Source: Evergreen
April 23, 2014, Toronto, ON: Evergreen, a national, environmentally-focused not-for-profit organization has announced the recipients of the 2014 Walmart–Evergreen Green Grants program, bringing the number of initiatives supported across Canada since the launch of the grant program in 2005 to 571. This year Evergreen and 68 communities throughout Canada—from St. John’s to Vancouver — received grants to fund neighbourhood greening projects totalling $500,000.
“From habitat stewardship to horticultural training, people across Canada are working together to restore the link between their neighbourhoods and nature,” said John Lawrence, director of corporate social responsibility for Walmart Canada. “Walmart is committed to helping improve the environment in communities across Canada. Our partnership with Evergreen allows us to help facilitate that passion into action. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary in Canada we’re proud to have invested nearly $ 6 million since 2005 to community groups that care about their environment.”
Each grant recipient will receive funds of up to $10,000 for community projects supporting urban naturalization and the local environment. The Green Grants program, sponsored by Walmart Canada and led by Evergreen, is in its tenth year of enabling local communities to take an active role in the restoration and stewardship of green spaces across Canada.
“The initiatives that people in communities across Canada take to connect and restore nature – from growing food gardens to teaching First Nations Traditional Knowledge – are inspiring,” says Geoff Cape, CEO Evergreen. “We’re humbled to be able to support and help build these community efforts across Canada with Walmart.”
Walmart-Evergreen Green Grants include:
Grandview Woodland Food Connection – Vancouver, British Colombia
Source: Evergreen
Established in 2007, the Grandview Woodland Food Connection’s mission is to build an accessible, just and sustainable food system in the East Vancouver community. The organization works to address the barriers that marginalized communities face in accessing good nutrition, healthy environments and sustainable employment. The Le Chou Intergenerational Community Garden will develop intergenerational programming that will provide hands-on gardening, workshops and skills-building opportunities for participants.
The Clean Foundation (previously Clean Nova Scotia) – Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
The Clean Foundation is an environmental charity that seeks to create a cleaner, healthier environment by informing, enabling and inspiring Nova Scotians to respect and consider the environment in all of their choices through experiential education and stewardship and restoration projects. The Watershed Education Program will educate youth and the wider community about water pollution through meaningful hands-on activities such as tree planting, stream restoration, invasive species removal and clean-ups so they develop an understanding of the value of a healthy watershed.
North Central Community Association – Regina, Saskatchewan
Since 1976, the North Central Community Association has worked to address social issues in the high-needs North Central community of Regina with important initiatives including development of a crime prevention task force, food security initiatives and employment training programs. The NCCA has converted several vacant urban lots into thriving community garden sites that address local issues by supporting community and youth engagement gardening opportunities, boosting food security and education through free access to fresh nutritious vegetables and providing a safe space for community members to share their experiences.
Naadmaagit Ki Group – Toronto, Ontario
The Naadmaagit Ki Group came together through community momentum to foster Aboriginal-led stewardship and restoration practices in urban and peri-urban areas of the Greater Toronto Area. Based on the identified need for urban-dwelling Aboriginal youth to be provided with opportunities to connect with nature, Naadaagit Ki, or “helping the land” in the Anishinaabe language, was formed to engage youth with natural features of their urban surroundings. With activities including land-based horticultural training, eco-tourism, and microeconomic development, the group promotes a holistic approach to eco-restoration. The current project of the group is to nurture a six-hectare plot of damaged land by engaging Aboriginal youth and families in restoration activities that will improve biodiversity and teach indigenous restoration practices and knowledge to the next generation.
Morell River Management Co-op – Peakes, P.E.I.
Working on habitat and species restoration along the confederation trail including the enhancement of native pollinator habitat and the removal of invasive species.
Santropol Roulant- Montréal, QC
A youth led not-for-profit urban agriculture program, the grant will support their rooftop garden in Montréal’s central Plateau neighbourhood, with a greenhouse, vertical growing, and edible landscaping, as well as urban beekeeping.
For the full list of the cumulative impact of these initiatives across Canada visit: http://www.evergreen.ca/our-impact/across-canada/
Cumulative statistics on the Walmart-Evergreen Partnership:
Since 2005, Evergreen has received $5,931,500 in direct funding from Walmart Canada to the Green Grants partnership; plus an additional $284,244 in vendor contributions, and $24,913 from Walmart’s generous customers through in-store donations.
In addition to funding, Evergreen also provides training, design and maintenance expertise, and a range of print and online resources to ensure the success of community projects across Canada.
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