The City of Toronto today announced the recipients of its new PollinateTO community grants providing up to $5,000 per project for community-led initiatives to create pollinator habitat in Toronto.
Launched in March, the grants are a component of Toronto’s Pollinator Protection Strategy that City Council adopted unanimously last year. The strategy identifies habitat creation as a key priority to protect pollinators in Toronto.
More than 300 species of bees and hundreds of other pollinator species can be found in Toronto. Some species are in decline due to habitat loss, climate change and other stressors. Once lost, native species cannot be replaced.
Thirty-seven applications were selected to receive funding from among 151 applications submitted. Approved projects include community faith gardens, Indigenous education gardens, residential rain gardens, schoolyard teaching gardens, and multiple front-yard gardens on residential streets (which serve as pollinator pathways).
In total, more than 9,500 square metres of pollinator habitat will be created through the grants. The projects will also engage and educate the community through a variety of measures including signage, workshops, tours, videos, seed exchanges, community planting days, indigenous knowledge sharing, senior and youth programming, newcomer education, interpretive art and citizen science.
Mayor John Tory has proclaimed June 16 to 22 Pollinator Week in Toronto. Residents are invited to celebrate by visiting the Live Green Toronto tent at the Pollinator Party taking place at the Withrow Park Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 22. Visitors can learn more about pollinator-friendly gardening, pick up free native-plant seeds and shop for fresh local food at the farmers market.
The next round of grants will be announced in early 2020. All non-profit groups located in Toronto are welcome to apply for funding.
More information about the PollinateTO Community Grants and approved projects is available at https://www.toronto.ca/pollinateTO.
Quotes:
“Pollinators are an important part of a sustainable, resilient city and I’m delighted by the community’s response to the grants and people’s willingness to work with us to help pollinators survive and thrive in our city.”
– Mayor John Tory
“In addition to supporting pollinators, these new community gardens will enhance biodiversity and beautify our city. I look forward to seeing more pollinator-friendly gardens across Toronto.”
– Councillor James Pasternak (Ward 6 York Centre), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee
Toronto is Canada’s largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of more than 2.9 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/cityoftoronto, on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/cityofto or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/cityofto.
Leave a Reply