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Greenbelt Adventures: vacation in Toronto's backyard
What's the energy rating on your food basket? Imagine an energy label on
your apple telling you how far it has travelled. How much do we know
about our food? Visiting the Greenbelt is one way to get to know
local food sources and ecosystems.
Protecting watersheds, local farms and the countryside around the GTA
is now an official priority, with a provincial move to protect 1.8 million
acres of greenbelt. The Greenbelt is a major source of City of Toronto water
and the "lungs" that bring breathable air to the province.
The Greenbelt is significant for many reasons. Over 7,250 farmers
produce over $4.1 billion of food and farm products. The region is also
home to a variety of vintners producing local wines, and there are over 60
species-at-risk living in this region. Sustainable tourism is a great way to
support local farms and wineries and get to know the diverse habitats and
ecosystems that city parks can't always capture. Vacationing closer to home
cuts down on long car rides, airport waits, extra expenses and complex
logistics. The Greenbelt is a less energy- and carbon-intensive destination,
with many of the same amenities sought out at further distances.
What To Do?
The Greenbelt Foundation's top ten
reasons to explore the Greenbelt:
| 1. Canoeing | 6. Trail Riding |
| 2. Hiking | 7. Photography |
| 3. Camping | 8. Dog Walking |
| 4. Bird Watching | 9. Skiing |
| 5. Biking | 10. Running |
The Oak Ridges Moraine, plus the Ganaraska, Waterfront and Bruce trails
are just some links in a network of hiking and biking trails connecting the
Greenbelt. Former Canadian Olympic cyclist Steve Bauer (www.stevebauer.
com) leads bicycle tours in the Greenbelt region. The Greenbelt offers a safe, largely
accessible trail network for the family. In an interview with Osprey News, Bauer
notes that "bicycle touring is becoming more and more popular as a way of holidaying,
touring, family outings and also team-building for business groups."
While peddling the Greenbelt, visitors can get out to serene rural landscapes,
trails and beaches and even catch a glimpse of the odd fig tree.
Greenbelt Stories
The Greenbelt foundation in partnership with City TV and a number of
environmental groups has recently chosen finalists for their video competition
of "Greenbelt stories." The videos are masterful clips of everything
from ballet productions to theatrical instalments. Viewers vote
on who wins the $10,000 prize for best portraying the importance of the
Greenbelt to them. To see finalists, please visit,
www.citytv.com/events/toronto/greenbelt07/vote.asp
Author: Jenn Gaudette
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