MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
After almost a half a century in the horticultural business, I have been given the incredible opportunity, alongside our dedicated board of directors and the passionate staff of the Green Cities Foundation, to elevate the awareness of communities across Canada regarding the vital importance of plants in our urban environments. Our mission to connect people and plants, fostering a greener and healthier urban climate, is being realized one green space at a time. Through our collective efforts, we are transforming urban areas into thriving green havens that contribute to the well-being of both people and the planet We invite you to join us in this meaningful journey and help spread our message, advocating for the profound benefits that plants bring to our cities. Together we can #GreenMyCity, one green space at a time!
Harold Deenen
CLHM CHAIR
ABOUT GREEN CITIES FOUNDATION
It was December 2011 in the historic district of St. James Park. That was the year an idea was born – to bring hope and healing to a community in the heart of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The beloved city park was in ruins following a multi-day demonstration by protestors Tree root systems were damaged and exposed, and mud had now replaced what used to be grass. This would be a big job that required 26 pallets of sod, truckloads of mulch, professional arborists, landscapers and hundreds of volunteers.
The City of Toronto quickly realized it didn’t have the resources for the extensive restoration required to return St James Park to its former glory
“Restoring the park so people could enjoy it as part of the regular, daily life again was an easy decision to make,” said Alan White, one of 200 members of Landscape Ontario who responded to a call for help from Toronto’s mayor.
Reaching out to its network of partners, the group secured generous donations of turf grass and mulch. White was thrilled with the results and, uplifted by the potential of helping more urban communities across Canada, focused on building a charitable organization to do just that.
Working with Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) members, the group focused on improving people’s lives by improving community and climate
“There are so many benefits of living, breathing landscapes, no matter the size,” said CNLA Past President Phil Paxton. “Plants clean the air, provide shade, cool the surrounding area, reduce noise and absorb excess rainwater from storms.”
The resounding message from this passionate group is that green spaces benefit our health and well-being both physically and mentally
The Green Cities Foundation was formed as a Canadian Private Charitable Foundation in 2018 and set out to build its first urban green space in 2019.
We invite you to join us on this journey, to be a part of something bigger than yourself, and to help make the world a better place for all Whether you are a student, a professional, a community member, or a concerned citizen, there is a place for you in the Green Cities Foundation family.
ABOUT GREEN CITIES FOUNDATION
MISSION:
Green Cities Foundation is a community connecting plants & people for a greener, healthier urban climate
VISION:
Protect, nurture, and grow urban green spaces for the health and well-being of all.
PROTECT: We commit to protecting our green spaces and the plants within them
NURTURE: We commit to caring for and supporting green spaces for the benefit of all
GROW: We commit to expanding green spaces and people’s participation in them across Canada.
VALUES:
At our organization, we embrace a set of core values that guide everything we do. These values are the foundation upon which we build our programs, our partnerships, and our community They are the principles that inspire us to create positive change in the world, and we hold them close to our hearts.
These values are more than just words on a page - they are the guiding principles that inspire us to make a difference in the world. We invite you to join us in our mission to create positive change, and to help us build a more sustainable and vibrant community for generations to come
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HaroldDeenen, CLHM CHAIR
PeterGuinane VICE-CHAIR
Scott Fortnum DIRECTOR
SusanEllis DIRECTOR
BillHardy,CLHM TREASURER
DavidThompson DIRECTOR
AlanWhite PASTCHAIR
DanielCarrothers DIRECTOR
PhilPaxton, CLHT,CLHM DIRECTOR
JohnZaplatynsky DIRECTOR
FOUNDATION STAFF
RebeccaDoutre CAE,CLHM EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR
SarahMcIntosh CONTENT&DESIGN COORDINATOR
VictorSantacruz, CAE,CLHM FINANCEDIRECTOR
StuartService MEDIA COORDINATOR
DaveMazur COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST
CherylGall,CAE FINANCIAL CONTROLLER
TeaganSchroeder PROJECTCOORDINATOR
VivianShum COMMUNICATIONs SUPPORT
LindaWiesner ACCOUNTING
PAST PROJECTS
Boys & Girls Club, Scarborough (ON)
Greenspace & Pollinator Park, Burnaby (BC)
The Forgotten Corner, Logy-Bay-Middle-Cove-Outer-Cove (NL)
Humboldt Urban Garden Sanctuary HUGS, Humboldt (SK)
Greenspace Renovation, Bay Bulls (NL)
St Matthew's House & Area Parks, Hamilton (ON)
RECENTLY COMPLETED PROJECTS
Birge Street Meadow, Hamilton (ON)
Memorial Park - Town of Qu’Appelle (SK)
Brookmill Blvd Jr Public School TDSB - Community Garden, Toronto (ON)
Green Venture - Laidlaw United Church, Hamilton (ON)
Flin Flon Community Garden - Rotary Park, Flin Flon (MB)
Recycling & Environment Action Planning (REAPS) - UofNBC (BC)
Bruderheim Agricultural Grounds - Bruderheim (AB)
UPCOMING PROJECTS
Hope Blooms Youth Social Entrepreneurial Ventures Inc - Murray Warrington Park, Halifax (NS) - August 8 2024
Hamilton Naturalists’ Club - Hamilton (ON) - October 26 2024
Stonewall Communities in Bloom Committee - TBD 2024
Dalhousie Community Association Garden Committee - Dallyn Site, Dalhousie (AB) - TBD 2024
Green Guardians - G. Ross Lord Park, North York (ON) - TBD 2025
NorWest Urban Farm - Winnipeg (MB) - TBD 2025
Oak Hills Community League - Oak Hills Community Hub, Edmonton (AB) - TBD 2025
BIRGE STREET MEADOW, HAMILTON, ON
Birge Street Meadow in Hamilton is a precious urban sanctuary. Nestled in the bustling city, this green space offers tranquility for patients of Hamilton Health Sciences and area visitors alike. It serves as a retreat from daily life, providing solace and nature’s serenity. A haven for wildlife, the meadow attracts butterflies, bees, and birds, while also acting as an educational hub for local biodiversity. Birge Street Meadow fosters community involvement and has become a point of pride. Its proximity to Hamilton Health Sciences offers healing and tranquility to both patients and staff, symbolizing the bond between urban life and nature and highlighting the benefits of preserving green spaces in our communities.
Thanks to the efforts of over 40 volunteers, nearly 300 native plants supplied by Connon Nurseries were planted in garden beds, along with five trees from the City of Hamilton and Trees for Hamilton, across a 700-meter strip of land opposite the Hamilton Health Services complex at 30 Birge Street. We are grateful for the generous contributions of time and donations from many individuals and organizations, including GCF’s National Platinum sponsor RBC Insurance, Beautiful Alleys, Turf Systems Inc., Oriole Landscaping Ltd., Landsource Organix, Environment Hamilton, Hamilton Health Sciences, and The Butterfly Project.
Community Planting Day: October 14, 2023
MEMORIAL PARK - TOWN OF QU’APPELLE, SK
Unofficially called Kiddie Park, the project has successfully expanded and renovated existing areas within the park. The enhancements include the addition of a memorial rose garden and the increase and expansion of greenery both within the park and around its exterior.
Community Planting Day: May 26, 2024 Grand Opening: July 20, 2024
BROOKMILL BLVD. JR. PUBLIC SCHOOL
TDSB - COMMUNITY GARDEN, TORONTO, ON
This group successfully co-constructed a studentdesigned sustainable community garden with the students and parents, integrating indigenous ways of knowing. The project created awareness of global challenges such as poverty, sustainability, and equity, with a particular focus on agriculture.
Community planting day: June 8, 2024
GREEN VENTURE - LAIDLAW UNITED CHURCH, HAMILTON, ON
Together with the community, Green Ventures has successfully transformed the church grounds. A section of the parking lot has been removed and replaced with a vibrant community garden filled with native plants, additional seating has been installed, and access to this community space has been significantly improved.
Community planting day: June 22, 2024
FLIN
FLON COMMUNITY GARDENROTARY PARK, FLIN FLON MB
The Flin Flon Community Garden has successfully enhanced the space by adding ten new garden boxes, complete with essential materials like soil and manure. Additionally, a dedicated area for pollinators has been established, featuring a small seating section for visitors.
This project has achieved several key objectives. It provides the community with fresh, nutrient-rich food, helping to mitigate the high cost of food due to transportation challenges. The initiative has seen participation from a diverse range of community members, including youth, seniors, families, and neighbors.
Flin Flon faces unique challenges, such as a scarcity of fertile soil typical of southern regions and elevated food costs due to transportation expenses. This project directly addresses these issues by promoting local food production and accessibility.
Community planting day: June 16, 2024, 1-4 pm
RECYCLING & ENVIRONMENT AC PLANNING (REAPS) - UOFNBC, B
A garden with a multipurpose community space has been created, featuring a food production garden bed alongside a display and activity area. This garden extends REAPS’ programs by offering a larger demonstration and food production area, thereby promoting healthy local environments and sustainable food production.
Community planting day: June 1, 8 & 15 & 18, 2024
BRUDERHEIM AGRICULTURAL GROUNDS - BRUDERHEIM, AB
The Bruderheim Agricultural Grounds now feature enhanced greenspaces, raised-bed community gardens, pathways, a cosmic skate park, and an astronomy playground. The project successfully increased the tree canopy and incorporated native plants within the landscaped areas, benefiting both the community and the natural environment.
Community planting day: July 3, 2024
CLEAN AIR CALCULATOR
WHAT’S YOUR IMPACT? (BETA)
In an era dominated by discussions of reducing our carbon footprint, a vital aspect of the climate change conversation has often been overlooked - plants' incredible role in mitigating climate change and enhancing our air quality. While emissions reduction is undoubtedly crucial, we believe it's time to shed light on the other side of the equation: plants' extraordinary capacity to capture carbon and provide us with cleaner, cooler air.
Our tool, the Clean Air Calculator, is a web application using ArcGIS Software provided by the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) and is backed by extensive research based on key published studies and reliable sources to help audiences - people, businesses, schools and municipalities - visualize the positive impact of plants on their environment.
Access the Clean Air Calculator: https://www.gcfoundation.ca/my-impact Feedback form: https://www.gcfoundation.ca/beta-feedback-form
Plants Love You
“Plants Love You” is an educational initiative identifying how plants improve our lives. Discover the documented environmental, social and economic benefits of plants.
How do plants help my city?
When we plant trees, grasses, shrubs, and flowers where none was growing before, they improve air and water quality and help in the fight against climate change. The effect is very noticeable in cities where there are more hard surfaces, such as concrete and pavement.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
ASSETS
Current Cash Accounts receivable Harmonized sales tax recoverable Prepaid expenses
LIABILITIES
Current Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Due to Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (Note 7)
NET ASSETS
Invested in Capital Assets (Note 5)
Project Reserve Fund (Note 4) Unrestricted 2024 2023 247,706 62,881 22,688 2,838 $ 336,113 $ 10,185 1,324 $ 11,509324,604 324,604 336,113 $ 402,5508,358 342 $ 411,250 $ 3,499 5,642 $ 9,141200,000 211,402 411,250 $
402,109
Approved by the Board of Directors
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES
2023 106,477 163,068 186,978168,750 $ 625,273 $ 331,644 66,701 3,650 100,689 4,256584 2,614 1,933 512,071 113,202 $ 13,779 180,000 34,695 4,000 50,000 $ 282,474 $ 56,128 67,305 3,728 51,970 13,293 559 3,979 8,007 204,969 77,505 $
OUR SUPPORTERS
GREEN SUPPORTERS
Are you ready to positively impact your community and join a movement towards a greener future?
As a Green Supporter, you can connect your backyard, garden, or urban green space to our mission through the clean air calculator. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference in creating healthier and more sustainable environments.
Together, let's create a greener and healthier urban climate for all. Join us in our mission today and participate in something meaningful and impactful!
CALCULATE YOUR CLEAN AIR: https://www.gcfoundation.ca/my-impact DONATE: https://www.gcfoundation.ca/beta-feedback-form
OUR SUPPORTERS
2023 SPONSORS
We're excited to have RBC Insurance as our National Platinum Sponsor! Their unwavering commitment to building greener and more resilient cities aligns perfectly with our vision of connecting plants & people for a greener, healthier urban climate. With their generous support, we're stepping up our efforts to #GreenMyCity one green space at a time! Stay tuned for exciting updates as we embark on this journey together. Let's make our cities cleaner, greener, and more sustainable.
The Muskoka Roastery Coffee Co supports grassrots organizations with clear, sustainabilityfocused agendas and a commitment to creating meaningful, long-term change.
The Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) is a national not-for-profit federation of nine provincial landscape and horticulture trades associations representing over 4,600 professionals across Canada. It comprises thousands of locally owned companies that grow, sell, design, install, and maintain plants and other landscape features, representing over $14 billion in economic impact.
