Each month, we release a story from the Greenbelt on topics ranging from soil health to cycling in southern Ontario. Written by community members, grantees, and staff, these stories give you a closer look into everything that is the Ontario Greenbelt and the work we do:
2022
Growth, municipal finances, and integrated planning – What’s the Greenbelt connection?
Written by urban sustainability consultant Ray Tomalty, learn more about municipal finance and growth planning in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Resilient Greenbelt and Rouge Park
Written Dave Pearce, who leads the Wildlands League’s Nature Connectivity Project, find out the deeper significance of Rouge National Park and ecological corridors.
My experience hiking 900 kilometers on the Bruce Trail
Written by hiker and black environmentalist Zwena Gray, who shares her experience hiking the 900km Bruce Trail – an iconic part of the Greenbelt.
Sip, Savour and Cycle with the Greenbelt Foundation and Waterfront Regeneration Trust this Fall
Written by Martin Lortz, a photographer, writer, and content creator for the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, focusing on outdoor activities, adventure, and lifestyle. Read his event recap from The 2022 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure (GWTA).
The Future of Ontario Farmland
Written by Ontario Farmland Trust’s Executive Director, Martin Straathof, learn more about the future of local farmland and the increasing amount of land lost to development.
Near-Urban Nature and Achieving Canada's Protected Areas Target
Written by Zachary Pothier, a communications intern with Ontario Nature. Read how in southern Ontario, municipalities and Conservation Authorities (CAs) play an essential role in conserving natural areas but their efforts also are contributing to Canada’s goal of addressing the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Regenerative Soil Practices Help Reduce Weeds
Written by Paul Smith, a consultant in sustainable agriculture, this story explores how to manage and eliminate weeds using regenerative soil health practices.
The Greenbelt Through My Lens
Written by Claire Foran, the Greenbelt Foundation's resident videographer and photographer, this story provides an inside look into her experience telling visual stories about the community that enriches this region, the food it grows, and the nature it supports.
Introducing the Southern Ontario Seed Strategy
Written by Stefan Weber, a plant ecologist and horticulturist with a keen interest in rare native plants, seed conservation and ecosystem restoration. Learn about the planting and reconciliation mission of Carolinian Canada’s new Southern Ontario Native Seed Strategy.
The Comeback Story: Brook Trout at Upper Credit
Written by Andrew Kett, the Senior Manager of Education and Engagement at Credit Valley Conservation, learn how local conservation authorities are taking action to protect our land and water, and those who rely on it.
The Benefits of Escaping into Nature
Written by Megan Sipos, Research and Policy Analyst at the Greenbelt Foundation, find out how and why residents chose to spend time in the Greenbelt during a one-year period according to our recent value of nature survey.
More Than a Highway Sign
Written by Claire Wyveen, Senior Media and Communications Officer at the Greenbelt Foundation, gain a deeper understanding of the Greenbelt and why it's important in our first story of 2022.
2021
Your Greenbelt: A Source of Pride
Written by Petronilla Ndebele, Director of Strategic Communications at the Greenbelt Foundation, find out the results of a project that examined the relationship between Ontarians and Greenbelt. Conducted by Innovative Research Group, the 2020 biennial survey looked at the level of awareness of the Greenbelt and its benefits among residents of the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) region.
Cities Need Nature Too
Written by Jackie Hamilton, Former Research and Policy Analyst at the Greenbelt Foundation, get an inside look into the Southern Ontario Nature Coalition's (SONC) Near-Urban Nature Network that will protect important natural areas across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Inventory Acceleration Project
Written by Cheekwan Ho, Communications Manager for Municipal Natural Asset Initiative, learn about how governments are getting better ways of delivering core services naturally through the Inventory Acceleration Project.
From Seed to Savannah
Written by Gillian di Petta, Native Plant Nursery Coordinator at Alderville Black Oak Savanna, find out more about the soon-to-be Mitigomin Native Plant Nursery and how it will help restore an important Ontario ecosystem.
Be a Nature-Based Local Tourist this Summer
Written by Benjamin Hughes, Public Relations Assistant and Anna Shortly, Former Policy Analyst at the Greenbelt Foundation, discover more about the safe and local travel opportunities across the Ontario Greenbelt.
Great Waterfront Trail Adventure
Written by local Photographer Martin Lortz, get a first hand recount of the 2021 Great Waterfront Trail Adventure, an annual, multi-day cycle tour and awareness ride to promote the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail and the communities that support it.
Our Forests - Continually Giving
Written by Benjamin Hughes, Public Relations Assistant and Thomas Bowers, Interim Director of Research and Policy at Greenbelt Foundation, learn more about the power of forests and the future of these vital ecosystems in the Ontario Greenbelt.
Uncovering Rural Ontario
Written by Dinusha Prasad, Communications Coordinator at the Culinary Tourism Alliance, find out the inspiration behind the Greenbelt Discovery Routes and how they are helping to uncover the essence of rural Ontario.
What your Food Ate
Written by David R. Montgomery, Professor of Geomorphology and Anne Biklé, Biologist and Author, learn more about their new research into the connection between human and soil health. Are you really what you eat?
Highlights of an Eventful Year
Written by Petronilla Ndebele, Director of Strategic Communications at the Greenbelt Foundation, take a trip down memory lane as we look back on highlights and milestones from 2021 in the Ontario Greenbelt.