes the stage. (Photo: Cam Collyer)

In the early morning darkness I rode my bike to Evergreen Brick Works for the kickoff session of T.H.E. Series.  Author Don Tapscott, Dr. Mike Evans and Geoff Cape took the stage just after 7:30 am to discuss how technology, health and the environment are collaborating to meet societal challenges on a global scale.

The debate got off to a great start when the moderator made the provocative statement that “technology is evil.”  Here are some highlights:

• Don shared examples from his new book how the Internet is a platform for inexpensive collaboration to do things like deliver humanitarian aid, like users on the Kenyan-born Ushahidi network who used text messages to triangulate the location of a young girl buried in the rubble following Haiti’s Earthquake.
• Dr. Evan talked about how 80 per cent of health solutions are happening at home and how technology is helping our current health system adapt to address health care holistically.  He demonstrated how personal stories are more effective tools for building awareness than a pamphlet by playing an emotional video from a mother battling breast cancer talking about helping her children cope with her terminal illness.
• Geoff said the real issue with moving the needle on sustainability is through empowering individuals and organizations to see the upside of changing their behavior and going above simply asking them to donate money to a cause.

Stayed tuned, T.H.E. Series aims to host 4-6 breakfast sessions in 2011 attracting internationally renowned experts to help herald in the green economy and both teach and learn from Canadians at the cutting edge of the green economy.

Walking through the trails at Evergreen's Green City Adventure Camp (Photo: Mike Derblich)

Childhood is moving indoors and becoming inactive:

• Only 12 per cent of Canadian children get the recommended amount of daily physical activity.
• Canadian children spend an average of 44 hours a week behind a computer screen.

Most Canadians agree:

• More than 8 out of 10 Canadians are concerned that young people growing up in big cities are losing touch with nature.
• 9 out of 10 Canadians believe it is much better if people experience nature first-hand rather through books or the internet.

Children need nature—they need to explore it, enjoy it, and learn about it. What can be done to bring children back into nature, and to make cities more livable?

On November 12-13, join us at All Hands in the Dirt: A Forum on the Design and Programming of Children’s Outdoor Spaces. Design and programming experts from Canada, Europe and the United States will share their work and engage us in conversation on how to bridge the gap between designing and programming healthy and creative play and learning environments for children.

Don’t miss this chance to meet international children’s play practitioners all in one place and to tour the transformed Evergreen Brick Works, Toronto’s brand-new environmental community centre.

For more information and to register, click here.

Students on their way to changing the world. (Photo: Sylvie Lapointe)

Have you ever been inspired by a teacher to do, say and make something different of the world?  Québec teacher, Dominique Leduc, wants to do just that and doesn’t just see his elementary class as children, but rather as people who can make a difference.

Evergreen is proud to support the documentary “Hope Builders” directed by Fernand Dansereau, where Leduc takes his Grade 6 class through a process of learning that identifies, analyzes and resolves a problem.  He believes that children can be critical thinkers and his experimental teaching method and belief in the intelligence of children is going to have results.  Hope Builders is a fascinating testament to alternative methods of creating change and inspires all of us to act consciously in the future.

The documentary will be shown on Saturday, October 16 at 11 am at Al Green Theatre and is part of Planet in Focus: an international environmental film and video festival based in Toronto that opens today.

Photo: CVC stewardship forum

Calling all stewards, green thumbs, and interested community members!

Come one, come all and be a part of the “Friends of the Credit” Stewardship Forum. This is a FREE event and includes a complimentary lunch! The event will take place on Saturday October 16, 2010 from 9 am to 3:30pm at the University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd. N., Mississauga.

For more information or to register check out, www.creditvalleyca.ca/stewardshipforum.

University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) and Credit Vally Conservation (CVC) are both local Mississauga community partners as part of Evergreen’s Mississauga Stewardship and Restoration program.

Tree Tenders ecard, Photo: L.E.A.F

Are you interested in looking after your trees but not sure where to start? Trees are a great way to beautify a neighbourhood and a little care will go a long way. Our friends at L.E.A.F. are hosting their Tree Tenders Training Course in Markham, September 2, 5, 7, and 11. Many Evergreen staff and dedicated volunteers have attended and successfully completed the course.

“I have taken the course myself and highly recommend it. We are pleased to be a partner in such a great learning opportunity!” – Lisa Fisk, Program Manager, Richmond Hill Stewardship.

“Informative, practical, great instructors and I am consistently using the information and resources I received in the course.” – Kim Sellers, Program Manager, Mississauga Stewardship.

Learn more and register for the Tree Tenders Training course at L.E.A.F!