Whew! This year is flying by. Let’s pause and acknowledge our 2024 grant funders supporters.
Thank you to our grant partners and donors Miziwe Biik, the Government of Canada, Park People, Canada Summer Jobs, Young Canada Works, TD Friends of the Environment, the Garden Club of Toronto, and Green Communities Canada for your generous funding support. With your investments, we can increase programming capacity and connect more people to nature-based learning and plants.
Increasing Program Capacity
First, in January, we were awarded grant funding from Miziwe Biik to hire a full-time Nature Educator from an Indigenous background to help us expand our learning capacity and further introduce authentic collaboration between TBG and Indigenous values and teachings. This is important as we continue to learn more about the land we steward.
Then, in February, we received a grant from the Canadian Apprenticeship Program to support horticulture training and deepen our team’s knowledge about the plants we care for.
In April, we received funding from Canada Summer Jobs and Young Canada Works to manage our busiest event and learning season. The summer staff will help to create meaningful experiences for visitors.
Thank you to the Garden Club of Toronto for their support of summer camps, which helps more children to connect with nature and learn about local ecosystems.
Becoming a Cornerstone Park
March was a big month for us! We partnered with Park People and became a Cornerstone Park!
The Cornerstone Parks program is Canada’s only national network dedicated to maximizing the impact and influence of Canada’s large urban parks. The network brings together park-based NGOs working in large urban parks across Canada. Park People will financially support our efforts in connecting people to the Toronto Botanical Garden and the ravine system. Join us October 5th for our Fall Ravine Festival supported through the Cornerstone Parks program.
New Goodies for the Teaching Garden
TD Friends of the Environment awarded us a grant to purchase essentials materials that support children’s learning and curiosity in the Teaching Garden. Located on the western tablelands of the Wilket Creek Ravine, the Teaching Garden is planted, maintained, and harvested every year by children participating in TBG’s summer camps and school programs. Time spent working, exploring, and sharing in the garden stimulates a love of nature and gardening and fosters collaboration and caring.
Living Roof Upgrades
Green Communities Canada is investing in our living roof by providing us with grant funding. The living roof on the Dembroski Centre for Horticulture is over 2400 square feet, acting as a shallow planter with the soil and plant roots absorbing rainwater and pollutants. It also controls stormwater management by retaining rainwater on the roof, preventing the overload of storm sewers. Upgrades will be finished by November 2024.
We Couldn’t Do It Without Our Grant Funders and Supporters
To our 2024 funding partners: Miziwe Biik, the Government of Canada, Park People, Canada Summer Jobs, Young Canada Works, TD Friends of the Environment, and Green Communities Canada, thank you.
Thank you for making it possible for Toronto Botanical Garden to connect people and plants, foster sustainable communities and develop reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning.
