Thanks to diligent planning, a dedicated team taking immediate action and the help of our wonderful community, we have been able to reopen…. but there is still so much to do!
On July 16, Toronto experienced record-breaking rainfall (over100 mm) that caused widespread flash flooding across the city. Evergreen Brick Works was among the places that were hit. Though we were built to withstand some flooding, the sheer amount of water still made an impact. It is clear that a full recovery will be a multi-million dollar effort.
The Brick Works, dubbed ‘Toronto’s backyard’ by community members, provides great public programming and a natural oasis in the heart of the city all year round. From weekly Farmers Markets that support hundreds of local vendors to outdoor play and recreation for kids and families, it is truly a magical spot. Now it needs your support.
If there’s one thing Toronto has seen this summer, it’s that people turn up in support of the public places they love. The response to the flood has been an incredible testimony to the resilience of the community in the face of adversity. From staff and volunteers jumping right into the muck to help us clean, to the hundreds of individuals who have donated gifts of support, it’s been a real encouragement to us during this difficult—and emotional—time.
Here’s just a few of the messages of support we’ve received.
“Evergreen is such a beautiful and happy place for us. We will definitely help and support. I hope the turtles are okay❤️”
“So sorry to hear this. The Brick Works is such a special site and I hope you will be back up and running soon xx”
“I love this place! How can we help! Evergreen always does things for us- we could help!”
“Love to one of my favourite places in the city”
“it hurts so much seeing my favourite place in the city completely flooded.”
“Wild scene. Thanks for the link to donate, it’s such a special place for all Torontonians”
Here’s some of the main questions we’ve been getting.
Our initial flood recovery plan is to focus on safely reopening the site to the public and getting beloved programs up and running as soon as possible. That phase 1 effort is includes:
We have been assessed and cleared to reopen are currently in phase 2 of remediation:
Our next phase will include:
The fourth and final phase play out over the next 6 months to 2 years:
Health and safety is at the forefront of our recovery strategy. We work closely with remediation experts specializing in health and safety and engineering, to guide our recovery.
All our parking lots are open and the shuttle bus is running as scheduled. Visit our Getting here page for shuttle times.
One of the best ways to help is by making a donation to our emergency flood recovery fund.
Please also share with your networks.
Here are few examples of our flood preparedness plan:
Flood Recovery fund: As a site located on a flood plain, insurers will not offer flood coverage to us. This is why we have diligently set aside some funds for recovery.
Learn more about how Evergreen Brick Works manages a flood with green design.
The turtles, beavers, frogs, herons and many other animals have been spotted and are safe here at their home in the Don Valley!
tdavine@evergreen.ca
tdavine@evergreen.ca
647-797-1364
sswaminathan@evergreen.ca
This flood has been a testament to our city’s need for climate-ready spaces and infrastructure. Our design and policies helped us avoid a far worse outcome than it could have been; but our recovery and remediation costs are still significant. We need your help.
If you have been to the Brick Works to enjoy the Saturday Farmers Market, had a child in camp, joined in a community event or even just strolled along our beautiful site and trails, please consider donating to our flood recovery to get this Toronto landmark back up and running again as soon as possible.
As you can imagine, some spaces on site, like the Children’s Garden, camp classrooms, the Garden Market and ground floor spaces have been hit the hardest. We need your ongoing help to restore these beloved spaces to their original state.
