Deputy Prime Minister announces nearly $2.4 million to improve Toronto’s Evergreen Brick Works

From: Department of Finance Canada

News release

August 29, 2024 - Toronto, Ontario - Department of Finance Canada

Today in Toronto, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, announced an investment of nearly $2.4 million to retrofit the TD Futures Cities Centre at Evergreen Brick Works. Evergreen, the national non-profit that stewards the site, was incorporated in 1991 and is dedicated to transforming public spaces for people and planet. In addition, Evergreen is providing just over $1.5 million through corporate donors, fundraising and its own funds.

The government’s nearly $2.4 million investment will provide a new educational and cultural space for Torontonians and offer improvements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increase accessibility. Upon completion in 2025, the transformed factory will host a new community studio and exhibition space that all communities can enjoy. 

Located in the heart of Toronto’s ravine system, Evergreen Brick Works will soon be able to offer more accessible programming and amenities to Torontonians and visitors. Renovations will enhance the facility’s climate-resilient design and implement cutting-edge green technology. It will also include a new rooftop array of solar-thermal panels that will sync with the existing geothermal infrastructure to sustainably power the building.

This investment is made through the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings (GICB) program, which aims to improve where Canadians work, learn, play, and live. Advancements to existing spaces like Evergreen Brick Works help reduce overall costs, lower emissions, support more good-paying jobs, and create more inclusive and sustainable communities. 

Quotes

“Evergreen Brick Works is an important community space for Torontonians that makes Toronto’s ravine system more accessible to everyone. Today’s investment in Evergreen Brick Works’ facilities showcases our government’s commitment to building more inclusive, sustainable communities in Toronto and across Canada.”

- The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

“This investment supports renewable energy and energy efficiency at Evergreen Brick Works, and also supports the creation of new and accessible community spaces. The meaningful community benefit and a much smaller carbon footprint, both achieved by this investment, demonstrate the outsized impact of good public spaces and how they can work hard for multiple public objectives including the health of people, communities, and our environment. Evergreen Brick Works is an award-winning public space created by and for the community, and this kind of public investment and partnership demonstrates how we can create thriving and sustainable communities when we work together.” 

- Jen Angel, Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen

Quick facts

  • The federal government is investing $2,396,400 in this project through the GICB program. 

  • These improvements are expected to reduce the facility’s energy consumption by an estimated 77.7 per cent and greenhouse gas emissions by 1,572 tonnes annually.

  • The $2 billion GICB program was launched in 2021 with an initial investment of $1.5 billion over five years, with Budget 2024 announcing an additional $500 million to support more projects until 2029.

  • At least 10 per cent of funding is allocated to projects serving First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities, including Indigenous populations in urban centres.

  • On August 1, 2024, the GICB program began accepting applications for small and medium retrofit projects with eligible costs ranging from $100,000 to $2,999,999. 

  • Intake for large retrofit projects and new builds with eligible costs ranging from $3 million to $25 million will open on September 4, 2024. Eligible applicants include provincial, territorial, and local governments, not-for-profit and Indigenous organizations, as well as applicants who were unsuccessful under previous intakes.

Associated links

Contacts

Media may contact:

Katherine Cuplinskas
Deputy Director of Communications
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Katherine.Cuplinskas@fin.gc.ca

Media Relations
Department of Finance Canada
mediare@fin.gc.ca
613-369-4000

General enquiries:

Phone: 1-833-712-2292
TTY: 613-369-3230
E-mail: financepublic-financepublique@fin.gc.ca

Micaal Ahmed
Communications Manager
Office of the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
343-598-3920
micaal.ahmed@infc.gc.ca

Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: media-medias@infc.gc.ca
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Toby Davine
Manager, PR and Communications
416-596-1495 x 364
tdavine@evergreen.ca

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