Welcome to our first issue of Live Green Toronto Community Animator: a regular newsletter to help Toronto’s community groups and volunteers green their communities.

For this first issue, we want to make a few introductions: who we are, who you are, and what we can do together!

Toronto is a pretty green town to begin with, but we all realize there is much to be done and much potential.  Our vision is a green Toronto made up of vibrant, green neighbourhoods.

About Us: We are the Live Green Toronto Animators, hired by the City of Toronto under the Live Green Toronto program to help organize community networks and support community group projects across the city.  We are three lead organizations (Citizens Environment Watch, the Conservation Council of Ontario, and the Centre for Social Innovation).  We have staff (community animators) working across the city to help you with your projects and campaigns .

About You: You are receiving this newsletter because you are on one of our community network lists: north, south, west, east, or city-wide.  If you wish to subscribe a friend, or unsubscribe, please contact us.

We will use this newsletter to keep you informed of upcoming events, new programs and funding opportunities, and to showcase each other’s programs and activities.  Each newsletter will feature a city-wide and a regional article.

Live Green Toronto Animators have been busy spreading the Green Word in Scarborough.  We have met with lots of groups – churches, schools, camps, service clubs, residents’ associations, etc.  Everyone seems to be Keen on Green!

Scarborough is a beautiful expanse of lush nature and ample land for environmental projects.  Many community gardens, farmers’ markets, and other green activities already exist.  It is time we showcased Scarborough to the rest of the city as the Green Leader.  Let’s start bragging!

Here are some of the projects/ideas we are working on with Scarborough residents:

• Environmental Education and Backyard Growers’ Table @ Birchcliff & Guildwood Farmers’ Markets
• Nature Walks in L’Amoureaux Park
• Developing more Community Gardens
• Creating Composting, Rainwater Harvesting, and Indoor Sprout Growing programs @ 2nd Base Youth Shelter
• Exploring Solar Energy options for the Storefront Gazebo
• Creating a Green Festival with Cedar Ridge and Jumblies Theatre

We are also running Live Green Toronto Strategy Sessions with several Councillors (see upcoming events section) to brainstorm green project ideas with local residents.

Have a Green Idea?  Want to hear more about Live Green Toronto?
Contact your friendly, Live Green Animators to help you get started! 

Katie Fullerton kfuller@toronto.ca 416-691-5173 & Mary-Margaret McMahon mmcmaho@toronto.ca  647-456-3184

HEAT 

Insulate your home – and your wallet!

Home Energy Assistance Toronto (HEAT) is a new incentive program offering residents of Toronto up to $1,000 when they upgrade their home’s insulation. Upgrading your insulation provides the following benefits:

- You can save anywhere from $ 150 to $ 300 per year on your heating and cooling bill
- Reduces annual greenhouse gas emissions by about 1.2 tonnes for gas heated homes and by about ½ ton for those using electricity
- You’ll be stimulating the economy and creating green jobs

The program, open to homeowners of low-rise residential properties, such as detached, semi-detached and townhouses, is designed to encourage Torontonians to increase their home’s energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

HEAT funds are only available until March 2012. To find out more about the program, visit www.livegreentoronto.ca or call 311.