Published on July 22, 2024 by Laura Iruegas
In the face of what some are calling a polycrisis in cities around the world, how are you doing?
Economic disparity, lack of affordable housing, and climate change are weighing heavily on our communities. For people who are actively trying to solve these issues, it can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Evergreen Brick Works was one of the sites affected by flooding on July 16 following one of the top 5 worst floods in Toronto’s history. Even with climate-readiness built in, our site was still severely impacted.
But we know that another world is possible. And we need to find inspiration, purpose and ultimately, fill our cups to make this a reality. The 2024 Evergreen Conference on October 9 & 10, 2024, is an opportunity to do just that.
Held at Evergreen Brick Works, the conference will be two-day respite to experience placemaking in action. In addition to the many talks and workshops led by world-leading experts in urban sustainability and civic infrastructure, here are four unique aspects of the 2024 Evergreen Conference that are sure to leave you feeling refreshed, energized and inspired.
We’re excited to have Emily Pleasance, founder of the Forest Bathing Club, joining us at this year’s conference with her session Forest Bathing: Growing Integrated Community. Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is a practice that originated in Japan in the 1980’s in response to rapid urbanization and worker burnout.
Unlike a hike where there is a destination, Forest Bathing is about arriving here, in the present moment. This embodiment practice will offer you a space to drop into your body, tune into your senses, and connect with the more-than-human-world.
You’ll be introduced to the concept of ‘all beings,’ hear stories about the land and be shown alternative ways of being with yourself, each other and nature. We’ll end our time together with a group discussion to harvest key takeaways from the experience that can inform how we think about public spaces for people and the planet.
Emily Pleasance is a queer, interdisciplinary and multimedia artist and certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide based in Toronto. Learn more about her here.
Maybe you’ve been to the Brick Works for our award-winning Saturday Farmers Market or for an event like the Good Mourning Festival. Maybe the Evergreen Conference will be your first time here. Either way, there’s always something new to learn about the ecology, history and sustainability of this beloved public place.
Journey through time with history tours of Evergreen Brick Works
Learn how Evergreen reclaimed and revitalized an abandoned brick factory into an award-winning environmental community centre and green-technology showcase. From deep-time geological records to mechanical artifacts, our tour guides will share the complete story of this land. This 45-minute tour will take you across the industrial site and into our historic buildings.
Take a hike with nature tours of Evergreen Brick Works
How was brownfield land turned into a green urban oasis? Visit our gardens, learn about our sustainable agricultural practices, journey into the park and leave inspired by what can be accomplished in a place where nature and community come together. This 45-minute outdoor tour covers areas of the industrial site and the park beyond.
Explore the Brick Works at your own pace with our self-guided audio tours
If you prefer a self-guided experience, check out our Audio Tours Supported by TD. Download the free Driftscape app, put your headphones on and check out 4 unique audio tours, like Community Tapestry: This Brick Works Life, a podcast-style tour that investigates what Evergreen Brick Works means to people through five people’s personal stories. What is the thread that weaves the Brick Works community together? We’ll pull on that thread to explore why public places matter so much to the people that love them.
Learn more about tours of the Brick Works here.
Get silly, get creative and get messy with hands-on activities at the PLAYcemaking Warehouse! With a rotating range of bite-sized activities, you’ll have the opportunity to connect in small groups and get inspired by simple, low-barrier placemaking activations that you can implement in your own community.
Located in our open-air Pavilions, the Warehouse will be showcasing placemaking inspiration from local and grassroots placemakers—artists, designers, community groups, educators, collectives, students and individuals who are passionate about local placemaking.
Think collaborative public art, pop-up installations, tactical urbanism design-builds, foraging for natural art materials and team building challenges—including activities from Evergreen’s Corporate Team Building team.
Test your outdoor survival skills with our Shelter Build Challenge
Can you work together to create a shelter using natural materials that can withstand the elements? In this timed challenge, you’ll work with other conference attendees to build a shelter tested for strength, wind resistance, waterproofing, and more.
Rewild urban green spaces with our Native Seed Ball activity
Who said a conference can’t mean hands in the dirt? Roll up your sleeves and make your own seed ball using clay, soil and native pollinator seeds. Help us re-wild our urban green spaces by tossing your seed balls into designated outdoor spots at Evergreen Brick Works. Or, bring them back home or to your local park to promote native species growth.
We’re working on getting many more hands-on activities for the PLAYcemaking Warehouse—stay tuned!
If you need a break from some of our more interactive sessions, sneak away to the Expo in the Young Centre. We’ll be showcasing some of our partners and conference goers will have the chance to learn through prompts for reflection, unstructured play, self-directed learning and more.
Deepen your understanding of the land with the Outdoor Learning School
We’re excited to be partnering with the Outdoor Learning School & Store, a social enterprise that offers training, tools, resources and outdoor exploration equipment to fund outdoor learning non-profit initiatives. At the expo, you can borrow some of their tools to help you explore the nearby quarry wetland and report your findings back to a shared community board.
All Evergreen Conference registrants will be entered in a draw to win a $150 gift certificate to their online shop. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win other free prizes and giveaways by visiting their Expo booth during the Conference!
At this year’s conference, you’ll get to experience firsthand the types of activities and programming that great public space like Evergreen Brick Works can offer. Evergreen Brick Works proves that public spaces have the power to connect people to each other, their communities, nature and our planet. We invite you to come experience this placemaking in action and connect with others who are committed to building better public places.
