Item - 2022.IE30.9

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to explore a potential collaboration with Toronto Foundation to advance Ravine Strategy projects and goals, as described in Section 3 of the report (May 10, 2022) from the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation, and to negotiate and sign on behalf of the City any required agreement on terms and conditions acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

2. City Council authorize the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation to negotiate and sign on behalf of the City the appropriate agreements with Eshkiniigjik Naandwechigegamig, Aabiish Gaa Binjibaaying - ENAGB Youth Program regarding the Indigenous placemaking and placekeeping initiative in the Humber River Valley as described in Section 4 of the report (May 10, 2022) from the General Manager, Parks Forestry and Recreation, on terms and conditions acceptable to the General Manager, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, and in a form satisfactory to the City Solicitor.

3. City Council affirm the importance of Environmentally Significant Areas and request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry, and Recreation to ensure that Environmentally Sensitive Areas best practices are being followed, to develop and implement appropriate staff training on Environmentally Sensitive Areas and request the General Manager, Parks, Forestry, and Recreation to work with organizations such as Toronto Field Naturalists to develop this training.

The Acting Director, Urban Forestry gave a presentation on Toronto Ravine Strategy, Implementation Update.

The Ravine Strategy (the "Strategy") presents an intentional and coordinated framework, vision and approach to management of Toronto's greatest natural resource through a series of 20 actions under the five guiding principles: Protect, Invest, Connect, Partner, and Celebrate. These actions aim to guide the management of the ravines and ensure the protection and stewardship of these irreplaceable lands is balanced with the city's growth and evolution, so that they continue to function and flourish for the next 100 years and beyond.

Toronto's ravines have significant ecological value, are places where people seek active and passive recreation, house critical grey and green infrastructure, and contribute significantly to the resilience of the city. They contribute $822 million in ecological and recreational services annually.

The City, in conjunction with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and many external organizations, has taken significant steps to strategically advance the Ravine Strategy in the last two years, through operating funds to support invasive species management, litter picking, student internships, community engagement, Indigenous reconciliation through access to land and water programming, and capital investment to improve access to ravines, such as new or enhanced multi-use trails, and mitigate erosion and stabilize watercourses to protect watermains, stormwater infrastructure and sewers. Critical support through provincial and federal funding programs has augmented the City's investment in its ravine system.

This report provides the first three-year update to City Council on advancement of the Ravine Strategy and an update on the implementation of key next steps including:

- Accomplishments towards the Ravine Strategy guiding principles and actions, and achievements to date in ravine restoration and management, and capital coordination and delivery

- The strategic advancement of Toronto's Ravine Campaign, including the Loop Trail, InTO the Ravines, and recommendations for the Ravine Campaign Leadership Table

- Supporting Indigenous reconciliation through opportunities to connect to land and water through the Lodge at the Humber River, Memtigwaake Kinomaage Maawnjiding  

- A multi-pronged approach to address litter and dumping in ravines that complements enforcement efforts with the City's ravine litter picking crew and community engagement initiatives

Since 2020, the Ravine Strategy has achieved:

- 720 hectares of land managed for invasive species

- 252 tonnes garbage and metal removed from 333 hectares of ravine land

- 42 students engaged through paid employment and training and mentorship programs

- 96 outdoor and virtual events for Ravine Days

- more than 6,200 participants in in-person and virtual City and partner events and programs

- $47.9 million from partners (committed and submitted applications) from the federal and provincial governments

In 2022, the City plans to invest $118.1 million in Toronto's ravine system through $12.6 million in the 2022 Council Approved Operating Budget for Parks, Forestry and Recreation and $105.5 million in the 2022 Council Approved Capital Budget across a variety of City divisions including Parks, Forestry and Recreation, Transportation Services and Toronto Water as well as the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Looking ahead, the City will continue its work to protect, maintain, and improve Toronto’s ravine system to preserve its irreplaceable ecological functions so that all residents and visitors can connect with and celebrate these special places. The care and enhancement of Toronto’s ravines and the success of the Ravine Strategy requires the City, individuals and organizations to work together in meaningful and sustainable ways. In this context, the continued support of external partners and engaged residents, as well as the ongoing leadership and support of multiple City Divisions is key to achieve this goal.

In 2020, InTO the Ravines, a collaboration between the City of Toronto and the national, Toronto-based registered charity, Park People, was launched as a two-year pilot program to connect the people of Toronto to the city's rich ravine system. InTO the Ravines is a program that focusses on reaching people who have not visited ravines before or who experience barriers in accessing ravines. It consists of three main components: innovative public programming; micro-grants to support groups to host events and activities about the ravines; and training for individuals to become InTO the Ravines Community Champions for their local ravines.

In 2021 and 2022, Park People received 51 and 41 applications, respectively, for the micro-grant program. Fourteen grants were allocated each year ($1000 per group in 2021 and $1400 per group in 2022) to enable grantees to host two environmentally-focused events, in person or online, to help communities connect to, celebrate and champion Toronto’s one-of a-kind ravine system.

A written program agreement, monthly meetings between City of Toronto and Park People staff, and annual reporting ensure the success of the program which has directly engaged over 2,700 people in the last two years, through community-led events organized by InTO the Ravines "Ravine Champions" and micro-grants, as well as public programming by Park People.

This report responds to a motion by Council on May 12, 2022 to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee on the disbursement of grants through the InTO the Ravines program.