About Evergreen Brick Works
Open year-round, Evergreen Brick Works is a community environmental centre that inspires and equips visitors to live, work and play more sustainably.
Transformed from a collection of deteriorating heritage buildings into a global showcase for green design and urban sustainability, Evergreen Brick Works is both a stage and incubator for Evergreen’s programs.
A dynamic public space in the heart of Toronto’s Don Valley, the site engages visitors through interactive workshops and community festivals, and offers a full suite of programs combining ecology, design, technology and the arts in a hands-on, multi-sensory educational experience.
In 2010, Evergreen Brick Works was named one of the top 10 geotourism destinations in the world by National Geographic.
What is Evergreen?
Evergreen is a national charity that makes cities more livable. By deepening the connection between people and nature, and empowering Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments, Evergreen is improving the health of our cities—now and for the future.
Our two flagship programs—Learning Grounds and Common Grounds—have helped more than half a million Canadians transform their local landscapes from barren asphalt into dynamic, thriving green spaces.
Evergreen Brick Works, our most innovative project to date, is both a stage and incubator for Evergreen’s programs.
Learn more about Evergreen’s work across Canada at evergreen.ca.
How did this project begin?
One of Evergreen’s earliest projects, back in 1991, was to lead tree-planting activities in the Lower Don Watershed. In 1998, we were among a handful of groups helping to plant the wildflower meadows in what is now Weston Family Quarry Garden. In 2002, we began to explore the ideas that are now taking physical shape as Evergreen Brick Works.
- Download the 2006 Master Plan (PDF, 10 MB)
- Download the 2007 Master Plan Update (PDF, 4 MB)
How does this project fit with Evergreen’s mission?
Evergreen’s mission is to bring communities and nature together for the benefit of both. Evergreen Brick Works is a centre for education programs that foster the relationship between nature, culture and community through experiential learning, collaboration and fun. School groups, families and individuals will be able to learn and then integrate these experiences into their daily lives to build a culture of caring for nature and our communities and building the relationship between each.
Why is this project important?
As cities grapple with a range of challenges—poor air and water quality, degraded natural environments, deteriorating public infrastructure—we must create places that offer solutions. Solutions need the strength of diverse partners, the energy of our collective creativity, and the tremendous potential of volunteers. By modeling sustainable urban development, Evergreen Brick Works will be part of this solution.
How will Evergreen Brick Works address these needs?
This project addresses a range of social and environmental challenges and it will help charitable, non-profit organizations and socially conscious private enterprises working on these issues expand their reach and impact by providing innovative program and office space. Working collaboratively with some of Canada’s leading non-profit organizations, Evergreen Brick Works will offer visitors the chance to experience nature, culture and community in the city.
