Evergreen

Great news! 📢 We've just released a limited number of extra early bird tickets for the Evergreen Conference! Secure your spot now and save over 30% off the regular ticket price.

On October 9 & 10, the Evergreen Conference is the place to be for community advocates, elected officials, policymakers, planners, urban designers and anyone passionate about creating better public places.

These extra early bird tickets will only be available until Monday, August 26 — get them before they’re gone: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEDWRXLLOFVK/register



Bonne nouvelle! 📢 Nous venons de mettre en vente un nombre limité de billets supplémentaires d’achats anticipés pour la conférence d’Evergreen 2024! Réservez votre place dès maintenant et économisez plus de 30 % sur le prix normal du billet.

Les 9 et 10 octobre, la conférence d’Evergreen sera le rendez-vous des militant(e)s communautaires, des élu(e)s, des responsables politiques, des planificateur(-trice)s, des concepteur(-trice)s urbain(e)s et de toutes les personnes passionnées par la création de meilleurs espaces publics.

Rejoignez-nous pour deux jours de rêve, de réflexion et d'inspiration pour nous-mêmes et pour les villes dont nous avons besoin. Ces billets supplémentaires ne seront disponibles que jusqu'au lundi 26 août, alors achetez-les avant qu’il n’y en ait plus: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEDWRXLLOFVK/register

The 2024 Evergreen Conference this October 9 & 10 will be a two-day respite to experience placemaking in action! 📍

With guided meditations from the , historical and nature-based tours of , interactive public art and hands-on activities at the PLAYcemaking Warehouse, learn why we’re extra excited about the conference this year.

Read the blog: https://www.evergreen.ca/stories/the-2024-evergreen-conference-will-be-the-best-one-yet-heres-4-reasons-why/



La conférence de cette année sera un répit de deux jours pour découvrir la création d’espace en action! 📍

Avec des méditations guidées par le Forest Bathing Club (le club de bains de forêt), des visites basées sur la nature et sur l’histoire d’Evergreen Brick Works, de l’art public interactif et des activités pratiques à l’Entrepôt PLAYcemaking, découvrez pourquoi nous sommes très enthousiastes à propos de la conférence de cette année.


Lire l’article de blogue: https://www.evergreen.ca/stories/the-2024-evergreen-conference-will-be-the-best-one-yet-heres-4-reasons-why/

Calling all planners, urban designers, architects, policymakers, private sector partners, community advocates and anyone who cares about creating more sustainable communities!

Buy your Evergreen Conference ticket by Tuesday, August 13 to take advantage of special early bird pricing!

Don't miss out on the opportunity to be part of an energizing gathering focused on transforming public spaces for people and the planet: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEDWRXLLOFVK/register



Appel à tous les planificateur(-trice)s, concepteur(-trice)s urbain(e)s, architectes, responsables politiques, partenaires du secteur privé, militant(e)s communautaires, et toutes les personnes qui s’intéressent à la création de communautés plus durables!

Achetez votre billet pour la conférence d’Evergreen d’ici le mardi 13 août pour bénéficier du tarif spécial des achats anticipés!

Ne manquez pas cette occasion de participer à un rassemblement énergisant axé sur la transformation des espaces publics pour les personnes et la planète: https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEDWRXLLOFVK/register

Pourquoi le poulet a-t-il traversé la rue?

Alors que les zones urbaines continuent de s’étendre sur les habitats de la faune sauvage, la question devrait probablement être « comment? »

Partager la planète avec la faune sauvage, c’est reconnaître que les villes ne sont pas réservées aux humains. Il s’agit de créer des espaces où les animaux peuvent vivre parmi nous en toute sécurité, en nous rappelant de notre lien avec le monde naturel.

Depuis les simples panneaux de signalisation de passages d’animaux aux réseaux étendus d’autoroutes d’abeilles, lisez notre dernière histoire pour découvrir comment des espaces publics bien conçus peuvent permettre à nos voisins animaux de se rendre de l'autre côté de la route.

Pour en savoir plus :

Colocataires! Voici comment nous partageons pacifiquement nos villes avec la faune Nous explorons des infrastructures urbaines innovantes qui nous aident à coexister avec nos amis les animaux, depuis les simples panneaux de signalisation de passages d’animaux aux réseaux onéreux d’autoroutes d’abeilles.

How resilient is your city to the many challenges it is facing today?

The climate crisis is upon us like never before, economic disparities are widening globally and the supply of affordable housing is not keeping up with demand. Can well-designed public spaces be part of the solution?

Ahead of his sessions at the 2024 Evergreen Conference, Esteban Leon, Head of the City Resilience Global Programme (CRGP) at UN-Habitat, shares how urban resilience strategies can transform public spaces to tackle these growing challenges.

Read the Q&A: https://www.evergreen.ca/stories/building-city-resilience-with-un-habitats-esteban-leon/

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Quelle est la résilience de votre ville face aux nombreux défis qu’elle rencontre aujourd'hui?

La crise climatique nous frappe comme jamais auparavant, les disparités économiques se creusent à l'échelle mondiale et l'offre de logements abordables ne suit pas la demande. Des espaces publics bien conçus peuvent-ils faire partie de la solution?

À l'approche de la conférence d’Evergreen 2024, Esteban Leon, directeur du programme mondial de résilience des villes (CRGP) à l’ONU-Habitat, explique comment les stratégies de résilience urbaine peuvent transformer les espaces publics pour faire face à ces défis croissants

Lire les Q&R: https://www.evergreen.ca/fr/stories/construire-resilience-villes-avec-esteban-leon-onu-habitat/

Support Evergreen Brick Works and run for a cause! 🌿🏃‍♂️

Following the recent flooding, Evergreen Brick Works needs your help. You can make a difference by signing up for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon! Every time you register, Evergreen receives a $5 donation to aid in our recovery efforts.

There will be a price increase to sign up for the marathon starting Aug 20 and the marathon and half marathon are already 90% full, so consider signing up today!

You’d be making a positive impact while staying active and healthy! You can sign up at the link in our bio! 💪💚

After record-breaking rainfall caused widespread flooding in Toronto, the value of climate-ready infrastructure became more clear than ever. Green design features at Evergreen Brick Works even helped mitigate the impact.

Now we need to keep building climate-resilient cities.

Currently, Canadian school grounds are mostly covered with asphalt and concrete, making them major hotspots for flooding during storms. How can we build climate resilience that benefit both the planet and the community?

We talked to Dan Hendry, Sustainable Initiatives Coordinator, Limestone District School Board in Eastern Ontario, where he has supported numerous school ground greening initiatives.

Read the full conversation: https://evergreen.ca/resource-hub/resources/in-conversation-with-dan-hendry-sustainable-initiatives-coordinator-limestone-district-school-board/

The Climate Ready Schools Conversation Series is focused on connecting people and organizations interested in transforming school grounds across Canada into nature-rich play and learning environment.

For July’s , we’re excited to feature Amanda Saunders! Amanda started at Evergreen as a volunteer at the Brick Works. Over the past 9 years, she has lent her expertise to the Program team, the Development team and is now our beloved IT Analyst! Let's learn more about her!

🚲 Tell us about yourself.

I am a giant cycling nerd. My apartment is stuffed with bikes and gear, and I ride three or four times a week year-round. My favourite ride in the city is Baycrest’s annual charity event along the Gardiner and DVP, but the rest of the year I enjoy noodling around Toronto’s ravine paths and along the lakeshore out to Mississauga and beyond. I also enjoy watching pro cycling, and have been known to bounce out of bed at 4 AM to catch a race broadcast on TV right from the start. This past year my husband and I traveled to Belgium in the spring to watch the Ronde van Vlaanderen live, which is one of cycling’s biggest single-day races. It was a phenomenal experience!

🚲 If you could have a superpower to make your job easier (or more fun), what would it be?

I wish I could do a Vulcan mind-meld with computers and tech, or directly interface with them like Cyborg from the Justice League. You see, not only am I a cycling nerd, I’m also a bit of a comics and sci-fi nerd, too, hah! But seriously, imagine being able to just lay hands on a misbehaving piece of equipment and instantly know exactly what the problem is. No more confoundingly vague or unhelpful error messages, no more cruising internet forums looking for answers, just a straight line right to the solution! What a dream!

🚲 Tell us about a public place you love.

Amsterdam’s Vondelpark has a special place in my heart. We had a little picnic-style dinner in the rose garden and spent a couple of quiet hours exploring the paths, hoping to spot a squirrel—this would be the easiest game in the world in Toronto, but squirrels are quite elusive in Amsterdam! Apparently we would have had better luck further south in the city, where rope bridges have been installed to help squirrels safely cross busy roads near the Amsterdamse Bos and Amstelpark!

‼️Volunteers needed: Evergreen Brick Works flood clean up!

As many of you know, Evergreen Brick Works was affected by flooding on July 16, leaving significant cleanup efforts in its wake. We are reaching out to our community for volunteers to help restore and recover this beloved place.

💚How to help:

Take a look at the role description here: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/f2bbf2fe-0a9b-4b14-b71f-a9262b5aa3cd/Activity/649712b1-e9c6-430e-a083-d27c0e6fdee8/1.

If you’re interested, click the “Fill in an application” button. Once you’ve completed your profile, return to the Flood Recovery Crew page and click “+signup” next to your preferred shifts.

📆When:

• Thursday, July 18 from 1pm - 4:30pm
• Friday, July 19 from 9:30am - 12:30pm and 1pm- 4:30pm
• Additional shifts may be added as required over the coming days. Please stay tuned!

📍Where:

Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto

🧹Key tasks:

• Cleaning: manual cleaning of items and surfaces, such as walls and floors, contaminated by flood waters. Pressure washing, sweeping and shovelling of mud and other debris. Note, some tasks may involve lifting objects of up to 20 lbs.

• Moving equipment: using carts to transport items around the site (up to 20-40 lbs lifting).

• Logistics: running errands, note-taking and other light duties as required.

💭Some important details to consider:

• Volunteers must be 18 years or age or older.

• Volunteers have the right to refuse work they feel is unsafe. Your participation is completely voluntary.

• While we have taken, and will continue to take, all necessary precautions, the fact remains that the Flood Recovery Crew are cleaning up contaminated materials which not everyone will be comfortable with that. Exposure to E. Coli is the largest risk, along with hazardous debris.

🚍Please see the role description to find out how to get to the site.

If you’re not able to volunteer but still want to help, we are also accepting donations of any size to help with cleanup efforts. Donations can be made here: https://evergreen.donorsupport.co/page/floodrecovery

Thank you!

What a day! Toronto experienced record-breaking rainfall yesterday (100 mm) that caused widespread flooding. Evergreen Brick Works was among the many places in the city that were severely impacted.

We’d like to thank our incredibly dedicated and trained staff who responded quickly to mitigate impacts and keep everyone, including 113 young campers on site, safe. We are relieved to share that there have been no reported injuries.

The Brick Works, located in a flood plain, is designed with flood resilience in mind, including features such as greenways, cisterns and permeable surfaces. As extreme weather events, like flooding, become more frequent and severe, the importance of climate-resilient infrastructure for mitigating impact cannot be overstated.

While the Brick Works has been built to flood, yesterday’s extreme weather still resulted in impact to the site.

Many of you have reached out asking how you can help. The best way you can help right now is to donate to help us cover the cost of clean-up and recovery. We are working hard to get the site cleaned up and safe for the public. The site will remain closed until further notice. Please watch this space for updates.

If you have been to the Brick Works to enjoy the Saturday Farmers Market, had a child in camp, joined in a community event or even just strolled along our beautiful site and trails, please consider donating to our flood recovery to get this Toronto landmark back up and running again.

Donate today to support a place you love! https://evergreen.donorsupport.co/page/floodrecovery

Quelles sont les chances que vous vous rendiez à votre travail, votre école ou votre docteur à pied? 🚶

Encourager les gens à marcher plus, présente de nombreux avantages. Les villes adaptées aux piétons sont plus équitables, meilleures pour l’environnement, et peuvent même être meilleures pour l’économie

Nous avons utilisé Walk Score et Pedestrians First pour classer les 10 villes canadiennes adaptées aux piétons, avec une population de 200 000 ou plus.

Découvrez notre classement :

Vivez-vous dans l’une des villes du Canada les plus adaptées aux piétons? - Evergreen Alors, où se situe votre ville parmi les villes plus adaptées aux piétons au Canada ? Nous avons utilisé Walk Score et Pedestrians First pour classer les dix premières villes du Canada ayant une population de 200 000 habitants ou plus.

How are invasive plants like a super villain? 🦹😈

As if straight out of a horror movie, invasive species can truly pose a frightening threat. They take over and create an environment that lacks nutrition and habitats for our pollinators. The effects on biodiversity are potentially catastrophic.

That's why Evergreen is committed to stewarding native plants, which can help push against the spread of invasive species. Native plants are incredibly valuable to local ecosystems, serving as natural habitats and sources of nutrition for pollinators. Beyond their climate-ready benefits, native plants also help us practice placekeeping.

To learn more about native plants and how we implement them at Evergreen Brick Works, read our latest story:

Explore with us: native plants at Evergreen Brick Works Evergreen is committed to stewarding native plants, which can help push against the spread of invasive species and even play a role in tackling the climate crisis.

Il vient de tomber : notre rapport annuel 2023 : transformer les espaces publics pour la santé des personnes et de notre planète.
Nous ne pourrions pas le faire seuls. En 2023, votre soutien a rendu beaucoup de choses possibles :

- Plus de 145 000 visiteurs aux marchés fermiers, soutenant 101 fermiers et vendeurs locaux.

- 7 266 élèves ont participé à des activités d’éducation en plein air liées au programme scolaire dans le cadre de notre programme de visites d’écoles.

- 30 performances gratuites de notre série projecteur sur la communauté supportés par 23 partenaires.

- 7 000 heures de service de la part de plus de 550 bénévoles qui ont soutenu le lancement de 5 nouveaux programmes.

- Plus de 5 500 personnes à travers le Canada ont bénéficié de solutions de logement innovantes grâce à notre programme de soutien au Défi d’offre de logement.

- Plus de 400 participants à notre conférence d’Evergreen (nous vous retrouvons à la conférence d’Evergreen 2024)

Et bien plus encore! Pour en savoir plus sur notre travail et notre impact, consultez notre rapport annuel 2023

Rapport annuel 2023 - Evergreen Construire de grands espaces publics, voilà ce que nous faisons chaque jour, et ce travail n’est jamais isolé. Nous travaillons avec des constructeurs communautaires de tous les secteurs pour résoudre certains des problèmes les plus urgents auxquels les villes sont confrontées : les changem...

Just dropped: Our 2023 Annual Report: Transforming public spaces for the health of people and our planet.
We couldn't do this alone. In 2023 your support made so much possible:

- 145,000+ visitors to our Farmers Market, supporting 101 local farmers and vendors

- 7,266 students participated in curriculum-linked outdoor education through our Visiting School Program

- 30 free Community Spotlight Series performances supported by 23 partners

- 7,000 hours of service from over 550 volunteers who supported the launch of five new programs

- 5,500+ people across Canada supporting innovative housing solutions

- 400+ participants at our 2023 Evergreen Conference (see you again this year at the 2024 Evergreen Conference)

And so much more! To learn all about our work and impact, see our 2023 Annual Report:

Annual Report 2023 - Evergreen Building great public places is what we do every day — and that work is never done alone. We work with community builders across sectors to solve some of the most pressing issues cities face: climate change, housing affordability, and access to nature and public spaces.

What is the cost of transforming Canadian school grounds? Climate Ready Schools are an investment for the future of our children, our community and our planet.

"While it may initially appear as a cost, there is a huge payback in terms of the benefit to students and the climate resiliency of the site." says Ian Gaudet, Superintendent of Facility Services and Planning with the Halton District School Board "You can start small to improve whatever aspect you deem is the biggest priority within your school community, whether that’s stormwater management or biodiversity or some other change that will support learning."

Read the full conversation with Ian Gaudet : https://evergreen.ca/resource-hub/resources/in-conversation-with-ian-gaudet-superintendent-of-facility-services-and-planning-with-the-halton-district-school-board/

The Climate Ready Schools Conversation Series is focused on connecting people and organizations interested in transforming school grounds across Canada into nature-rich play and learning environment.

On National Indigenous Peoples Day, we celebrate the history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Turtle Island.
 
For centuries, Indigenous peoples have celebrated this day as the arrival of warm weather and long hours of light. It is a day with spiritual and cultural significance.
 
This day is dedicated to elevating Indigenous voices and amplifying their cultures, traditions, talents and knowledge. You can participate in this celebration by connecting with your local Indigenous community and joining their many activities, supporting Indigenous-run businesses and learning about Indigenous history and contemporary issues.
 
As stewards of public space in Canada, we are actively exploring ways to Indigenize our cities, which involves incorporating Indigenous knowledge, cultures and practices into urban environments. This inspires hope for a future where everyone can live a healthy life on a healthy planet where we all truly belong.

As temperatures rise and heat events in cities become more severe, school grounds can play a greater role in benefiting our children, community and environment.

Children spend approximately 25% of their school days outdoors, typically during the peak sun. Extreme heat particularly affects school-age children. One of the most effective means of protecting students is to plant shade trees where they play and congregate to offer students several protection options.

Read our guide to designing for shade which offers practical and concrete actions that can be implemented in Canadian school grounds: https://evergreen.ca/resource-hub/resources/a-climate-ready-schools-guide-to-designing-for-shade/

Did you know the average North American child is spending fewer than 30 minutes playing outside each day?

Climate Ready Schools are "a place where students have a choice for a mindfulness activity, such as a walk or intentional observation of nature. It is also a place for risky play to promote movement in ways that students would not usually have the opportunity to do," says Cheryl Hayles, Principal, Irma Coulson Public School in Milton, Ontario.

Read the full conversation: https://evergreen.ca/resource-hub/resources/in-conversation-with-cheryl-hayles-principal-irma-coulson-public-school/

The Climate Ready Schools Conversation Series is focused on connecting people and organizations interested in transforming school grounds across Canada into nature-rich play and learning environment.

Early Bird registration for the Evergreen Conference is now open! Secure your spot today to take advantage of discounted pricing for our two-day event on October 9 and 10: https://www.evergreen.ca/learn-and-discover/the-evergreen-conference/the-evergreen-conference-2024/

We’re also thrilled to announce our keynote speaker for this year’s conference: Eric Klinenberg!
klinenberg is the Helen Gould Shepard Professor of Social Science and Director of the Institute for Public Knowledge at New York University. He is the author of several books including Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization and the Decline of Civic Life.

In his keynote, Klinenberg will guide us through his deeply researched conception of social infrastructure, and how we can build it together.

“Today, societies around the world are becoming more fragmented, divided and conflicted. The social glue has come undone,” Klinenberg writes in Palaces for the People. “Social infrastructure is the missing piece of the puzzle, and building places where all kinds of people can gather is the best way to repair the fractured societies we live in today.”

We hope to see you at this year’s Evergreen Conference!



Les achats anticipés de billets pour la conférence d’Evergreen sont maintenant disponibles! Visitez le lien dans notre bio pour réserver votre place dès aujourd’hui et profitez de prix réduits pour notre événement de deux jours les 9 et 10 octobre 2024.

Nous sommes également ravis d’annoncer que notre conférencier principal pour la conférence de cette année est Eric Klineberg! .klinenberg est le professeur de sciences sociales à Helen Gould Shepard et le directeur de l’Institut pour la connaissance publique à l’université de New York. Il est l’auteur de plusieurs livres y compris Palaces for the People : How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization and the Decline of Civic Life.

Dans son discours principal, il nous guidera dans sa conception de l'infrastructure sociale, qui a fait l'objet de recherches approfondies, et nous expliquera comment nous pouvons la construire ensemble.

Nous espérons vous voir à la conférence d’Evergreen de cette année

For this month’s , we’re thrilled to be highlighting Olivia Dziwak, Senior Specialist, Urban Ecology & Greenspace Facilities! 🌱 Olivia and her dedicated team of gardeners have been doing a wonderful job of keeping the Brick Works filled with thriving native plants and pollinators.

🐝 Share 3 facts about yourself! 

My first gardening job was at Noojimo’iwein Gitigaan/Healing Garden, which is attached to St. Matthew’s United Church. Starting my gardening career at this garden gave me a fantastic introduction to land stewardship through an Indigenous lens, and gave me a deep appreciation for the way community groups and municipal programs can come together to create impactful local change.

I am an avid sewist! I love working with natural fibres and upcycled materials. I think making my own garments gives me a deeper appreciation of the skill that goes into making clothes, and a perspective on the lack of sustainability in the fashion industry.

My nature name is Bumblebee! Catch me buzzing back and forth across site any day of the week :)

🐝 What inspired you to work in urban ecology? 

Bees were my gateway species! When I was a teen, I became fascinated with bees as an indicator species of the state of our environment, since the headlines were full of news about declining honeybee populations. I started researching the best plant species to support bees, learned about native plants, then learned that there are native bees too (and that honeybees are not native!).

🐝 Tell us about a public place that you love.  

Lurie Garden in Millennium Park, Chicago IL. Lurie Garden is an incredible garden located in the heart of Chicago, just across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and nearby the beloved bean-shaped Cloud Gate art piece. The garden is incredible; it’s been bursting with life every time I’ve seen it, with a cloud of jeweled pollinators always buzzing over the incredible floral display.

Want to see more climate resilient school grounds across the country? So do we.🌲
In Canada school grounds are open to the public after school hours. Transforming them is beneficial for the children, the community and our planet.

Discover how we transform school grounds for the health of the people and the planet. Read our conversation with Matt Humphries, associate principal at ARUP in Canada: https://futurecitiescanada.ca/portal/resources/in-conversation-with-matt-humphries-associate-principal-at-arup-canada/

Did you know that in Canada’s cities today, schools are among the top three landowners, with over 4,000 acres owned by school boards in Toronto alone?

Imagine the potential of transforming Canada's school grounds into climate ready spaces.

"When we started designing school grounds many years ago, we had to overcome a lot of obstacles. People didn’t always understand why we encouraged having nature on school grounds," says Brigit Teichmann a certified landscape architect and engineer based in Berlin, Germany, and lead designer of the Irma Coulson Public School, Canada's first Climate Ready School.

Read the full conversation and learn more on how we transform school grounds across Canada into nature-rich play and learning environment.
https://futurecitiescanada.ca/portal/resources/in-conversation-with-birgit-teichmann-founder-and-managing-director-of-teichmann-landschaftsarchitekten-in-berlin-germany/

Get your hands dirty with Evergreen!🌱

Our summer gardening programs have launched and we’re welcoming volunteers to our new and returning programs. This year you can garden with Garden Circle, learn about compost with Compost Club and help care for the site with our stewardship group, Go Wild!

Find out more info about all programs here: https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/f2bbf2fe-0a9b-4b14-b71f-a9262b5aa3cd/Activity/e22ee039-4c7c-4306-9463-d9dec39f9109/1