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Greenbelt Stories

The Reel Greenbelt Contest - Submit your PSA

Reel Greenbelt Logo

Whether you're a filmmaker, an environmentalist or just someone who cares about sustainability and wants to get involved - here's your chance to win some cash, prizes and gain some exposure.

In March of 2011, the Freinds of the Greenbelt Foundation is hosting a Global Greenbelts Conference to promote awareness of greenbelts around the world by sharing successes and challenges of what different countries, states and provinces are doing to protect land, water and wildlife across the globe.

As a way to get people involved, the Foundation created a video competition for people ages 17 - 29. The contest encourages people to let the world know what the Ontario's Greenbelt means to them by creating a PSA outlining why they think the Greenbelt is important. From local food to fresh water, clean air and curbing urban sprawl - there are limitless stories to be told.

The contest is NOW OPEN for submission until November 28, 2010, when the youtube voting period will commence.

Celebs Severn Cullis-Suzuki, Michael McGowan and Mohit Rajans will judge the finalists and the winning videos will be screened at the Global Greenbelts Conference in March 2011.

Joannie Rochette to Speak at 2010 Scotiabank/ScotiaMcLeod Celebrity Luncheon

Joannie Rochette

Media Release from the Grape Growers of Ontario

St. Catharines, ON (Wednesday July 28, 2010):  The Grape Growers of Ontario, in partnership with Scotiabank/ScotiaMcLeod, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival, are pleased to announce that the 2010 Olympic bronze medalist – Joannie Rochette - will be the speaker at the 2010 Celebrity Luncheon which kicks off the 59th annual Niagara Wine Festival. The event will take place at Club Roma in St. Catharines on Wednesday, September 15th at 11:30 a.m. 

Highway Extension Violates Greenbelt Protection

Highway and meadow

Press release from the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance:

For Immediate Release – July 15, 2010

32 Groups calling on Province to save wetlands and forests

Toronto – The Ontario Greenbelt Alliance is asking the Ontario government to stop a highway extension from Queen’sville to Keswick, in a letter signed by 32 groups, including Environmental Defence, the David Suzuki Foundation and Ontario Nature. An extended Highway 404 will mean the loss of 60 acres of wetlands and mature forests.

“The provincial government and the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance have worked hard for legislation to protect Ontario’s land, air, and water,” said Dr. Rick Smith, Executive Director of Environmental Defence, which coordinates the Ontario Greenbelt Alliance. “The proposed highway extension to Keswick would completely undermine the Greenbelt Act, Places to Grow, the Endangered Species Act, and the Lake Simcoe Protection Act.”

The proposed extension of the 404 Highway will:

Explore the Possibilities of the Greenbelt

Bringing the Greenbelt to Life: Stories from Ontario's Great Outdoors

A glimpse into greatness. Learn about Ontario’s world-leading Greenbelt through these bi-weekly newspaper articles published in Metroland papers in and around the Greenbelt.

Press Releases

Niagara's Good Food Fair - Real Food From The People Who Make It

The Niagara Good Food Far will run consecutive Sundays until October 3, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. located on 4251 King Street in Beamsville, Ontario, showcasing the best in local produce and food products. The fair will feature fresh produce, herbs, organic (and biodynamic) vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, local honey, artisanal charcuterie and cheeses, and an opportunity to enjoy grilled fare from a BBQ chef.

 This event is a new initiative spearheaded by Jan Campbell-Luxton of De La Terre Bakery in Vineland; Mario Pingue of Niagara Food Specialties in St. David’s (NOTL); and Karen LaVigne, Leader of Slow Food Niagara and one of the “worker bees” at Rosewood Estates Winery and Meadery in Beamsville. The trio collaborated to develop a farmers’ market that features Niagara produce and products with the motto, “real food from the people who make it.”

 Confirmed vendors include: 

  • De La Terre Bakery with organic breads and baked products.

 

  • Tawse Winery with organic and biodynamic produce and farm-fresh eggs.

 

Quilt of Possibilities at Queen's Park - Speaker Unveils Greenbelt Quilt for Public Viewing

Toronto, May 3, 2010 – Contributions from over 50 artists have created the Quilt of Possibilities – a dynamic quilt that celebrates the Ontario Greenbelt’s 5th Anniversary. Each square evokes a personal connection that each maker has with this important landscape.

Today the Honourable Steve Peters, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, will unveil the Quilt to Members of Provincial Parliament and members of the public. A brief reception will be held this evening from 5-6pm in room 340 at the Main Legislative Building of Queen’s Park.

Highlights of the Quilt include a square made by recycling men’s shirts into crop rows, and another that uses the silk from Greenbelt-grown corn to make a corn maze. Materials and techniques used in the Quilt range from spinning and weaving, to needlework, beading, screenprinting, and traditional quilting. The result is a tapestry that is as diverse as the Greenbelt itself.

Greenbeltfresh.ca launches today: "a dating service for local food"

Toronto, May 18, 2010 - The Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation today celebrates the launch Greenbeltfresh.ca, an online database of Greenbelt farm products designed to help meet consumer demand for local food and help Greenbelt farmers find new market opportunities.

Free and easy to use, this online tool supports the building of regional food networks in the densely populated Greater Golden Horseshoe and beyond. Commercial buyers can source their requirements by tapping into listings for over 600 farms, while individual consumers can use the Marketplace to find fresh food from local farmers’ markets, on-farm markets, pick-your-owns and more.

The site also features delicious local and seasonal recipes by some of Ontario’s greatest chefs, including Jason Parsons from Peller Estates and Jeff Crump, author of the recently published cookbook Earth to Table

Osprey Media Group Newspaper Series

Greenbelt Backyard Wilderness

Osprey Media and the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation present an 8-part series that explores the rich heritage of the 1.8 million acres of nature’s wonderland right in your backyard.

Rollin' on the Rivers

The Niagara River is one of the world’s most famous rivers and is also the front door to one of the most prolific river nurseries in the world – Ontario’s Greenbelt... Osprey Media Group 2007 newspaper series, Part 8 of 8

Going Green

It’s going to be a hot, hot summer. When you catch a whiff of refreshing, cooler air, you can thank the Greenbelt... Osprey Media Group 2007 newspaper series, Part 7 of 8