From left: Mike Jones, Helen Godfrey, Susan Poizner, John Bowker and Michael Low.

What are the best ways to green our community? This was the subject at the Toronto Community Environment Forum at the Centre for Social Innovation on November 10, 2012 and Ben Nobleman Park Community Orchard’s coordinator, Susan Poizner, was invited to participate in the the panel on “Tree Canopies”.

Susan talked about our orchard and how its planting in 2009 has resulted in the involvement of over 25 hands-on volunteers working with our trees and pollinator garden. we have also brought our park to life with community events, festivals and workshops. Many more creative projects were also highlighted at the conference.

For example, on the Tree Canopy panel, Helen Godfrey, a LEAF Volunteer, spoke about her initiative to engage local businesses in an adopt-a-tree program called Bayview Buckets where business owners commit to watering the street trees outside their shops once a week from spring to fall.

Mike Jones, of Leslieville-Riverdale Tree Project, spoke about how his group went door to door to encourage and assist neighbours to order a free front yard tree from the City of Toronto.

John Bowker of the Roncesvalles Village BIA spoke about the planting of 85 new trees along Roncesvalles as a result of community and BIA involvement.

And Michael Low of Trees Please spoke about his project — which has been doing a tree inventory in his community in the Annex as a way to define a baseline of forest conditions, increase the current tree canopy, improve biodiversity and promote tree stewardship in the community.

Councillor Mary Margaret McMahon delivered an inspiring keynote speech in which she spoke about her years as an environmental community activist in the Beach and Danforth area. The breakfast and lunch, supplied by Hearty Catering, was delicious and it was a wonderful day.

Sadly, however, the event also marks the winding down of the Live Green Toronto Community Animator Program. For four years, Live Green Toronto animators have worked with hundreds of community groups like ours to help us build skills, make connections and access resources. The animators will be missed! To see some great pictures from the event click here.