January 20, 2023
From left: Brent Bentham, Rebecca Doutre, Adam van Koeverden, Peter Guinane, Alan White and Frydda Sandoval.
FedDev Ontario provides $250,000 to Green Cities Foundation
Adam van Koeverden, Member of Parliament for Milton, Ont., joined representatives from the Green Cities Foundation to celebrate $250,000 in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund at the Green Cities Foundation office.
The Green Cities Foundation, an organization whose mission is to connect plants and people to grow a greener, healthier urban climate, has been a partner in the St Matthew’s House revitalization project since 2019. With the additional financial support from FedDev Ontario, plus sponsorship from RBC Insurance and help from Landscape Ontario members, Green Cities Foundation has been able to improve the children’s playground with new shade sails, walkways, fencing, trees and shrubs, garden beds and seating areas. A green community gathering space will also be constructed to support older adults facing isolation and children attending a childcare program in the Barton Village area.
The Green Cities Foundation project at St. Matthew's House is among the 31 tourism and community projects across the Greater Golden Horseshoe that received $7.5 million in funding from FedDev Ontario in January 2023.
“This investment for Green Cities Foundation will support the creation of a green community gathering space with a new children’s playground, outdoor walkways, gardens and seating areas for everyone to enjoy,” Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, said. “Together, our government is making smart investments that put people first.”
“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in community infrastructure that promotes social inclusion and drives resilient local economic growth through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund,” van Koeverden, Minister of Health and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport, said. “This renovation will improve the local area by creating an engaging play space to encourage outdoor physical activity. Thank you to the Green Cities Foundation for continuously finding innovative ways to create a vibrant community space for both children and families to enjoy.”
“St Matthew’s House was fortunate enough to be selected by Green Cities Foundation to be the flagship project,” Brent Bentham, Chair of St. Matthew’s House Capital Committee, said. “The work that has been done has been transformative. Not just to our organization, but to the larger community.”
“The Hamilton project around St. Matthew’s House in Barton Village is a cornerstone of what the Green Cities Foundation represents,” Alan White, Chair of the Green Cities Foundation, said. “Green Cities Foundation’s partnership with St. Matthews House is so connected to the mission of creating healthy urban climates. It’s connected to youth with the daycare here, and with the seniors in the community.”
Peter Guinane, who is leading the project to revitalize St. Matthew’s House and surrounding community parks, said he’s grateful for the government’s financial support. “The tremendous amount of funding will help us complete this project, bringing green and healthy space to an under-served community. We’re really excited by the generosity of the Green Cities Foundation and the members of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association have already shown what is possible with our profession and what we can do to give back to the community. It’s very exciting and inspiring.”
Managed by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, the Green Cities Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to connect plants and people for a greener, healthier urban climate. Established in 2018, the foundation is committed to protecting the environment, renewing failed green spaces and increasing the amount of public green space in Canadian cities.
The Green Cities Foundation, an organization whose mission is to connect plants and people to grow a greener, healthier urban climate, has been a partner in the St Matthew’s House revitalization project since 2019. With the additional financial support from FedDev Ontario, plus sponsorship from RBC Insurance and help from Landscape Ontario members, Green Cities Foundation has been able to improve the children’s playground with new shade sails, walkways, fencing, trees and shrubs, garden beds and seating areas. A green community gathering space will also be constructed to support older adults facing isolation and children attending a childcare program in the Barton Village area.
The Green Cities Foundation project at St. Matthew's House is among the 31 tourism and community projects across the Greater Golden Horseshoe that received $7.5 million in funding from FedDev Ontario in January 2023.
“This investment for Green Cities Foundation will support the creation of a green community gathering space with a new children’s playground, outdoor walkways, gardens and seating areas for everyone to enjoy,” Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, said. “Together, our government is making smart investments that put people first.”
“The Government of Canada is committed to investing in community infrastructure that promotes social inclusion and drives resilient local economic growth through the Canada Community Revitalization Fund,” van Koeverden, Minister of Health and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Sport, said. “This renovation will improve the local area by creating an engaging play space to encourage outdoor physical activity. Thank you to the Green Cities Foundation for continuously finding innovative ways to create a vibrant community space for both children and families to enjoy.”
“St Matthew’s House was fortunate enough to be selected by Green Cities Foundation to be the flagship project,” Brent Bentham, Chair of St. Matthew’s House Capital Committee, said. “The work that has been done has been transformative. Not just to our organization, but to the larger community.”
“The Hamilton project around St. Matthew’s House in Barton Village is a cornerstone of what the Green Cities Foundation represents,” Alan White, Chair of the Green Cities Foundation, said. “Green Cities Foundation’s partnership with St. Matthews House is so connected to the mission of creating healthy urban climates. It’s connected to youth with the daycare here, and with the seniors in the community.”
Peter Guinane, who is leading the project to revitalize St. Matthew’s House and surrounding community parks, said he’s grateful for the government’s financial support. “The tremendous amount of funding will help us complete this project, bringing green and healthy space to an under-served community. We’re really excited by the generosity of the Green Cities Foundation and the members of the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association have already shown what is possible with our profession and what we can do to give back to the community. It’s very exciting and inspiring.”
Managed by the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, the Green Cities Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to connect plants and people for a greener, healthier urban climate. Established in 2018, the foundation is committed to protecting the environment, renewing failed green spaces and increasing the amount of public green space in Canadian cities.