Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support community-led projects that:
PollinateTO supports projects that:
All Toronto neighbourhoods are eligible. Priority will be given to projects located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).
Since 2019, PollinateTO has:
PollinateTO advances the principles and priorities of the City’s Pollinator Protection Strategy and Biodiversity Strategy.
View the PollinateTO Approved Projects Map to see where all our projects are located.
PollinateTO funded projects are listed below by ward, neighbourhood and Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA) or Emerging Neighbourhood (EN).
Year | Ward | Neighbourhood | NIA or EN | Group Name | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | 13 | Cabbagetown-South St. Jamestown | Not an NIA or EN | 40 Homewood Gardening Committee | The 40 Homewood Avenue Gardening Committee is expanding their pollinator garden at 40 Homewood Avenue to convert even more of their property to native plants. The 20-meter stretch of garden will host native plants blooming throughout the seasons for residents, neighbours, and passers-by to appreciate and learn from. |
2024 | 5 | Mount Dennis | NIA | Bala Garden Committee & School Advisory Council | This project at Bala Avenue Community School will work towards creating a native woodland garden where students can explore and learn about plants, pollinators and decomposers in our native ecosystems. |
2024 | 21 | Eglinton East | NIA | Bendale Butterflyway | This three-garden project in Scarborough will create a pollinator pathway at Knob Hill Park. Outreach events and informative signage will welcome community members from Knob Hill Public School and nearby residents to learn about the importance of native shrubs, flowers and grasses for pollinator habitat! |
2024 | 24 | West Hill | NIA | Blooming Partners | Blooming Partners are tackling native pollinator decline through the creation of a pollinator garden at BGC East Scarborough. Native plants blooming spring through fall will provide continuous pollinator food supply and year-round habitat. |
2024 | 23 | Miliken | Not an NIA or EN | Blue Pond Gardening Club | The Blue Pond Native Garden Project aims to transform an underutilized cul-de-sac turf grass island along Blue Pond Place into a place teeming with colours and pollinator activity, and a peaceful oasis for community learning and gathering. |
2024 | 5 | Beechborough-Greenbrook | NIA | Charles E Webster PS Eco Club | At Charles E Webster Public School, the Eco Club will create four garden beds to increase the number of pollinator plants on the grounds of their inner-city school. The gardens will support native pollinators, create hands-on learning opportunities for students and provide space for Indigenous knowledge keepers and elders to plant and harvest medicinal herbs. |
2024 | 24 | Golfdale-Cedarbrae-Woburn | NIA | CHPS Pollinator Propagators | At Churchill Heights Public School, the Pollinator Propagators Bees, Butterflies and Birds Garden is taking advantage of their location next to a hydro corridor on Brimorton Drive to host thriving pollinator habitat, add colour to the schoolyard to inspire students, parents, caregivers, and community members to learn about pollinators and native plants. |
2024 | 14 | Danforth | Not an NIA or EN | DCTI EcoClub | The Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute garden is a curriculum-extension project set on school grounds. The group’s previous work planting native plants in place of invasive and ornamental plants will be expanded through this project. Students will be involved through project-based learning. |
2024 | 16 | Banbury-Don Mills | Not an NIA or EN | DMA Green Gang | The Don Mills Seniors’ Apartments (DMA) Green Gang is creating pollinator habitat in the overlooked greenspace in their front entrance and courtyard. This project will give residents an opportunity to engage with the community while inspiring others to undertake pollinator garden projects. |
2024 | 14 | Playter Estates-Danforth | Not an NIA or EN | East End United Regional Ministry | The goal of the East End United Regional Ministry is to educate the community on the benefits of pollinators and pollination gardens through youth-created art in their garden, which will be a combination of open plantings and raised beds. |
2024 | 14 | Danforth-East York | Not an NIA or EN | East Yorker Gardeners | The “Our Home is YourZZZ Home” project aims to create a vibrant pollinator garden at the East Yorker Condominium. The garden location is adjacent to two TTC bus stops and will welcome community members to stroll through, sit, and enjoy the native foliage and pollinator activity. |
2024 | 9 | Oakwood Village | Not an NIA or EN | FCJ Refugee Centre | The FCJ Refugee Centre is incorporating native plants into their existing gardens while establishing a new pollinator garden. Their four gardens will contribute to local ecosystem health and biodiversity and will also create a welcoming environment for staff, clients, and the public. A bench will be located in the garden for members of the community to enjoy. |
2024 | 25 | Rouge West | Not an NIA or EN | Fernie Works | Fernie Works is a program at Fernie Youth Services that trains youth for landscaping and gardening employment through hands-on experience and engagement with the community. To grow the next generation of pollinator-aware landscapers, Fernie Works is transforming lawn space into a teaching garden. |
2024 | 9 | Caledonia-Fairbank | Not an NIA or EN | FH Miller Junior Public School Naturalist Club | At FH Miller Junior Public School, the Naturalist Club will create a garden where students can apply theoretical knowledge from subjects like biology, natural sciences, and Indigenous history through experiential learning. Their garden will support biodiversity, foster ecological awareness, and build community. |
2024 | 16 | Parkwoods-O’Connor Hills | Not an NIA or EN | Flemingdon Park Ministry | The urban farm at Flemingdon Park Ministry will promote community education on native plant species, while emphasizing the important connection between food production and wild pollinators. Their project will expand existing native pollinator gardens and invite the community to participate in plantings. |
2024 | 13 | Regent Park | NIA | Fred Victor | The upcoming project at Fred Victor will create two new pollinator gardens and revitalize a third near their existing communal food and teaching gardens. These gardens will educate the community on wild pollinators and urban agriculture, and the importance of native plants. |
2024 | 21 | Dorset Park | EN | General Crerar’s EcoSquad | At General Crerar Public School, the EcoSquad is establishing three pollinator gardens that will provide food, nesting and overwintering sites for pollinators like butterflies, native bees, moths, beetles and more. Students will participate in planning the garden’s layout and plants, incorporating their own skills, identities, and experiences. |
2024 | 13 | Church-Wellesley | Not an NIA or EN | Church and Gloucester Pollinator Garden | Located at the corner of Church St. and Gloucester St., the Church and Gloucester Pollinator Garden will create a winding walking path with pollinator plants on both sides of the path, a bench for seating, information about each plant to turn an unused space into a green oasis and community focal point. |
2024 | 25 | Highland Creek | Not an NIA or EN | Highland Creek EcoTeam | The Ecoteam at Highland Creek Public School is creating a native plant garden in a sunny area at the front of their school to enrich educational and environmental efforts by fostering ecological diversity in their outdoor classroom. Their project seeks to cultivate positive environmental attitudes and empathy in students through pollinator stewardship. |
2024 | 12 | Casa Loma | Not an NIA or EN | Hillcrest Green Team | The Hillcrest Green Team is working with school staff, students, and community members at Hillcrest Community School to expand existing garden beds and create Native Pollinator Learning Gardens on both sides of the school’s main entrance. This project is the first phase of a larger plan to create a pollinator pathway. |
2024 | 4 | High Park North | Not an NIA or EN | Humberside Environmental Action Team | The Humberside Environmental Action Team is establishing a new pollinator garden near their existing vegetable gardens at Humberside Collegiate Institute. The project aims to enhance students’ connection to nature and provide learning opportunities across various classes and clubs. |
2024 | 4 | Junction Area | Not an NIA or EN | Maher Circle Pollinator Garden Project Team | The Maher Circle Pollinator Garden Project Team is a group of residents who are joining forces to transform Maher Circle Park into a biodiverse oasis. Their project will expand pollinator habitat, add informative signage, and provide support in nurturing two native Pawpaw trees. |
2024 | 20 | Scarborough Village | NIA | Mason Road PS Eco Club | The Eco Club at Mason Road Public School is creating new school learning gardens and doing their part to help pollinators survive and thrive. They are reimagining old garden beds with native plant species and relocating native plants in closed-bottomed containers into the ground where they can take root. |
2024 | 14 | North Riverdale | Not an NIA or EN | MCCT Garden Faeries | This project will transition the grounds of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto into a pollinator and native species learning garden for the Riverdale community. The project will highlight diverse native plants and pollinator species and showcase native plants as aesthetic alternatives to mass produced hybrid plants. |
2024 | 1 | West Humber-Clairville | Not an NIA or EN | Melody Pollinates | The Melody Pollinates project will create a native plant garden at Melody Village Junior School, strategically positioned alongside a community walkway. The garden will include native plants carefully selected to bloom in different seasons, not only promoting biodiversity but also providing a vital habitat for local pollinators. |
2024 | 13 | Moss Park | Not an NIA or EN | Native Women’s Resource Centre of Toronto (NWRCT) and Friends of Allan Gardens | NWRCT and Friends of Allan Gardens are partnering to revive their beloved medicine garden that has been hidden by construction fencing at Allan Gardens. With the end of construction nearing, they will revitalize this garden and turn it into a thriving space. The project focuses on cultural preservation, community engagement and ecological impact. |
2024 | 10 | Kensington-Chinatown | Not an NIA or EN | OCAD University | OCAD University hopes to expand a previous pollinator garden on campus to continue engaging students, staff, and faculty to learn about pollinator habitat, urban ecologies, Indigenous knowledges, and land-based learning for art & design curriculum. Their project will increase awareness of the artist and designer’s role to engage with and protect ecological systems. |
2024 | 17 | Hillcrest Village | Not an NIA or EN | Ravel Church Properties | Ravel Church Properties will install gardens in four locations, with the primary garden at St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church. Gardens will engage passers-by, and replace turf lawn space. Their tri-church community will participate in creating and maintaining the garden while encouraging others to adopt the same principles for their own gardens. |
2024 | 8 | Englemount-Lawrence | EN | Residents First | Residents First will be engaging local seniors by hosting workshops on pollinators and native plants, ecological health and best practices for gardening through the Lawrence Heights TCH community. They will be creating ten “pollinator patches” along Flemington Road for local pollinators to land, rest and nest. |
2024 | 14 | South Riverdale | Not an NIA or EN | Riverdale Environmental Action League | The Riverdale Environmental Action League is planting a pollinator garden along Jones Avenue outside Riverdale Collegiate Institute. With the support of Indigenous Knowledge keepers, they will highlight the traditional significance and uses of many native plants and share a diverse perspective on the importance of urban biodiversity. |
2024 | 25 | Centennial Scarborough | Not an NIA or EN | Rouge Butterflyway Group | The Rouge Butterflyway Group has worked with the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans since 2020 to help enhance the gardens for the enjoyment of residents, staff, visitors and pollinators. The group is excited to expand their project by weeding new areas and introducing more native plants to the centre’s expansive grounds. |
2024 | 5 | Rockliffe-Smythe | NIA | Santa Maria School | Santa Maria School has a large unused green space where staff and students wish to apply their knowledge of native plants and pollinators to create a thriving habitat. The garden will be in partnership with students from Bishop Romero who will lend their skills, and efforts to the project. |
2024 | 4 | High Park-Swansea | Not an NIA or EN | St. Joseph’s Pollinator Garden Committee | The St. Joseph’s Pollinator Garden Committee will transform an underutilized area along Sunnyside Avenue into thriving pollinator habitat. The fence that serves as the backdrop for the garden will feature an Indigenous mural during phase two of their project. |
2024 | 9 | Junction-Wallace Emerson | Not an NIA or EN | St. Luigi School Garden Brigade | The new pollinator gardens at St. Luigi Elementary School are an outcome of the collaborative efforts between the school administration, Dovercourt Boys & Girls Club, and the parent council. The memorial garden, honouring Holly Jones, will be re-planted with native plants and a patch of lawn will be converted into new habitat for pollinators. |
2024 | 24 | West Hill | NIA | TCH SCHC EarlyON Child and Family Centre | This project at the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities EarlyON Child and Family Centre will create a pollinator pathway near an existing meditative area. With the help of existing EarlyOn families, local students, volunteers and residents, they will enrich community mental health and well-being whilst helping the environment. |
2024 | 19 | The Beaches | Not an NIA or EN | The Church of St. Aidan | St. Aidan’s Church in the Beaches will transform an unused, sandy space adjacent to the church into a vibrant rain and pollinator garden with pathways and gathering spaces. The group will host community events and workshops to educate visitors about the value of native plants and storm water management. |
2024 | 11 | Annex | Not an NIA or EN | The Church of the Messiah and Partners | This community group has worked together to maintain vegetable gardens for over ten years at The Church of the Messiah. They are now looking to engage their communities of parish members, food bank volunteers and recipients, children and students in native plants and pollinators. |
2024 | 7 | Glenfield-Jane Heights | NIA | Topcliff’s ECOclub | Topcliff’s Pollinator Corridor will be located at the front of Topcliff Public School, where two existing gardens are in need of revitalization. The new native plant habitat will educate students, staff and families about the importance of biodiversity and pollinator stewardship. |
2024 | 11 | University | Not an NIA or EN | Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church | Trinity-St. Paul’s United Church will connect new habitat with existing pollinator gardens in their neighbourhood, creating a continuous line of pollinator-friendly areas flowing up from Robert St, across Bloor and over to Major St. |
2024 | 5 | Pelmo Park-Humberlea | Not an NIA or EN | Weston Neighbourhood Gardeners | The Weston Neighbourhood gardeners are converting lawn in north-west corner of Pelmo Park into a thriving native plant pollinator garden. To engage their community, the Weston Neighbourhood gardeners will host events including planting and maintenance activities, plant giveaways and garden tours. |
Please note: Timelines are subject to change
Create your own group or join one that is already established in your community. Partner with others who can support your idea.
To be eligible, groups must include at least three Toronto residents residing in three separate households.
Decide on a name for your Group. Select a Group Lead to be the main contact.
Look for potential garden locations in your neighbourhood. Choose garden sites that are visible to the public, have access to water and are easy for your group to get to (walking distance is ideal). Your project may include multiple locations. Priority will be given to projects located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).
Complete the Property Owner Support Letter template (Word doc) for each location.
If the garden location is on…
Decide on a name for your Project (this is different from your Group name).
Download the PollinateTO Application Questions Summary (please note, questions are subject to change). You can use this document to help plan, brainstorm and organize your project ideas and application submission.
Create a community engagement and education plan – think about the best ways to involve the community in your project.
Think about how your proposed garden(s) will be maintained in the long term and who will be responsible for the continued care of the garden(s). You can use the Garden Maintenance Plan template to help you plan.
Put together an estimated budget (max. $5,000). See the Eligible Costs section for guidance. You must use the Proposed Budget Summary template (Excel doc) provided.
You must apply using the online application form before the deadline.
The following documents are required to evaluate your proposal:
The following documents are optional. You can use them to help you plan your project:
Applications will be screened for eligibility by City of Toronto staff. Applications that are determined to be eligible will be further assessed by a Review Committee made up of representatives from various City of Toronto divisions. In the case of proposals for gardens on school grounds City staff will engage the School Board as part of the review process. Final recommendations for funding will be approved by the Executive Director, Environment & Climate, City of Toronto. Successful applicants will receive notice via email and details about next steps.
The Review Committee will make funding recommendations based on their assessment of the following elements of each application:
Successful applicants will attend an online information session to learn more about the next steps to start their projects. Successful applicants will also take part in the How to PollinateTO training program which provides the knowledge needed to create pollinator habitat in Toronto with a focus on the lifecycle needs of pollinators and native plants.
A funding agreement will be drafted and sent to successful applicants to be signed. Upon returning the signed agreement, the City signature will be added and the first installment of the funding award (approximately 90 percent) will be processed.
Funded groups will be required to sign the Declaration of Compliance of Anti-Harassment/Discrimination City Policy and will be asked to review the City of Toronto Guide to Political Activities for City Funded Groups and sign a corresponding document to acknowledge the policy.
The City of Toronto has engaged official trustee organizations for PollinateTO. These organizations will provide administrative oversight of the funding disbursement to successful PollinateTO grant recipients.
PollinateTO Trustee Organizations
PollinateTO is open to all resident-led groups, registered charities and non-profit organizations. Resident-led groups must have at least three residents of Toronto (from separate households) as part of the group.
Examples of eligible projects include:
Examples of projects the City will not fund include:
PollinateTO supports projects that create pollinator habitat in all Toronto neighbourhoods. Priority will be given to gardens located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).
Gardens can be on private and public land. Your project proposal can include multiple garden locations at one or more sites (i.e. different addresses). Your proposal can also have one or more garden locations at a single address (i.e. separate garden beds on different parts of the same property).
Each garden location must have access to a source of water.
Note: Property owner support is required for all proposed garden locations except for gardens proposed in City parks on the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List.
Examples of private property include residential, commercial, post-secondary institutions, faith and spiritual centres, non-profit organizations, etc.
This is most often the area between the road and the sidewalk.
Applications are welcome from all Toronto School Boards. PollinateTO has partnered with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) to establish the process described below.
Examples of public property include Toronto Public Libraries and City of Toronto Recreation Centres.
You can apply to further enhance a park in your community with a pollinator garden. Please follow the process as outlined below.
Please see our Native Flowers, Trees & Shrubs list to help you select plants for your garden.
Optional: You can use the Proposed Plant List template to help you organize your plant choices.
Mandatory for all approved PollinateTO gardens – you must “click before you dig”. This process will identify any underground infrastructure in the area you want to build your garden. Ontario One Call provides a locate request process that is free, reliable, timely and easy to use. You can make the request online. You can do this after your project has been approved.
Budgets cannot exceed $5,000. Funding can only be used for the direct delivery of the proposed project. Please refer to this list when both creating an application and spending your grant funding. If you are unsure if an expense is eligible, please contact the PollinateTO team at pollinateTO@toronto.ca.
Download this information here – 2024 Eligible & Ineligible Expense Guide.
Type of Expense | Eligible Items |
---|---|
Planting Materials |
|
Tools & Equipment |
|
Garden Construction |
|
Education & Awareness Materials |
|
Events & Workshops |
|
People & Labour |
|
Expense | Ineligible Items |
---|---|
Planting Materials |
|
Tools & Equipment |
|
Garden Construction |
|
Events & Workshops |
|
People & Labour |
|
Personal Benefits
&
Organizational Operating Costs
|
|
Other |
|
Watch the PollinateTO Impact Report Information Session recording to learn more about grant reporting requirements.
Upon project completion, grant recipients must submit the following;
Your group should consider following the PollinateTO tips for creating a pollinator garden when designing pollinator habitat. Ideal pollinator habitat will include food sources, nesting and overwintering sites and larval host plants among other considerations.
Download this information here – PollinateTO_Best Practices for Pollinator Education
Educational messaging should align with the guiding principles and priorities of the City’s Pollinator Protection Strategy. The following are best practices for designing a pollinator educational initiative funded by PollinateTO.
How will your project educate and engage the community? Some ideas you might consider:
Visit the How to Help Wild Bees & Other Native Pollinators page for resources on starting and managing pollinator gardens, information on native plants and other ways you can help pollinators in Toronto.