Thriving Earth, Thriving People
Greenest City builds healthy, inclusive neighbourhoods centred around place-based climate action. Our work is focused on collective care of the earth (and each other!) and building resilient communities in response to climate change.
We prioritize co-creating solutions with people who are experiencing the impacts of climate change the most. These impacts are being experienced, in our urban high-rise communities, through rising temperatures, increasing costs of food, and lack of green infrastructure such as green space, bike lanes, and in adequate high rises adapted or built for climate change.
We weave food, plant and medicine growing and land stewardship, righting relations with the Indigenous people of this land, collective care of each other, art, and food sovereignty, with climate action. These priorities have been determined by the community. As we experience worsening impacts of climate change – our communities’ strengths and resilience will continue to grow and reshape these priorities.
Upcoming events
Earth Day Celebration: Join us for ‘Soil Stories’ on April 22nd at the Milky Way Garden
With spring in the air, it’s the perfect time to come together and celebrate the planet we live on!
On the 2025 Earth Day Celebration, we invite you to pause, reflect, and join us for our first Circle of Conversation, co-hosted in partnership with Compost Toronto: Soil Stories Around the Fire
We all carry stories tied to the soil, stories passed down through generations, woven into the rhythm of our days, rooted in the ancestral pulse of the earth. Through shared stories, reflections, and ideas, we’ll explore how the soil nourishes not only our bodies but our souls, and how we can better care for the sacred ground that sustains us all.
We’re honoured to include this invitation from our friend and co-host, Joe Durand:
“Earth Day in Parkdale is such a unique pleasure.
In the short time I have been with you composting and having fun with you I have come to anticipate the amazing stories each of you bring with you to the garden. Stories and knowledge.
Everyone has knowledge, history, story, and wisdom about taking care of the land and growing food. Not just farmers but everyone. I have learned so much about caring for the soil/earth from you.
I realized I have stories too that have shaped me and led me to composting in the Milky Way. Family stories that brought me to composting. But I didn’t know I was filled with this learning and these stories.
It doesn’t matter if you are old or young, were raised on a farm or living by a river, I believe we all share this knowledge through our families and cultures.
So please come to the Earth Day celebration and share or listen to the stories of your neighbours and friends with me. Learn their stories and tips and tricks for caring for the soil and growing good food”
Whether you’re a gardener, an environmentalist, a curious soul, or someone who feels the land calling—your presence is welcome. This is a potluck! Please bring your favorite dish to share—something meaningful, nourishing, or just delicious. We’ll break bread together as we gather and share our soil stories 🙂
Place: Milky Way Garden. 87 Milky Way Lane. Toronto, ON M6K 3L4
Date: Tuesday, April 22
Time: 5:00 to 7: 30 p.m.
If you’re able to help us with setup anytime between 3:30 and 5:00 PM it would be appreciated.Let’s gather around the fire, share food and stories, and root ourselves in community and care for the Earth.
Please let us know if you’re coming, either as a volunteer or a participant, so we can plan for setup and, of course, add more water to the soup!
We are in need of volunteers to help us set up for the event, between 3:30 and 5pm. If you are interested, please contact Sandra Leon at sandrale@westnh.org
Current projects
- Milky Way Hub
- Parkdale Good Food Market
- Growing the Future Kids – a partnership with Roots and Culture Gardening Club
- Growing the Future Youth – Funded by Canada Summer Job, Federal Government
- H.O.P.E. Community Garden
- Parkdale Cooks: Seniors Cooking Program (Not currently operating)
- Eco-Therapy – A partnership with psychiatrist Dr. Nate Charach. Reach out to sandrale@westnh.org for more information.
- Dunn Indigenous Garden Revitalization
Community-Led Projects and Partnerships
We partner with groups and organizations based on the groups self-determination, capacity and needs. The projects could have been started by or with the support of Greenest City (Bonnie Storr, West Lodge, St. Joe’s) or inspirational leadership built up in the community (Indigiqueer Garden, Roots and Culture Gardening Club, My Brother’s Keeper Meal Program, Parkdale Free School).
- Indigiqueer Garden at Dunn Parkette
- Bonnie Storr
- West Lodge
- St. Joe’s Community Garden
- Roots and Culture Gardening Club at Dr. Rita Cox-Kina Minagok Public School
- Parkdale Free School
- My Brother’s Keeper Meal Program
- Landscape Ontario’s Toronto Chapter Bursary Program
Education and Collective Capacity Building
In all of our work together, community members and leaders share knowledge as we work alongside each other. Greenest City also coordinates workshops lead by both our local community members and others across the city with knowledge and skills to share.
Academic Partnerships
Toronto Urban Farmers Training: A research partnership led by Seneca College, with Toronto Urban Growers, Toronto Metropolitan University, and West Neighbourhood House and Greenest City Program.
We also host students from University of Toronto and George Brown to complete research, internships and practicums.
Stewardship and Volunteering: Hands on care of the earth in the gardens, at our events, and projects.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities at Greenest City, contact Sandra at sandrale@westnh.org.
Staying Connected
To stay up to date on events and news, please subscribe to the Greenest City newsletter below. Read past Greenest City newsletters here.