Evergreen Brick Works Site Tours
Let us show you around! From 1889 to 1984, Evergreen Brick Works was home to the Don Valley Brick Works factory, one of Canada’s pre-eminent brickyards. Restored and revitalized by Evergreen, learn more about the history and geology of this site and how Evergreen transformed it into an award-winning community environmental centre and green technology showcase.
Tour highlights include:
- A behind the scenes look at the ground-breaking, LEED Platinum, green technology used onsite
- Unique artwork and installations that reflect the sites geology, ecology and industrial heritage
For more information, please select the tour you are interested in:
Weekend Public Site Tours
Learn the story of Evergreen Brick Works and discover how Evergreen reclaimed and revitalized this former industrial site into an award-winning environmental community centre and green-technology showcase. Tours touch on key themes related to the site, such as sustainability, art and geology.
Dates & Times
Saturdays, 11am and 2pm
Sundays, 12pm and 2pm
Holidays, 12pm and 2pm
Tours last approximately one hour.
Cost
$5 suggested donation per person
Meeting Location
Tours meet in the Young Welcome Centre and take place rain or shine.
Planning to come with a group of 10 or more? Give us a heads up by sending an email to info@evergreen.ca. Also please note the City of Toronto’s Park Policy below.
For more information, please contact us at 416-596-1495 ext. 495 or info@evergreen.ca.
Private Guided Site Tours
A unique destination in the heart of Toronto, Evergreen Brick Works offers private guided tours for your group, school class or corporate event.
Choose from three popular themes: Highlights, Heritage or Sustainability, or work with us to craft a custom experience.
We can accommodate a wide range of groups and interests, from high school and post-secondary students looking to tie in to course topics, to community, government and corporate groups looking for an educational and inspiring outing.
Tours can be booked 7 days-a-week for groups of 15, up to 200.
Fees:
| General Group Rate | Community & Non-Profit Rate |
|---|---|
| $12 + HST/person | $10 + HST/person |
Note: A minimum of 15 people per tour is required or a minimum charge will be applied. A discount is offered with a room booking or when booking a Private Don Valley Guided Walk as well.
For more information, contact us at tours@evergreen.ca or 416-596-1495 x495.
*Please note the City of Toronto’s Park Policy below
High School Tours
Shaping the City
Learn how the physical environment shaped the City of Toronto and what impact urban development has made on this shape. We will take you on a tour of the Don Valley Brick Works park and talk about the geological and natural systems that shaped this place. We will tour the buildings and spaces of the industrial site and learn how Evergreen designed a building to mitigate urban flooding - an occurrence that takes place due to our location in a flood plain.
Livable Cities
Take a tour of the Brick Works and find out what Evergreen is doing to make cities more livable. From healthy food programs to biking and skating, there are plenty of spaces and initiatives to discover! Learn about the technologies both new and old that are implemented here as a model for making Toronto and all cities more livable for all people
Food Systems and Sustainability
Take a tour of Evergreen Brick Works through the lens of food and sustainability. From community gardening to local markets, to high-level systems thinking, , there are a wide variety of projects happening here and across the country to improve access to high quality food. Students will learn about the global food system from seed to fruit, as well as some of Evergreen’s efforts to make food healthy, local and fun!
Technology, Environment and Society
Learn about how manufacturing forever changed the shape of the Don Valley. Students will learn about the brick factory that once operated here and see evidence of its impacts on the natural environment. Students will also discover how Evergreen, using green technologies, transformed the Brick Works and brought back wildlife and natural systems to this area.
Choose from one of our curriculum connected tours. Don't see the subject matter you're looking for?
For more information, contact us at tours@evergreen.ca or 416-596-1495 x495.
Details
Available to High Schools (Grades 9–12)
Tours are 1-2 hours in length
High School Tours are available during the school year, from September to June.
Evergreen staff can meet your class at Castle Frank Subway station for a guided nature walk along the beautifully forested ravine trail to Evergreen Brick Works as part of your tour!
For an additional $5 a student we can include the guided walk and curriculum-connected activities for your school group for up to a 4 hour visit! To inquire about this program, please use our School Visit form.
Fees
$10/student
*Minimum 15 students per tour
Self-Guided Tours
Tour the site at your own pace with our downloadable self-guided tours focusing on all aspects of the site—from heritage and ecology to art and sustainability. Self-guided tours brochures are also available at the Young Welcome Centre.
Try something new! Download the Agents of Discovery mobile app and accomplish missions around Evergreen Brick Works.
Please be advised: due to construction, the kiln building will not be available to the public during this time. Learn more about the kiln building redevelopment.
Self-Guided Art Tour (PDF, 541 kB)
Self-Guided Ecology Tour (PDF, 519 kB)
Self-Guided Geology Tour (PDF, 630 kB)
Self-Guided Graffiti Tour (PDF, 518 kB)
Self-Guided Heritage Tour (PDF, 539 kB)
Self-Guided Sustainability Tour (PDF, 590 kB)
Wildflower Species Checklist (PDF, 3 MB)
Please Note: If you are a group of 10 or more, please let us know in advance of your planned visit (date/time) at info@evergreen.ca. Then we can inform you of any scheduled events or specific areas of the site that are closed. Also, please note the City of Toronto’s Park Policy below for the Weston Family Quarry Garden and Don Valley Brick Works Park.
Visiting Groups
If you are a school or other group planning on visiting Evergreen Brick Works, please review our Information for Visiting Groups (PDF 58kb) before your visit.
City of Toronto Policy on Group Use of Park Space
Please note that the Weston Family Quarry Garden and Don Valley Brick Works Park (the park, trails and ponds behind Evergreen Brick Works) is maintained by the City of Toronto. Access to this natural area is carefully managed in order to protect the sensitive and valuable ecosystem.
If you are visiting as a group, and would like to access the park trails on your own (i.e., outside of a tour or walk organized by Evergreen), you must contact the City of Toronto for approval prior to your arrival. You may be required to obtain a permit, and should allow six weeks to obtain approval. Contact greentoronto@toronto.ca for more information, or to request a permit.
Accessibility
Evergreen is committed to making Evergreen Brick Works an accessible destination for our diverse community, including people with disabilities. Please visit our Accessibility page for more information. There is no charge for personal care workers on private tours and walks.