There are many activities happening in Toronto and beyond online that you may also be interested in attending or groups that you may want to receive newsletters from. Here are a few of them to get you started.
CANADIAN WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Free Gardening and iNaturalist Webinars April 6 to 11 Webinars on National Wildlife Week
Recording Wildlife With iNaturalist Canada
Other topics:
Topics include Observations from Isolation: Creating a Wildlife-friendly Garden, #DoMoreForWildlife
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AND GROUPS
In the Zone Gardens
In September and October, WWF-Canada, along with various local collaborators, is participating in a series of neighbourhood events to help communities restore wildlife habitat in parts of West Toronto. ITZ Upcoming Events and main website
Project Swallowtail We’re looking for volunteers interested in becoming Block Ambassadors for a habitat restoration initiative in west Toronto. Sign-up form
Green 13 is a group of Ward 13 residents concerned about the impact humans are having on our climate and environment. Green 13 website Subscribe to their excellent newsletter
North American Native Plant Society (NANPS)
NANPS is committed to preserving native plant habitat in wild areas and restoring indigenous flora to developed areas. main website
The Horticultural Societies of Parkdale & Toronto
The focus of the Horticultural Societies of Parkdale & Toronto is community gardening — making it accessible to those of all ages and physical or mental abilities. The funds raised at our annual Plant Fair and the Garden Tour go to support approximately fifteen community gardens. There are also presentations and many projects. main website
Stewardship and Environmental News
This is an excellent resource and Blog by Jason Ramsay-Brown
Toronto's Ravines and Urban Forests a new book on our urban forests ravines.to
Stewardship Network Monthly Webcasts from noon to 1 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, covering a variety of conservation and land management topics.
A new platform to find people, projects and organizations working on climate and ecological action. You can also ask questions and share information on almost any climate change related topic.
LINKS COMPILATIONS FOR DOWNLOADING (pdf)
2022 Green Toronto Virtual Learning Series (pdf)
Winter Tree ID with LEAF Jan 27
Soil Science with LEAF Feb 17
Fern-damentals: Introduction to Ferns April 7
Winterize Your Lawn and Garden (TRCA) 2021
Douglas Tallamy Oct 17 2021 Presentation and Resources
Links Compilation 2020 by Coleen Cirillo
Groups with Programs
- see Our Fragile Planet and Environmentalist in Residence Programs. All programs are free of charge and a library card is not required.
Recordings and Upcoming Programs
Toronto Environmental Directory
Your gateway to Toronto environmental organizations, sustainable business, green jobs, environmental volunteering, courses and events in the Toronto area.
ONLINE WEBINARS AND MEETINGS
TRCA community learning event calendar
April online events are coming up.
Seedy Saturday Library has links to webinars and documents on seeds and gardening.
High Park Nature Centre has online learning and some adult learning opportunities.
Lists of places to find native plants, plant bloom times and growing conditions etc.
Links to groups that provide this information can be found below.
Pollinator Partnership Facebook group and webinars
PROJECT SWALLOWTAIL website
Project Swallowtail is a collaborative effort to connect communities street by street and empower residents to restore nature in west Toronto.
LEAF has many activities including native plant and tree plantings, workshops and among other resources provide garden kits to plant at own homes. Please read the Blogs to find out more about the people and programs supported.
PARKDALE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Meetings, Resources, Links to related organizations and blogs
North American Native Plant Society
Seedex (seed exchange)
Plant Rescue Alert - sign up at rescues@nanps.org
COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM
This newsletter contains great information on other city stewardship groups. Calendar of Stewardship Sessions. Also see Twitter Toronto Forestry and Facebook Nature in the city and the city website Green Toronto Stewardship Program and Community Stewardship Newsletter September.
Toronto Nature Stewards
TNS a group of volunteers, citizens, and scientists dedicated to “protecting, regenerating, and celebrating” the Toronto Ravine System and natural spaces. Activities include litter pickup, removal of garlic mustard, dog-strangling vine, Japanese knotweed, burdock, monitoring and more. If you or someone you know wants to lend a hand in helping nature in Toronto, please email toronto.nature.stewards@utoronto.ca. Fall 2021 newsletter
Colborne Lodge Events
Follow John Howard's journey to Canada on Facebook 
(see entries from 2013)
New Funding for Park Groups
The Partnership Development Unit of Parks, Forestry & Recreation helps grassroots community groups with their fundraising projects, and we welcome support and funding from corporations, foundations and philanthropists. Working together, we have successfully raised millions of dollars for parks, recreation and urban forestry projects for the benefit of Torontonians and visitors. Please contact us to discuss your needs and projects.
Also see Park People for Weston Family Grants to Parks.
TRCA Online Resources (Toronto and Region Conservation Authority)
Discover new e-Learning videos, activities, lesson plans, and more. These resources are designed to help families, teachers and their classes deepen their knowledge of nature, ecology, the environment and their place in it.
Toronto Botanical Gardens Toronto Botanical Gardens 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, ON. TBG offers an array of 17 award-winning themed gardens spanning nearly four acres, designed to educate and inspire. You'll also find a complete range of innovative indoor and outdoor learning experiences for all ages including programs, garden tours, nature day camps, organic farmers' market and an extensive horticultural library. Events
Toronto Community Garden Network TCG members are committed to greening and sustainable gardening practices across the City of Toronto, and to make community gardening an integral part of city life. Check events in Feb-Mar for Seedy Saturday and Sundays
Upcoming Events and Workshops - LEAF LEAF has many activities and demonstration native plant gardens at specific subway secondary entrances (including High Park).
Nature Workshops
Explore the wildflower diversity of High Park with seasoned naturalist and educator Richard Aaron. Each of the hikes will focus on the intriguing variety of plants blooming at that time, along with ample discussions on their natural history, ecology, lore and uses.
Save the Plants, Save the World...
Other Links
Toronto Field Naturalists Promoting a love of nature in Toronto since 1923.
ProtectNatureTO Advocating for the protection of wildlife and natural areas across the City of Toronto
Stewardship Network of Ontario
Humber Arboretum Centre for Urban Ecology
The International Year of Forests, 2011
Plenty Canada In recognition that Indigenous peoples carry vital knowledge for a contemporary path of sustainable living for everyone, Plenty Canada's projects are rooted within various Indigenous traditions.
Ontario Nature Please sign the Ontario Nature's 20/20 Vision: A Biodiversity Charter for Ontario
LEAF Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests, backyard tree planting, native plant kits and much more.
Native Plant Girl An excellent resource listing for Stewardship in Toronto (older information).
Farms at Work Promoting healthy and active farmlands in East Central Ontario. Info on native pollinators and sustainable agriculture.
The Sustainability Network works with environmental non-profits to make them more effective and efficient.
Evergreen Brickworks Open year-round, Evergreen Brick Works is a community environmental centre that inspires and equips visitors to live, work and play more sustainably.
PaRx: How we can better human health by protecting the planet, why healthcare workers are positioned to take up the climate justice fight, and how nature is the doctor-recommended prescription we all need to fill.
Canada Blooms 2021 - 25 Anniversary Newsletter, Canada Blooms is not being held in 2021 but there are many items of interest here.
ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS
A ravine-land who’s who: Take a virtual hike through our urban ecosystems and the threats they face from humans
JASON RAMSAY-BROWN AND KATHLEEN FU, SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED APRIL 17, 2021
In cities like Toronto where ravines and valleys define the landscape, what we imagine is unspoiled wilderness is being constantly changed by urbanization, non-native species and pollution. Here, a naturalist and an illustrator show you what to look for
We’re in a biodiversity crisis. What we plant and how we alter landscapes matter
By Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla
Mon., April 19, 2021, Toronto Star
... The science is clear: habitat loss and fragmentation cause species loss and worsen the effects of climate change. We need to protect remaining habitat, but we also need to create it in places where we have green-paved it with lawns and non-native species. ...
Biodiversity Booklet Series
Includes: Birds, Butterflies, Spiders, Fishes, Mammals, Bees, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mushrooms, and Trees, Shrubs and Vines of Toronto. Free copies may be available at your local Toronto Public Library branch. To find out more about these free guidebooks or to download a pdf version, visit the City of Toronto's Biodiversity website.
