project

Chester Le Community Garden

location

Scarborough, ON

client

Agincourt Community Services

Installed

2016

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The Chester Le Garden is situated in a neighbourhood with a large population of newcomers to Canada, some who face challenges like isolation, lack of support structures, language barriers, and limited access to services. Funded by The Weston Family Parks Challenge, our project expanded on the existing allotment garden to attract new participants and promote environmental education and stewardship.  The community garden acts as a social condenser and provides a vibrant hub offering a range of inclusive activities addressing food security and community building. We added:

• Two communal spaces: one for participants of educational programming and one for observers.

• An area showcasing indigenous plants traditionally used by Indigenous communities native to Toronto.

• A section celebrating edible plants that reflect the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood.

• A large pollinator garden with native flowering plants to attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.