I thought I’d do something a bit different this time and share local environmental resources for Toronto. There are lots of Toronto-based organizations and groups focused on different areas of sustainability and climate action, including waste reduction, food justice, and nature and conservation.
Getting involved in local initiatives is a great way to have a tangible impact and connect with others in your community who are concerned about climate change.
This list is not comprehensive! If you think of an organization or resource that should be on this list, please get in touch and I’ll see about adding it.
City of Toronto resources
Live Green Toronto: A City of Toronto program that helps residents and businesses go green with a one-stop website, grants, events and more.
TransformTO Net Zero Strategy: The City of Toronto’s ambitious strategy to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions in Toronto to net zero by 2040. The strategy identifies actions and targets for key sectors, including buildings, transportation and waste.
Community Environment Days: Community events held across the city in the spring and summer, where you can drop off electronic waste and hazardous waste, donate items for reuse and pick up free compost.
Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions: A volunteering program. Neighbourhood Climate Action Champions inspire, motivate and encourage other residents to undertake community-focused actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participants receive training, engage with their neighbours in discussions about climate change and develop innovative neighbourhood-focused climate action projects.
Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program: A program that empowers and supports female climate leaders who are working to develop and implement innovative solutions to address the climate emergency in Toronto. Participants receive mentoring, training and networking opportunities to take their climate-related project, product or start-up to the next level.
Waste reduction
Waste Wizard: Use the Waste Wizard tool to find out what waste items go where—whether in the recycling, garbage, organic waste or a different waste stream.
Buy Nothing Canada: DOWNTOWN Toronto, ON Facebook group: A Facebook group for people who live in downtown Toronto and want to give away and receive items for free—a great way to keep things out of the landfill!
The Freecycle Network: A grassroots and entirely non-profit movement of people who are giving and getting stuff for free in their own towns. There are several “towns” in the Toronto area.
A Greener Future: An environmental non-profit that organizes different kinds of litter clean-ups. They also do education and awareness raising on plastic pollution.
Friendlier: A program for getting takeout food in reusable containers, which can be returned at a collection bin at any participating location. Available at several Toronto restaurants.
Muuse: A reusable coffee cup program. Cups can be returned to any participating location. Available at 50+ Toronto cafes.
Saponetti: A refill program for non-toxic soaps, cleaners and other home essentials. They deliver the products in reusable jars and pick up the empty jars on your next delivery,allusing zero-emission vehicles.
Sustainable transportation
Cycle Toronto: A member-supported charity that works to make Toronto a healthy, safe and vibrant cycling city for all. They’re focused on advocacy, education and encouragement, as they work to shape policy and infrastructure, and build community to transform our city’s cycling culture.
Bike Share Toronto: A bike sharing system with 9,000+ bikes and 800+ stations across Toronto.
TTCriders: A grassroots transit advocacy organization that gives TTC riders a voice. TTCriders organizes transit users to take collective action for better transit. They campaign for fully accessible, frequent, dignified public transit that connects all Toronto neighbourhoods.
Walk Toronto: A grassroots, volunteer pedestrian advocacy group that works with various levels of government, community groups and citizens to improve walking conditions and safety in Toronto.
Jane’s Walk Toronto: An annual festival of free, community-led walking conversations inspired by the work of urbanist and activist Jane Jacobs.
Food and gardening
Community Fridges TO: A Toronto-based mutual aid initiative created to nourish our communities and our neighbours. Take what you need and leave what you can. You can donate and pick up food from fridges across the city.
Not Far From the Tree: A fruit tree harvesting program to prevent fruit from going to waste. Volunteer teams pick fruit in people’s yards (with their permission), with a third of the fruit donated to social agency partners. NFFTT harnesses the power of fruit trees to create healthy, resilient, sustainable and connected communities across Toronto.
marketcityTO: An organization that makes visible and brings together neighbourhood-based markets, including farmers’ markets, antique markets, bazaars and more. Check out their map of public markets in Toronto.
MealCare: An organization diverting edible surplus food from becoming waste, delivering it to food aid partners. There are MealCare chapters at the University of Toronto and York University.
Community gardens: Community gardens provide access to land within the City parks system, and on other City-owned lands, for groups of people who wish to grow their own plants. This page has information on finding or starting a community garden.
Toronto Urban Growers: A network of sustainable, local food producers and others committed to scaling up urban agriculture in Toronto. Their website has a map of urban agriculture organizations and projects in Toronto, plus other resources.
FoodShare Toronto: A food justice organization advocating for the right to food and working to challenge the systemic barriers that keep people from accessing the food they need to thrive. Their programming includes food justice education, urban agriculture, fresh produce markets and other community initiatives.
VegTO: Toronto’s go-to resource for all things vegan. Their mission is to inspire people to choose vegan living – for the animals, our health and the planet. They run a vegan festival, offer discounts at vegan and vegan-friendly businesses, and more.
Nature, conservation and wildlife
Toronto trails: View maps of trails in the west and east of Toronto, as well as featured trails and natural areas. Find your new favourite trail!
Toronto Parks & Community Recreation Centres Map: Find parks, community recreation centres and other facilities near you. Use the filters to find amenities within parks and community recreation centres.
Toronto Wildlife Centre: A charitable wildlife rescue organization providing medical treatment and rehabilitative care to sick, injured and orphaned wild animals found by members of the public.
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA): Since 1957, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has taken action to enhance our region’s natural environment and protect our land, water and communities from the impacts of flooding and increasingly extreme weather events. They maintain conservation areas and parks and offer educational programming.
High Park Nature Centre: A charitable organization that promotes awareness and respect for nature through year-round, hands-on outdoor education and stewardship. They run nature clubs, camps, events, workshops and more.
Evergreen Brick Works: A hidden gem in the heart of Toronto’s ravines where nature and community come together. Open daily and all year round, the Brick Works is a place where the world can experience sustainable practices that enable thriving cities of the future. They run a farmers’ market, other events and educational programming.
Tree Planting & Stewardship Events: A volunteer opportunity with the City to plant trees, shrubs and wildflowers, and help grow Toronto’s urban forest. Check the event calendar for dates and locations.
Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF): A non-profit organization that teaches people about trees and gets them excited about the urban forest. They plant native species in backyards and public spaces while engaging citizens in urban forest stewardship through planting, education and training.
Toronto Nature Stewards: Toronto Nature Stewards (TNS), with the agreement of the City of Toronto Urban Forestry Division, runs a stewardship program on public land in ravines and natural areas without direct City supervision. TNS Stewards support the ecological restoration of ravines and natural areas by picking up litter, removing invasive plants, planting native species and monitoring the environmental impact of stewardship activities.
EcoSpark: An environmental charity connecting people to their local natural environment through education, monitoring and stewardship. Aimed at both educators/students and community members.
Let’s Hike T.O.: A hiking community in Toronto open to everyone with a focus on people of colour, newcomers and young adults. They run regular hikes inside and outside Toronto (bus transportation provided!).
Professional and career development
Connecting Environmental Professionals Toronto: A volunteer-powered organization that strives to create opportunities for communities to collaborate and learn, ultimately driving sustainability and climate action. They run events on different environmental topics and provide other educational opportunities.
Climate North: They unite climate enthusiasts through monthly events, which feature diverse speakers, panels and presentations, as well as a newsletter. Their goal is to make climate change a relatable and approachable topic, nurturing a community where ideas bloom and collaborations thrive.
Green Drinks Toronto: A jovial mix of environmental professionals and Torontonians interested in the environment + a few pints (or non-alcoholic drinks!) = a relaxed and agenda-free evening of enviro-meeting and greeting. I haven’t been able to bring myself to go yet, but it seems like it would be a great way to build your environmental network in Toronto! Monthly on the third Wednesday of the month.
Green Career Centre: A non-profit organization with a mission to prepare underrepresented youth for green careers. With a focus on supporting BIPOC, newcomers and women, the Green Career Centre works by and for these communities to bridge the gap between equitable, accessible and transparent social and environmental employment opportunities.
Cross-cutting
Green Neighbours Network of Toronto: A grassroots community network of people and groups across Toronto and the GTA striving to make our neighbourhoods greener, healthier and more sustainable. Check out their list of members, events, resources and more.
Toronto Environmental Alliance: For 35 years, the Toronto Environmental Alliance has campaigned locally to find solutions to Toronto’s urban environmental problems. As a not-for-profit organization, they advocate on behalf of all Torontonians for a green, healthy and equitable city.
Fridays for Future Toronto: A youth-led, grassroots organization with the primary mission of mobilizing to demand climate justice through the organization of school strikes, rallies and marches.
Carbon Conversations Toronto: A volunteer-led group founded to help individuals find hope in the climate crisis. Carbon Conversations Toronto aims to help people feel more equipped and motivated to talk about climate change and take climate action.
EcoToronto: Your gateway to a green, sustainable Toronto. A comprehensive website with an environmental directory, job and volunteer postings, and event listings.
Toronto Climate Action Network: A network of over 70 climate action organizations building a movement together in & around Toronto. Check out their event calendar, resources and more.
Bluedot Living Toronto: Your go-to source for climate news and solutions in the 6ix. Meet your neighbours who are taking steps toward change, browse local in-season recipes, and find advice on ways to reduce your impact on Earth at home and in your neighbourhood.
Terra Elysium: Terra Elysium Foundation is a Canadian not-for-profit organization committed to empowering communities for a connected future by nurturing biodiversity, cultivating minds, fostering wellness and celebrating artistry. Through educational events and diverse community workshops, they provide a platform for individuals and communities to come together, engage in discussions, and collaborate on initiatives that strengthen and connect cities.
Do you have a correction or a suggestion for an organization or resource to add to the list? Email me at stepstowardsustainability@gmail.com.
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