Toronto Environment Events June 7 - June 13, 2010

10am

Toronto: TBG Sprouts Club (Ages 6 to 36 months)

James Boyd Children's Centre, Toronto Botanical Gardens (map)

Looking for engaging programs to entertain and enrich your young child? Bring your baby or toddler and learn about easy ways to introduce your child to nature. Get outside and have a great time together. Cost: $45 Members $55 Public For more information: 416-397-1341

11am

Toronto: Story Time (Ages 6 to 36 months)

Weston Family Library, Toronto Botanical Gardens (map)

Weekly nature stories and activities for children in the Weston Family Library. Year-round, Subject to change, please call ahead. Cost: FREE, no registration required. For more information: 416-397-1341

2:30pm

Mississauga: Bird Watching Hikes

The Riverwood Conservancy 4300 Riverwood Park Lane Mississauga , Ontario (map)

Cost: Free Join expert birders Luc Fazio and Dan Salisbury for a series of bird watching hikes at Riverwood and other locations. Great for families, new birders and experienced ones alike! For more information: Contact: Madeha Khalid, 905-279-5878 For all Riverwood hikes, meet at the main (first) parking lot.

6:30pm

Toronto: Bright Ideas for Religious Buildings – A Workshop on Lighting

Forest Hill United Church – 2 Wembley Road, Toronto (map)

The Green Awakening Network invites church representatives to come and learn about energy efficient lighting and reducing electricity costs. The workshop will provide property committee representatives, maintenance staff, environmental committee or Green Team members, and council members with information on how to conduct a lighting audit and retrofit in your building, innovations in lighting, and financial incentives for lighting retrofits. For more information: Pre-registration required. Contact Corey Helm at greenawakening@tucc.ca or (905) 771-5124 ext. 25

2:30pm

Mississauga: Bird Watching Hikes

The Riverwood Conservancy 4300 Riverwood Park Lane Mississauga , Ontario (map)

Cost: Free Join expert birders Luc Fazio and Dan Salisbury for a series of bird watching hikes at Riverwood and other locations. Great for families, new birders and experienced ones alike! For more information: Contact: Madeha Khalid, 905-279-5878 For all Riverwood hikes, meet at the main (first) parking lot.

6pm

Durham Region Green Drinks

ON THE ROCKS, 227 Brock St. S, Whitby (map)

Do you want to meet a lively group of friendly people interested in environmental issues from academia, business, government and NGOs for good conversation? If so, join us for drinks! There's no agenda or other formality - it's a chance to meet regularly to chat, debate, socialize and connect with other Durham residents and business people passionate about environmental and sustainability issues. For more information:http://www.greendrinks.org/ON/Durham%20Region  

7pm

Grafton Community Gardening Night

Roncesvalles and Queen, Toronto (Grafton Community Garden) (map)

Join the West End Flower Fairies, residents and business owners to help green the community! Participants will be out every Wednesday, Rain or Shine.

7pm

Toronto: East End Cycling Advocacy Meeting

East York Civic Center - 850 Coxwell Ave. In the Council Chambers Coxwell and Mortimer (map)

If you live and ride in the East End, come by for a community meeting to discuss new ward-based cycling Groups, civic engagement, and Bike Lanes on Bloor-Danforth. We want to hear your ideas. Meeting form 7-9, networking reception from 9 -11PM Cost: Free For more information contact: Phone: 416-597-6343

7:30pm

Brampton: Designing your garden for Beauty, Birds and Butterflies

South Fletchers Library, 500 Ray Lawson Blvd, Brampton (map)

Canadians love to garden and bird watch! Learn how to blend these two popular past-times at this FREE evening seminar. Cost: FREE For more information: Clifton Coppolino 416-661-6600 ext.5748

3pm

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers' Market

South of Bloor on the east side of Dufferin, in Dufferin Grove Park (map)

A year-round farmers' market every Thursday afternoon from 3 to 7 pm. Outdoors in the beauty of the park in summer, on the skating rink pad in fall, and inside the rink buildings throughout the winter. Local farmers and city-based food producers bring a great variety of organic foods. A special feature of the market is wood-fired oven breads baked right in the park. For more information contact: Phone: 416-392-0913

6pm

Toronto: Green Economic Strategy and a Local-Sustainable Food System

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, U of Toronto, 252 Bloor St. W., Eighth Floor, Room 8- 214 (map)

with Wayne Roberts Wayne is the innovative coordinator of the City of Toronto’s Food Policy Council, a two-fisted politics & economics commentator for NOW magazine, and Toronto’s all-purpose green economics guru. He has a doctorate in labour history and economics, and a background in a number of movements for social change. In 1992, he helped co-found the Coalition for a Green Economy, and soon co-authored the classic work of practical green economic strategies, GET A LIFE! How to make a good buck, Dance around the dinosaurs, and Save the world while you're at it (Toronto: Get a Life Publishers, 1995). A realization of the pivotal position of the food system in social change led him increasingly to focus on food as a means of connecting the wide-ranging social, cultural, political, health, economic, and ecological benefits of green development. He co-authored another classic Real Food for a Change in 1999, and in 2008 published The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food. Ever the rebel against narrow silos of expertise, Wayne will "get two birds stoned at once" in this course finale by covering both food system alternatives and overall green economic conversion strategies. For more information:http://www.greeneconomics.net/GE2010-schedule.htm

6:30pm

Toronto: Designing Your Garden for Beauty and Birds

Taylor Memorial Library, 440 Kingston Rd., Toronto, ON M1N 1R3 (map)

Does your garden need a facelift? Join Toronto and Region Conservation at this FREE seminar and learn how to design and install an eye-stopping garden that supports birds and butterflies and conserves water. Speaker: Paul Heydon, Biologist, Forester and Owner of Grow Wild! Cost: FREE For more information: Taylor Memorial Library: 416-396-8940

12:50pm

Toronto: Green City Cycle Tour

Departs from 401 Richmond Front Lobby Richmond St. West & Spadina Ave (map)

The Toronto Renewable Energy Co-operative (TREC) offers tours of sustainable energy sites, which can be customized to meet the needs and interests of groups from a variety of backgrounds. We will tour some of the most progressive green energy initiatives in Toronto, such as solar PV arrays, solar hot water heating, green roofs and urban wind turbines. Tickets are $20 each; spaces are extremely limited (max 15 participants) so reserve your space today! For more information: 416-977-5093
www.trec.on.ca  

7pm

Toronto: LEAF’s Fourth Annual Celebration

Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St, Toronto, ON (map)

Join us at LEAF’s Fourth Annual Celebration, our most exciting and high-profile event of the year. The event will take place at the renowned Artscape Wychwood Barns, a multifaceted community centre where arts and culture, environmental leadership, heritage preservation, urban agriculture and affordable housing come together. This wonderful space will be transformed into a warm and welcoming indoor urban forest, complete with free hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, eco-friendly raffle items from Urban Tree Salvage, live trees and live music by Wilderness of Manitoba and the Forest City Lovers - two fast-rising acts in the Toronto music scene. We are excited to unveil an amazing new feature at this year's event that uses art to connect citizens with the beauty and worth of our urban forest. A group of Toronto's most notable citizens have teamed up with LEAF and esteemed photographer Vincenzo Pietropaolo to share their love of the urban forest through a collection of tree portraits featuring their favourite trees from around Toronto. This will be the first public unveiling of this work. Attendees will have an exclusive opportunity to purchase one of these stunning pieces in support of the urban forest and LEAF's work. Participants include: * Maude Barlow * Adrienne Clarkson * Atom Egoyan * Matt Galloway * Jian Ghomeshi * Graeme Gibson * Patricia Koval * Vincent Lam * Michele Lansberg * Cynthia Lickers-Sage * Joe Mihevc * Amy Millan * D'bi Young * Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone * John Van Burek Cost: $25 For more information:http://yourleaf.eventbrite.com/

Toronto: Last Day to Register for TBG Birdhouse Design Competition

Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) (map)

The first phase of For the Birds--a juried birdhouse design competition and summer showcase exhibition that culminates with the Flocktail Party awards celebration—takes wing at Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) with a call for entries. Birdhouse design submissions must be received at the TBG by June 12. An exhibition of the birdhouses in the competition will then be on display at the TBG from June 19, 2010 until September 14, 2010. While the judges will decide on the winner in a number of categories, visitors will have an opportunity to vote for their favourite, which will be given The People’s Choice Award. All winners will be announced at the ‘Flocktail’ Party on September 15, 2010. For the birds helps the TBG promote environmental awareness and the critical link between wildlife, garden ecology and sustainability. This TBG event puts the fun back into fundraiser, and also • Highlights the plight of songbirds due to environmental degradation • Encourages wildlife preservation, ecological awareness and sustainability • Informs TBG visitors about the principles of bird nesting, habitat and support • Underscores the TBG’s ongoing mandate to promote environmental awareness through education For more information:www.torontobotanicalgarden.ca/birds

5am

St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market

92 Front Street East, Toronto (at Jarvis) (map)

For more information:http://www.stlawrencemarket.com/

8am

Toronto: Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market

Evergreen Brickworks (map)

Every Saturday throughout the summer, the Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market features a fabulous assortment of fruits, vegetables, wild fish, meat, cheese, milled flours, eggs and oils—all from local farmers. Join us starting Saturday, May 29. For more information:http://ebw.evergreen.ca/whats-on/farmers-market/

8am

Toronto: Green Barn Farmers' Market

Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St. (map)

The Stop's Green Barn Farmers' Market, named Toronto's best Farmers' Market by NOW magazine, continues to amaze and improve each week with a seemingly never-ending array of tasty, seasonal Ontario food products. The market is held (mostly) indoors November through to the spring, 8 am to noon every Saturday. For more information:http://www.thestop.org/green-barn-market  

8:30am

The Village Organic Farmers’ Market at Toronto Waldorf School

9100 Bathurst St, Toronto (map)

For more information:http://www.villagemarket.ca/  

9:30am

Brampton: Family Nature Event: Porcupine Portraits

Loafer's Lake Recreation Centre, 30 Loafer’s Lake Lane, Brampton (map)

Have you ever said “cheese!” to a chickadee? Capturing a moment in nature with your camera can be tricky. Learn some professional tips and tricks and then join us for a nature hike where we'll practice our skills! Please bring your own camera. Cost: FREE For more information: 416-661-6600 ext.5660

10am

Newmarket: 9th annual Windfall Ecology Festival

Fairy Street Park, 500 Water Street, Newmarket (map)

Windfall Ecology Centre presents the 9th Annual Windfall Ecology Festival, York Regions largest Environmental and Energy Conservation Exposition! Learn, share & experience live music, local & organic foods, buskers, Kids Fun Zone, Workshops and so much more. An outdoor event for the whole family in a beautiful park setting. Through over 200 dynamic exhibits, stimulating entertainment, performers and speakers Windfall Ecology Festival fosters public awareness about opportunities for environmental change. It spurs people to take the initiative in making their homes, businesses and communities more ecologically advanced and environmentally sound, while encouraging meaningful activation and participation. Highlights of this year’s festival include celebrity chefs, innovative new product exhibitions, all new Kids Zone, interactive education opportunities and an enhanced Hybrid Alley section. With an expanded local and organic food section, many new and returning exhibitors and upgrades to the park, this year’s Festival promises to be the one event not to miss! For more information: Joanne Nesbitt, Festival Coordinator 905-727-0491 x152www.windfallfestival.ca

10am

Toronto Tree Festival

Toronto Islands (map)

The City of Toronto in partnership with the Canadian Tree Fund will host the first ever Toronto Tree Festival on Saturday June 12, 2010. The Toronto Islands offer a scenic backdrop for the festival to celebrate the beauty and diversity of trees that provide so many benefits to our urban environment. Toronto Island Park provides a unique habitat to foster a diverse taxonomy of indigenous tree species. The Devils Walking Stick, Red Buds, Scots Elm, Yellow Wood, Zelkovas and Camperdown Elms are just some of the species that festival participants will discover. The festival will begin with the annual Tour of Trees guided by forestry experts and tree enthusiasts. The Tour of Trees began in 2002 and has attracted a loyal group of followers. In 2009, over 160 participants joined the tour to learn about the intricate ways that various tree species support a healthy ecosystem. Participants can bring a bike or rent one on the island and learn the story of the Toronto Island’s arboriculture. This year a walking tour of trees will also be available. In the afternoon, the Toronto Tree Festival will host Tim Womick’s “Trail of Trees” children’s program featuring Treeture, Professor Arbor E. Tum, from the Treetures® Environmental Education Program, interactive tree planting and climbing demonstrations, tree and eco art displays by local artists featuring Talia Erlich and Pat Jeffries, and other tree-mendous activities for the whole family. Cost: FREE (ferry ride extra) For more information: 416.392.8196 or torontotreefest +at+ toronto +dot+ ca

12pm

Toronto: Karma Co-Operative Open House

739 Palmerston Avenue Toronto ON (map)

Karma Co-op is a non-profit food store, owned co-operatively by the people who shop there - its members. Founded in 1972, Karma provides its members with wholesome, economical food. We have about 500 working members households and 389 non-working member households and 1 corporate. We will be holding an Open House on Saturday, June 12th from 12PM-2PM. Please invite your friends, family, colleagues, neighbours, and anyone else you think might be interested in joining Karma! For more information:
http://www.karmacoop.org/

7pm

Toronto: Deep Green Yoga – sustainable spiritual solutions

Moksha yoga danforth, 372 A Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K 198 (map)

Environment issues are here to stay. 3 major earthquakes have rocked the world in less than 2 months and natural disasters are on their way up. 20 years ago, no one gave a damn. You could gum up a river with factory sludge, chop down rain forests wholesale, spray fluorocarbons in the air like a kid spray confetti, and no one would say boo. No longer. Join us as Devamrita Swami, a Vegan Monk for over 4 decades and the founder of the Institute of sustainability presents to us a sustainable spiritual solution for the Environment challenge. In the coming years environmental constraints will stop us from raising the quality of our lives unless we stand up to the environment challenge and do something about it. Cost: $10, includes Vegan dinner For more information:http://urbanedgeyoga.com/893/  

10am

Newmarket: 9th annual Windfall Ecology Festival

Fairy Street Park, 500 Water Street, Newmarket (map)

Windfall Ecology Centre presents the 9th Annual Windfall Ecology Festival, York Regions largest Environmental and Energy Conservation Exposition! Learn, share & experience live music, local & organic foods, buskers, Kids Fun Zone, Workshops and so much more. An outdoor event for the whole family in a beautiful park setting. Through over 200 dynamic exhibits, stimulating entertainment, performers and speakers Windfall Ecology Festival fosters public awareness about opportunities for environmental change. It spurs people to take the initiative in making their homes, businesses and communities more ecologically advanced and environmentally sound, while encouraging meaningful activation and participation. Highlights of this year’s festival include celebrity chefs, innovative new product exhibitions, all new Kids Zone, interactive education opportunities and an enhanced Hybrid Alley section. With an expanded local and organic food section, many new and returning exhibitors and upgrades to the park, this year’s Festival promises to be the one event not to miss! For more information: Joanne Nesbitt, Festival Coordinator 905-727-0491 x152www.windfallfestival.ca

11am

Toronto: International Back-to-Back Wool Challenge

Black Creek Pioneer Village, 1000 Murray Ross Parkway, east of Jane Street and south of Steeles Avenue, northwest Toronto (map)

The Toronto Spiders knitting group will shear, spin and knit a full sweater as fast as they can in hopes to achieve the world record time. For more information:http://www.blackcreek.ca/ whatson bcpvinfo +at+ trca +dot+ on +dot+ ca (416) 736-1733