Toronto Botanical Garden and its Environmental Commitment
Toronto Botanical Garden (TBG) is a volunteer-based, charitable organization whose purpose is to inspire passion, respect and understanding of horticulture, the natural landscape and a healthy environment. Spanning nearly four acres, the award-winning gardens are located adjacent to Edwards Gardens and ideally situated by the Toronto’s Don Valley Ravine. From Piet Oudolf’s “New Wave” show-stopping borders to the ever-popular Multi-Cultural Kitchen Garden, visitors will enjoy the beauty of the gardens while learning practical and eco-friendly gardening practices for their own backyards. The gardens reflect the scale of a typical urban setting, making it easy for visitors to translate the ideas and plant selections into their own gardens.

TBG provides high-quality educational programmes to over 6,000 children and 10,000 adults annually. Through its outreach programs, TBG gives children from Toronto’s high-priority schools the opportunity to develop a love and understanding of nature while learning their role in protecting our environment. A complete range of indoor and outdoor learning experiences are offered for all ages including courses, lectures, workshops, birthday parties, special events, garden tours along with an extensive horticultural library open to the public.

Among the core values of the TBG is a commitment to environmental responsibility. TBG aims to constantly evaluate and improve its long term and everyday sustainable practices. At present this includes:

• The George and Kathy Dembroski Centre for Horticulture with its green roof is a LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver Certified building which demonstrates both environmental sustainability and architectural beauty winning numerous awards for both its exceptional design and water management programs.
• All interior spaces have access to natural light which reduces the need for artificial lighting during the day
• Building products and finishes are selected which do not off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
• Rainwater is harvested throughout the site into an underground cistern to irrigate the broad list of plant species located throughout the TBG property.
• Extensive recycling programs include verma composting employee food waste and composting organic garden waste.
• FSC approved printing companies and paper supplies are used throughout the organization.
• Bird and insect populations are encouraged through habitat planting and educational programs.