Flooding at Evergreen Brick Works shows a need for more climate-ready spaces

TORONTO, July 18, 2024 – Toronto experienced unprecedented rainfall on Tuesday, with a record-breaking 100 mm causing widespread flooding across the city. Among the affected areas was Evergreen Brick Works, a vital community hub in the Don Valley dedicated to sustainability and environmental education.

Thanks to the swift actions of their dedicated and trained staff, Evergreen successfully mitigated the impacts of the flooding and ensured the safety of everyone on site, including 113 young campers who were taken to a designated off-site location. There have been no reported injuries.

Evergreen Brick Works, situated in a flood plain, was designed with flood resilience in mind, incorporating features such as greenways, cisterns, and permeable surfaces. However, even with these precautions, the extreme weather event significantly impacted the site. The last time the site flooded severely was in 2013.

After close monitoring of flood levels on site, the alarm was rung at 11:30 AM on Tuesday to begin evacuation protocols for all staff, visitors and tenants on site. The water started rushing in very quickly around noon.  

With the help of staff and volunteers, clean up at Evergreen Brick Works began in earnest today to remove mud and debris from the outdoor and indoor spaces. Thanks to these efforts and the resilient design of the site, Evergreen Brick Works will be open on Saturday for its weekly outdoor Farmers Market. All buildings will remain closed this weekend as they continue the deep clean. 

Climate Resilient Spaces: A Critical Need for Canada

The frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Canada are increasing, highlighting the urgent need for climate-resilient infrastructure. According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, last year was the fourth most costly on record in Canada, with $3.1 billion in insured damages as a result of record-breaking fires, floods and storms. 

Flooding is the costliest natural disaster in terms of property damage in Canada, with estimates suggesting that annual costs could rise to $6 billion by 2030 if current trends continue.

Jen Angel, CEO of Evergreen, emphasized the urgent need for climate-ready places in Canada: “The flooding event underscores the critical importance of designing and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure, which includes green and inclusive public spaces that can withstand climate events and build community resilience to respond. Evergreen’s projects, in Toronto and across the country, including Evergreen Brick Works, exemplifies this approach. Yesterday’s flooding demonstrates that even the most prepared sites need ongoing support and adaptation.” 

As a site located on a flood plain, insurers will not provide flood coverage for Evergreen Brick Works.

Creating more climate ready spaces, like the climate ready school ground in Milton, Ontario that Evergreen spearheaded, can help. Irma Coulson Public School’s grounds were designed as a “sponge” to absorb 100% of rainfall on the school site while mitigating flood risk in their neighbourhoods. 

Currently, Canadian school grounds are mostly covered with asphalt and concrete, significantly contributing to the urban heat island effect. Canadian school grounds are also becoming major hotspots for flooding during storms. Therefore, it is essential to build climate resilience within our communities and cities to ensure that these landscapes serve a deeper ecological purpose.

How You Can Help

Evergreen is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from the community. Many have asked how they can help, and the best way to assist right now is by donating to their clean-up and recovery efforts.

If you have enjoyed the Saturday Farmers Market, participated in a camp, joined a community event, or simply strolled along their beautiful site and trails, please consider donating to support Evergreen’s flood recovery efforts. Your contribution will help get this beloved Toronto landmark fully operational and replenish flood recovery reserves.

Donate today to support a place you love: Support Flood Recovery at Evergreen Brick Works (donorsupport.co)