In 2017, we participated in Canada’s and Ontario’s 150th anniversary through the Ontario 150 Youth Partnership Program.
Growing Community: Engaging Diverse Youth to Strengthen Ontario’s Tapestry of Urban Gardens (Growing Community) engaged young people from diverse faith and cultural backgrounds to design, plant, and maintain urban gardens across the province. This initiative featured the creation of 8 urban gardens in Ottawa, Toronto, and Halton.
In Toronto, native plant gardens have been established at Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue, Manor Road United Church, and the International Muslim Organization of Toronto (IMO).
The approach in Halton was to engage youth at faith-based schools to create native plant gardens. The two schools we worked with are Christ the King Catholic Secondary School in Georgetown and Tarbiyah Islamic School in Milton.
A competitive application process resulted in three faith community gardens in the Ottawa area — at École élémentaire catholique Saint-Albert n Saint Albert, Maison Tucker House in Rockland, and St. John’s Anglican Church in Kanata.
We have shared stories and photos throughout the year as these projects unfolded. See videos plus blog posts at the bottom of this page.
Ontario recognized the historical significance of 2017 with Ontario150, a year-long commemoration that honoured Ontario’s past, showcased the present, and inspired future generations. The Ontario150 Partnership Program provided youth with opportunities to actively participate in their communities in ways that reflect their creativity, cultural expression, diversity, inclusion, environmental stewardship, entrepreneurship, healthy living, and civic engagement. Faith & the Common Good is grateful to the Province for providing funding for Growing Community.
Thank you to our Partners
