Living cities provide healthier, greener, and more inclusive environments. Yet, access to affordable food remains challenging for urban communities most affected by poverty, climate change, and systemic barriers.
Rising food prices are leading to food insecurity. Many urban neighbourhoods also lack green space to grow their own food.
Our Living Cities projects help build local food resilience. Through our Living Cities Canada Fund, Green Communities Canada helps local organizations transform urban spaces into sources of nourishment. In 2024, we invested $630,000 in grassroots projects that transformed over 8,000 square metres of land at 40 sites in 26 cities across 8 provinces. The area transformed through these projects last year is equivalent to 6 Olympic swimming pools or 19 basketball courts!
Each of these sites tells a story of community, learning, and belonging. Here is one of those stories.
Hope Blooms, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Hope Blooms empowers youth to have a voice within their communities. These youth are empowered to drive change through inclusive, hands-on initiatives that tackle food security, education, and social inclusion. By building urban organic food gardens and using social entrepreneurship, Hope Blooms is working to create lasting community impact.
In September 2024, Hope Blooms staff and youth came together at Uniacke Square at Murray Warrington Park in Halifax, N.S., to enhance the space by planting trees and creating a vibrant food garden. The event was part of their Green Labs program, a STEM-based initiative that engages children and youth in hands-on learning focused on environmental stewardship, renewable energy, health, and science in outdoor settings. The event was held on National Tree Day, September 25, 2024.
This project was supported by Green Communities Canada’s Living Cities Canada Fund and Tree Canada. Tree Canada also assisted in selecting the tree species.
Veronica Gutierrez, Director of Growth and Sustainability at Hope Blooms, reflects on the organization’s 14-year journey supporting marginalized communities and the deep personal connection she feels to its mission.
“Being part of Hope Blooms means everything to me. Since coming to Canada, this has been the only community that welcomed me with warmth—like family.”
Gutierrez firmly believes in giving back to the community and the environment.
“Living in beautiful spaces creates beautiful minds.”
Don Cameron of Tree Canada emphasizes the importance of reintroducing trees to a space that has long lacked greenery. He notes the powerful role trees play in fostering a sense of belonging and community, especially for children and youth.
“It was very important that we re-tree this property to provide trees that will be here for decades to come,” he shared.
To see the spirit around here today, the voices of the kids, the involvement of the kids, the laughing, the carrying on, and that they are asking questions about how these trees are going to benefit us in the future—is truly inspiring.”
One of the most inspiring parts of the event was the energy and dedication of the children who showed up to help plant over 60 trees and shrubs. Their enthusiasm and hard work brought the space to life, embodying the spirit of community care.
Young volunteer Hooriyah expressed her love for helping out, while others reflected on the importance of trees in our lives.
“It’s important to plant trees because they give us oxygen and shade,” one youth said, capturing the simple yet powerful reasons behind their efforts.
This project is one of 11 exciting transformations that took place in 2024, funded through the Transform Stream of the Living Cities Canada Fund.
Everyone needs to be engaged to advance equitable, abundant, and thriving green infrastructure. Since 2022, Green Communities Canada’s Living Cities Canada Fund has been supporting community-based organizations as they engage citizens in the planning, design, and implementation of local green infrastructure action projects.
The Living Cities Canada Fund provides local organizations with training, access to GCC’s project management tools, funding, and logistical support to engage their community, advance local policy changes, and implement on–the–ground solutions.
Green Communities Canada is grateful to our 2024 Living Cities Canada funders, including Definity Insurance Foundation, TD Ready Commitment, Echo Foundation, Greenbelt Foundation, All One Fund, and the Beacon Design Collective. Their support makes these on-the-ground projects possible.
Recent Comments