MILTON, ON – Crawford Lake is pleased to host the second annual Indigenous Food Sovereignty Celebration and Garden Opening to celebrate Indigenous food and the opening of the expanded medicine garden. This is an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to come to the land, share community support and honour ceremony through Indigenous Food Sovereignty and the Gitigan- Garden expansion opening.

Last year’s event celebrated Indigenous Food and the opening of the Mashkiki Gitigan (Medicine Garden) designed and planted by Miinikaan Innovation and Design. This year we will be celebrating the continued use of the Three Sisters Garden and the expansion of the Mashkiki Gitigan. The day’s activities include planting in the garden, Indigenous elders speaking, big drum, dancers and Indigenous-inspired food!

Funding for the medicine garden was generously donated by the TD Green Space and the Arbor Day Foundation.

The celebration will take place at Crawford Lake (3115 Conservation Road, Milton, ON) on Dimanche, September 4th from 12 pm to 3 pm.  Reservations are limited for this celebration and must be made through parkvisit.ca.

Crawford Lake is located at the corner of Guelph Line and Conservation Road, 15 km north of the QEW, and 5 km south of the 401 in Milton. Visitor Services staff can be reached by telephone at 905-878-5011. Ext 1273, or by e-mail visitorservices@hrca.on.ca.

About the Mashkiki Gitigan- Medicine Garden

Conservation Halton is pleased to announce that this project is supported with a $20,000 USD TD Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group (TD) and the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative urban greening and tree planting projects in underserved areas of the community. Conservation Halton has used the grant to fund the expansion of the park’s Mashkiki Gitigan (Medicine Garden) and Indigenous Food Sovereignty Event. Conservation Halton was one of 20 U.S. and Canadian cities selected for to receive a grant.

“Green spaces play a critical role in creating more vibrant and livable cities. Not only do they provide environmental benefits, but they also provide social and economic benefits to cities and the people within them,” said Andrea Barrack, Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD. “We are proud to work with the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative community programs in cities and Conservation Halton that are striving to create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.”

“Our goal with this grant program is to help communities not only enrich their green spaces but also enrich lives,” said Dan Lambe, President, Arbor Day Foundation. “We are supporting Conservation Halton in its effort to build awareness about the benefits of trees, educate residents on proper tree care, and lay the groundwork for a greener future.”

Conservation Halton’s project features the expansion of the Mashkiki Gitigan at Crawford Lake Conservation Area which provides traditional medicines for Indigenous community members and educational opportunities for tens of thousands of school children each year.

TD provides funding for the grants, which are awarded annually for tree planting, maintenance costs and educational activities. The program is administered by the Arbor Day Foundation. TD Green Space Grants are made possible as part of the TD Ready commitment, TD’s global corporate citizenship platform aimed at opening doors to a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.

To be eligible for a grant, qualified municipalities must be within TD’s footprint in the United States and Canada. Priority was given to projects occurring in underserved areas of the local community. For communities applying within the U.S., preference was given to currently recognized Tree City USA® communities or those interested in becoming a Tree City USA community over the next calendar year. In addition to Conservation Halton, other grant recipients this year are:

United States

• Washington, D.C.

• Miami, Florida

• Palatka, Florida

• Lawrence, Massachusetts

• Baltimore, Maryland

• Clifton, New Jersey

• Flushing, New York

• Asheville, North Carolina

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Central Falls, Rhode Island


Canada

• Strathmore, Alberta

• Fredericton, New Brunswick

• Riverview, New Brunswick

• Brampton, Ontario

• Mississauga, Ontario

• Hamilton, Ontario

• Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec

• Montreal, Quebec

• New Westminster, British Columbia

For more information, visit arborday.org/programs/tdgreenspacegrants.

About the Arbor Day Foundation: Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Their vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

About TD Global Corporate Citizenship: TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $750

million*) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident – not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/tdreadycommitment.

Event Contact:
Bradley Howie
Indigenous Education Coordinator
905-299-3245
bhowie@hrca.on.ca

Conservation Halton is the community based environmental agency that protects, restores, and manages the natural resources in its watershed. The organization has staff that includes ecologists, land use planners, engineers, foresters and educators, along with a network of volunteers, who are guided by a Board of Directors comprised of municipally elected and appointed citizens. Conservation Halton is recognized for its stewardship of creeks, forests and Niagara Escarpment lands through science-based programs and services. Learn more at conservationhalton.ca.