PollinateTO Grants

Helping pollinators is a climate action!

Pollinators support healthy and resilient ecosystems that clean the air, sequester carbon, stabilize soils, absorb storm water and protect from extreme weather.

Why are pollinators important?

Pollinators, especially bees, provide the important ecosystem service of pollination – which allows plants to produce seeds, fruits, and new plants. This is essential for food production and creating our natural landscapes. Pollinators also support other wildlife – for example, butterfly larva (caterpillars) are a critical source of food for birds.

Pollinators contribute to the biodiversity in our city and hold intrinsic value as wildlife species with unique natural histories.

What is pollination?

Pollination happens when a pollen grain moves from the anther (male part) of a flower to the stigma (female part), allowing plants to reproduce. The majority of flowering plants need help with pollination, which means they need pollinators, like bees, to move pollen for them.

Who are the pollinators?

• Bees
• Butterflies
• Birds
• Moths
• Flies
• Beetles
• Wasps

Bees are the most efficient pollinators – they visit flowers to drink nectar or feed on pollen and the hairs on their bodies transport pollen grains as they move from flower to flower. Toronto is home to a wide range of pollinators, including 364 species of bees and 112 species of butterflies.

Why should we be concerned about pollinators?

Pollinators are under increasing stress due to:

• Habitat loss
• Invasive species
• Diseases
• Pesticides
• Climate change

Studies have shown that some species are in drastic decline, including the endangered Monarch butterfly and several species of bumblebees including the Rusty-patched bumblebee.

Climate change and pollinators

Pollinators are vulnerable to the negative consequences of climate change.

• Bee populations are harmed by extreme weather events such as heat waves and storms
• Temperature changes and warming weather can make it harder for some bees to be active at the right time
• The warming climate is causing some ecological mismatches between when bees and flowers are out, resulting in less food for bees and fewer pollinators for the flowers
• Increasing CO2 levels are resulting in less nutritious pollen
• Invasive plants can spread to new areas with climate change, crowding out native plants, and reducing plant diversity and food for bees

Biodiversity and climate change

Biodiversity is a key component of helping ecosystems adapt to climate change. Healthy ecosystems will be more resilient to climate change. Abundant, well-connected and functioning habitat provides assurance for the future wellbeing of species and ecosystems. This is highlighted in our Toronto Biodiversity Strategy.

What you can do to help pollinators

The best way to help native pollinators is to plant native plants. Native plants provide pollen and nectar for food, as well as places to nest, overwinter and reproduce.

• Include native plants that support pollinators in your garden, in pots, or in your community spaces
• Convert some of your lawn to a pollinator garden or meadow
• Encourage members of your community to include native plants in their gardens

Pollinator habitat creation is a natural climate solution!

Native pollinator gardens…

• sequester carbon (a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change) in the soil and large root systems of native plants;
• absorb heat and cool down urban areas;
• eliminate the need for mowing, saving you time and reducing emissions;
• require less water than traditional lawns and are more resilient in times of drought;
• reduce flood risk by absorbing storm water better than lawns;
• support diverse populations of pollinators who will thrive under different changing conditions; and
• create pathways that connect to larger natural areas and allow pollinators to move from area to area accessing the resources they need to survive.

What is pollinator habitat?

Pollinator habitat includes the following:

• food sources – such as pollen and nectar from native plants
• nesting and overwintering sites – such as bare soil, hollow stems, and leaves
• larval host plants – such as milkweed for Monarchs

Ideal pollinator habitat features native plants that are locally-grown and pesticide-free. Pollinator habitat can be created almost anywhere – in parks, yards, apartment buildings, schools, faith centres, community gardens and more.

What are native plants?

Native plants are those that occur naturally in a region in which they evolved, without human introduction. Toronto is located where the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region and the Carolinian Zone meet.

Native plants have co-evolved with native pollinators and have formed symbiotic relationships, depending on each other for survival. Plants from other parts of the world or plants that were cultivated by humans into forms that don’t naturally exist (for example cultivars and nativars) do not support pollinators as well as true native plants.

Benefits of native plants:

• Food and shelter for wildlife
• Low maintenance
• Conserve water
• Sequester carbon
• Adapted to local conditions
• Beautiful

Resources:

• For Wildlife And Humans, Native Plants Are A Key To Climate Resilience
• Climate News Roundup: The Link Between Climate Change And Biodiversity
• A Shifting Climate Creates Winners And Losers

Applications are now closed. The next round will open in September 2023.

Future applicants are encouraged to review the information below ahead of the next round.

Application questions from the last round

Download the PollinateTO Application Questions Summary from the last round. You can use this document to help plan, brainstorm and organize your project ideas and application submission for the next round.

Supporting documents

Applications to PollinateTO are accepted each fall and received through an online application form. Some of the information we ask about your project is also submitted using the supporting document templates shown below:

• Property Owner Support Letter (Word doc) – Not required for projects in pre-approved City Parks
• Garden Maintenance Plan (Word doc)
• Proposed Budget Summary (Excel doc)
• Garden Locations Summary – use for 6 or more gardens only (Word doc)

Optional: Proposed Plant List (Word doc) – use this to organize your plant choices.

Future applicants are also encouraged to review these supporting documents to help plan and organize their project ideas.

Pre-approved City Parks

PollinateTO provides opportunities to create new pollinator gardens in select PollinateTO pre-approved City Parks:

• See the full list
• View a map

Applications are now closed. The next round will open in September 2023. The key dates below are for the next round.

Key dates

Please note: Timelines are subject to change

Key steps

Step 1: Form your group & partner with others

Create your own group or join one that is already established in your community. Partner with others who can support your idea.

To be eligible, groups must include at least three Toronto residents residing in three separate households.

Decide on a name for your Group. Select a Group Lead to be the main contact.

Step 2: Pick your garden location & get support

Look for potential garden locations in your neighbourhood. Choose garden sites that are visible to the public, have access to water and are easy for your group to get to (walking distance is ideal). Your project may include multiple locations. Priority will be given to projects located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).

Complete the Property Owner Support Letter template (Word doc) for each location.

If the garden location is on…

• Private property – Get support from the property owner.
• School grounds – Get support from the principal.
• City boulevard – Get support from adjacent property owner.

For City park locations – please select from the PollinateTO Pre-approved City Parks List. These sites have been pre-approved so you do not need to submit a support letter.

Step 3: Create a project plan & estimated budget

Decide on a name for your Project (this is different from your Group name).

Create a community engagement and education plan – think about the best ways to involve the community in your project.

Put together an estimated budget (max. $5,000). See the Eligible Costs section for guidance. Please use the Proposed Budget Summary template (Excel doc) provided.

Step 4: Complete the online application & submit supporting documents

You must apply using the online application form before the deadline.

The following documents are required to evaluate your proposal:

1. Property Owner Support Letter. Not required for projects in pre-approved City parks. For private property, school ground projects, and City boulevards – please use the Property Owner Support Letter template (Word doc).
2. Photograph(s) of your proposed garden location(s).
3. Google Maps image of the proposed project site(s). Again, this is not required for projects in pre-approved City parks. For all other locations, please clearly label the area(s) you want to plant in.
4. Garden Maintenance plan – a description of how the garden(s) will be cared for and who is responsible for the long term success of the project. Use the Garden Maintenance Plan template (Word doc).
5. Proposed Budget – an estimated list of the costs to deliver your project. Use the Proposed Budget Summary template (Excel doc).

Step 5: Application review & project approval

The PollinateTO Team will review your application to ensure eligibility requirements are met. Applications must be complete and received by the deadline to be eligible.

A Review Committee will evaluate all eligible proposals.

Successful applicants will receive an approval letter via email and details about next steps.

Step 6: Online orientation session

Successful applicants will attend an online information session to learn more about the next steps.

Step 7: Funding agreement drafted & signed

A funding agreement will be drafted and sent to your group or Trustee to be signed. Upon returning the signed agreement, the City signature will be added and the first installment of your funding award (approximately 90 percent) will be processed.

Step 8: Start your project

Most (approximately 90 per cent) of the funding will be provided in advance to get you started. The remainder of the funding (up to approximately 10 per cent for which documentation is provided) will be provided upon proof of completion.

Your group has until December 2025 to complete your project.

Step 9: Complete your project

Please notify the PollinateTO Program Manager when your project is complete. A site visit may be requested.

Your group will be responsible for submitting the following:

• Impact report: Tell us about your project! Please include photos of your completed project, testimonials or other items to show the impact of your project and evidence of completion. A template will be provided.
• Expense summary: Your organization will report the actual costs of your project with supporting receipts and invoices. Use your approved budget spreadsheet to track actual costs.
• Video: Please create a short video (one to two minutes) of your completed project and tell us what you accomplished. We’ll post your video online to share your story and inspire others.
• Site Visit: Please schedule a site visit with the PollinateTO team

PollinateTO is open to all resident-led groups and non-profit groups. Groups must have at least three residents of Toronto (from separate households) as part of the group.

Eligible applicants

• resident, tenant and neighbourhood groups
• community groups and organizations
• school groups, student clubs and parent councils
• indigenous groups
• faith groups
• business improvement areas (BIAs)
• registered charitable organizations and not-for-profit organizations
• not-for-profit organizations with offices outside of Toronto are eligible to apply if the proposed garden is located within a Neighbourhood Improvement Area (NIA)
• groups previously funded via PollinateTO that have provided proof of project completion (submission of Impact Report, Expense Summary & Video)

Ineligible applicants

• individuals (must be part of a group with at least three members living in three separate households)
• for-profit businesses
• building and property managers
• grant making organizations
• organizations allied with political parties
• groups previously funded via PollinateTO that have not completed their current project

Eligible projects

Examples of eligible projects include:

• shared community gardens
• school ground teaching gardens
• Indigenous education gardens
• rain gardens
• multiple (three or more) front yard gardens on the same street or neighbourhood that together create a “pollinator pathway”

Ineligible projects

Examples of projects the City will not fund include:

• backyard gardens
• single front yard residential garden (you must have three or more front yard gardens on the same street or neighbourhood to create a “pollinator pathway”)
• balcony gardens
• container gardens (open bottom containers and raised beds are eligible)
• rooftop gardens (funding is available for green roofs via the Eco-Roof Incentive Program)
• projects that are already fully complete
• temporary projects not intended to last beyond one growing season
• gardens used for the sole purpose of urban agriculture
• beekeeping activities, education or promotion
• projects that are not visible to the public

Garden locations

PollinateTO supports projects that create pollinator habitat in all Toronto neighbourhoods. Priority will be given to gardens located in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas (NIAs).

Gardens can be on private and public land. Your project proposal can include multiple garden locations at one or more sites (i.e. different addresses). Your proposal can also have one or more garden locations a single address (i.e. separate garden beds on different parts of the property).

Each garden location must have access to a source of water to allow plants to be watered as required.

When selecting your garden location(s), please consider the following requirements and approval process for each type of location.

Private property:

Examples of private property include residential, commercial, post-secondary institutions, faith and spiritual centres, non-profit organizations, etc.

Note: For front yard gardens on residential streets, you must have three or more front yard gardens on the same street or same neighbourhood to create a “pollinator pathway”. The front yards do not have to be directly beside each other.

1. Must have written support from the property owner(s) for each of the proposed gardens in your project – use our Property Owner Support Letter template.
2. Must be visible to the public (for example, front yard gardens = yes, backyard gardens = no).

School grounds:

1. Form a group that has teacher, administration, and student representation.
   1. Ensure that your project has a teaching and learning component (connects to the curriculum).
   2. Get support from the Principal. Please confirm their support by using the Property Owner Support Letter template.
2. Use the PollinateTO application form to express your interest in creating a PollinateTO project at a specific school.
   1. You do not need to provide details about your garden plans at the application stage, as specific garden location, size and type will be determined in consultation with School Board, upon conditional approval.
3. Must have a maintenance plan in place. Please use our Garden Maintenance Plan template.
   1. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave your group, others can fill in.
4. Approval process:
   1. PollinateTO staff will work with School Board staff to review your application and determine if the school you have proposed is suitable for a PollinateTO project.
   2. If your proposal is conditionally approved, your group will work directly with School Board staff to determine garden location, size and type.
   3. A site visit may be conducted as part of the approval process.
5. Funding process:
   1. The School Board will enter into a Funding Agreement with the City of Toronto and accept the funding on behalf of approved PollinateTO projects
   2. The School Board will transfer funding to individual Schools.
   3. The Principal will be the main contact for Group Leads ready to start their project and access funding.

City Park:

1. For new gardens:
   1. New pollinator garden proposals must be located in a pre-approved City Park. New pollinator gardens proposed in City parks not on this list will not be considered.
      • See the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List
      • Find a location near you by using the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks Map.
   2. You do not need to submit a property support permission letter, since these sites have been pre-approved.
   3. Use the PollinateTO application form to express your interest in creating a PollinateTO project in a specific pre-approved City park.
   4. Please do not directly contact the Park Supervisor at the application stage. If conditionally approved, your group will be connected with the appropriate Parks staff.
2. For existing gardens:
   1. Existing garden beds located in City Parks on the PollinateTO Pre-Approved City Parks List.
   2. Pollinator plantings requested in existing approved Community Gardens, may not extend or increase the space allocated to the community garden. Plantings must be made within the existing footprint of the garden.
   3. Requests for pollinator plantings in Allotment Gardens may be made by the permit holder only and must meet requirements of their permit, conditions of use and the allotment garden policy.
3. Must have a maintenance plan in place. Please use our Garden Maintenance Plan template.
   1. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave the group, others can fill in.
   2. Groups must have a plan for storage of equipment and tools. Tools and materials may not be stored on-site.
4. Approval process:
   1. Priority will be given to proposals located in NIAs, those in Parks lacking pollinator habitat, and Parks with small amounts of pollinator habitat that could benefit from enhancement. Final approval is at the discretion Parks staff based on operational requirements.
   2. If your proposal is conditionally approved, your group will work directly with the Parks staff to determine garden location, size and type.
   3. The Park Supervisor will identify the support they can provide (such as yard waste removal frequency, water and watering tools).
   4. A site visit may be conducted as part of the approval process.

City boulevard:

This is often the area between the road and the sidewalk.

1. Confirm adjacent property owners support your idea. Please include their support in your application – use our Property Owner Support Letter template.
2. Considerations when creating boulevard gardens:
   1. Traffic island locations and sloped (more than 2 degrees) locations are not suitable for a PollinateTO project.
   2. Plant height restrictions – to preserve sight lines for safety between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, all proposed boulevard planting must have a mature potential growing height lower than 85cm measured from the road elevation. Therefore with a typical 15cm street curb height, the maximum potential growth height of plants in the boulevard would be 70cm.
   3. Plant species selection – select species tolerant of salt-spray.
   4. Please be aware that planting could be removed at any time in the future by the City or third party (e.g. utility company) without further compensation or replacements.
3. Must have a maintenance plan in place. Please use our Garden Maintenance Plan template.
   1. Ensure there is a succession plan – if some key members leave group, others can fill in.
4. Approval process:
   1. City staff will review your application and determine if the boulevard location you have proposed is suitable for a PollinateTO garden.
   2. Please try to provide as much detail as possible regarding your proposed location(s), including a map of the area with your proposed planting sites clearly identified.
   3. A site visit may be conducted as part of the approval process.

Call before you dig

For all approved PollinateTO gardens – you must “call before you dig”. This process will identify any underground infrastructure in the area you want to build your garden. Ontario One Call provides a locate request process that is free, reliable, timely and easy to use. You can make the request online.

PollinateTO garden requirements:

• minimum of twelve perennial plants (can be a combination of flowers, trees and shrubs)
• at least 75 per cent of plants must be native perennial species
• at least one type of native goldenrod species must be used
• at least two different types of larval host plants must be used, one of which must be milkweed
• plants must provide continuous bloom:
  • at least 2 species that bloom in the spring
  • at least 2 species that bloom in the summer
  • at least 2 species that bloom in the fall
• no invasive plant species may be used – see the list of prohibited plants in Toronto
• must select plants based on site conditions (e.g. full sun/partial sun/shade, wet/dry, etc)
• must have access to a source of water to allow plants to be watered as required
• must have ongoing maintenance (watering, weeding, plant replacement, etc)
• provide nesting and overwintering sites – such as dead wood, hollow and pithy stems, access to bare sandy soil, fallen leaves. Learn more in the Tips for creating pollinator habitat section.

Optional: You can use the Proposed Plant List template to help you organize your plant choices.

See our list of native flowers, trees and shrubs in the section below.

Required plants:

Gardens must include at least one species of goldenrod and at least one species of milkweed.

Goldenrod (Solidago) 

Get to know Goldenrod brochure – includes photos of the goldenrod species mentioned here.

A hardy native plant with many different species adapted to a wide range of growing conditions, there’s a goldenrod that’s right for every garden. To set the record straight: goldenrod does not cause hay fever. Ragweed, in bloom at the same time, is the hay fever culprit. Goldenrod is insect-pollinated. It has heavy, sticky pollen that doesn’t fly on the wind, so adding goldenrod to your garden will not cause discomfort to hay fever sufferers.

More facts about goldenrod:

• There are more than 25 species of goldenrod native to Ontario.
• Goldenrod supports more than 100 species of moths and butterflies in their larval stage.
• More than 35 species of bees are specialist feeders on goldenrod pollen.
• Goldenrod blooms in late summer into the fall, and its nectar is an important late-season food source for pollinators.

Here are a few goldenrod species to consider for your garden that are easy to grow, drought tolerant and easy to find:

Milkweed (Asclepias)

Milkweed is the larval host plant for the endangered Monarch butterfly. Monarchs will only lay their eggs on milkweed leaves, which is the sole food source for caterpillars. Without milkweed, there would be no Monarchs.

More facts about milkweed:

• There are 14 species of milkweed in Canada.
• There was a time in Ontario that milkweed was on the noxious weed list, which meant it could not be planted.
• In 2014, milkweed was removed from Ontario’s noxious weed list and since then many gardeners have embraced milkweed in their garden.

Here are a few suggestions for milkweed species to consider for your garden and one non-native milkweed species to avoid.

Learn more and see photos of these milkweed species.

Budgets cannot exceed $5,000. Funding can only be used for the direct delivery of the proposed project.

Download this information here – PollinateTO Eligible Expenses.

What the City will fund

Examples of fundable budget line items:

• Plant material – seeds, seedlings
• Soil, compost, mulch, sand, etc
• Tools – shovels, rakes, forks, cultivators, hoes, spades, pruners, hand tools, etc
• Garden gloves, knee pads and kneelers
• Irrigation supplies – hose, nozzles, wands, rain barrels, watering cans
• Wheelbarrows and garden carts
• Garden border materials and supplies – wood, logs, stones, pavers, rocks, etc
• Porous pathway materials – stepping stones, gravel, wood chips
• Seed starting materials – trays, pots, soil, markers (greenhouses are not eligible)
• Plant supports – stakes, rings, poles, ties, string, twine
• Sheet mulching materials – cardboard, newspapers, leaves, compost/soil
• Rain garden materials and construction supplies (sand, compost, mulch, riverstone, pea gravel, limestone, PVC piping) – if constructing a rain garden
• Raised beds materials and supplies (must be open at bottom), open bottomed containers where roots can access soil (no closed bottom containers)
• Plant identification markers and tags
• Signage – design, printing, installation
• Outdoor storage – weather resistant bins, small shed, lock
• Yard waste bags
• Equipment rentals (no gas powered equipment)
• Permit fees, space rental, liability insurance for your event/activity
• Delivery fees for plant material and supplies (max $100 per delivery)
• Volunteer recognition, volunteer food expenses
• Food and refreshments (no bottled water) for participants (max $200 per event)
• Training and workshop expenses
• Honorarium for speakers/facilitators (max $500 per person, per event)
• Honorarium for group members (up to $500 per group)
• Communications and promotion (e.g. flyers, posters, design, printing)
• Interpretation and translation fees
• Art supplies
• Solitary bee nest building supplies (bee condos, bee hotels, etc)
• Books – reference, gardening, flora and fauna identification guides
• Public transportation costs for project participants
• Labour costs to prepare the area and plant the garden, if required (up to 10% of the grant amount)
• Removing asphalt, concrete or other hard surfaces, if required (up to 10% of the grant amount)
• Consultant fees such as a landscape designer, rain garden expert, etc (up to 10% of the grant amount)
• Staffing costs for organizing project (up to 10% of the grant amount)
• Trustee administration fees (up to 10% of the grant amount)
• Costs to maintain garden (up to 10% of the grant amount)
• Other expenses on a case-by-case basis (please check with City staff prior to purchasing)

What the City will not fund

Examples of budget line items that are not fundable:

• Costs associated with the regular operation of your organization, current programs and services such as office rental, utilities, computer equipment, phones, fax, internet, accounting services, insurance, etc.
• Utility bills (water, gas, electricity, waste collection)
• Mass market advertising campaigns
• Award ceremonies, banquets, receptions,  annual general meetings, sport tournaments
• Religious activities/services, political activities, fundraising events, donations to charitable causes, lobbying or advocacy on behalf of for-profit entities
• Alcohol
• Bottled water
• Gas and gas powered tools and equipment
• Land acquisition, lease or rental
• Purchase or rental of media equipment (computers, laptops, or software)
• Purchase or rental of vehicles, personal vehicle expenses and parking
• Postage and shipping costs
• Disbursement of funds to provide additional grants to other parties
• Conference registration and travel fees
• TTC monthly passes
• Reserve funds, debt repayment, deficit funding, capital costs (i.e. building repairs, renovations, water service, etc)
• Fencing, gates, wire mesh
• Armour stone
• Garden furniture – plastic patio sets, umbrellas
• Greenhouses
• Barbeques, cooking equipment
• Chemical fertilizers
• Vermiculture supplies (worm composters)
• Mushroom logs
• Container gardening planters and supplies, including canoes
• Stocktanks with closed bottoms
• Beekeeping supplies, hives, honey bees
• Water fountain or water connection service
• Pesticides
• Activities that extend beyond Toronto’s borders

PollinateTO Review Committee

A Review Committee will review applications and recommend funding using the following process:

1. Applications will be reviewed by City staff to ensure that your group and project are eligible.
2. Complete applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be evaluated by a Review Committee comprised of representatives of various City of Toronto divisions. In the case of proposals on school grounds, City staff will engage School Board as part of the review process. The review is a detailed evaluation of the proposals, including identification of irregularities and/or missing information as well as the feasibility of the proposed project. Priority will be given to projects located Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas.
3. The Review Committee will make funding recommendations to the Executive Director, Environment and Climate Division based on their assessment of the following elements of each application:
   1. group experience, history and track record
   2. proposal’s ability to meet the goals and objectives of the program
   3. group readiness to undertake the proposed work
   4. likelihood of generating measurable results and likelihood of success;
   5. long-term sustainability of the project
   6. use of strategies and tools to engage and educate the community, including new audiences who have not been targeted by previous initiatives.

PollinateTO Trustee – Pollinator Partnership Canada

Pollinator Partnership Canada (“P2C”) is a registered charity and the largest non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of pollinators and their ecosystems in Canada.

P2C has been engaged by the City of Toronto to serve as the official trustee organization for PollinateTO. P2C will provide administrative oversight of the funding disbursement to successful PollinateTO grant recipients.

P2C will:

• Hold financial authority and a position of trust and responsibility for the grant funds;
• Maintain proper fiscal oversight including using their existing financial systems and policies when dispersing the grant funds;
• Sign a Letter of Understanding with each PollinateTO Group (or your chosen Community Partner), which outlines the terms and conditions of the grant funding;
• Provide payment(s) directly to PollinateTO Group (or your chosen Community Partner), according to the project budget approved by the City of Toronto
• Deliver Pollinator Steward Certification Training for PollinateTO Group members

Best practices for pollinator habitat creation

Download this information here – PollinateTO_Best Practices for Creating Pollinator Habitat

Your group should consider the following best practices when designing pollinator habitat. Please note: These are best practices only – not mandatory project requirements.

Use this checklist to help you create or enhance pollinator-friendly habitat in your community.

1. Provide food sources

Plant native: Choose native plants, trees and shrubs rich in pollen and nectar. Locally grown and pesticide free are best.

• At least 75% of plants are native species
• At least one species of goldenrod must be used
• If using non-native plants, invasive species are to be avoided

Plant host plants: Butterflies lay their eggs on specific plants. Monarch butterflies, for example, will only lay their eggs on milkweed, the sole food source for their larva.

• Incorporate at least 2 different types of larval host plants
• At least one species of native milkweed is to be included

Provide continuous bloom: Pollinators need a continuous source of food from spring to fall. Select a variety of plants with a range of bloom times.

• At least 2 different plants that bloom in spring
• At least 2 different plants that bloom in summer
• At least 2 different plants that bloom in fall

Mass plantings: Planting multiples of the same plant together in large groupings makes it easier for pollinators to find and collect pollen and nectar.

• Plants are planted in groups of 3 or more (at least 3 plants per species)

Plant single bloom varieties: The petals of double or triple bloom varieties can block access to pollen and nectar.

• Single bloom varieties only

Avoid nativars (native cultivars): These are named varieties and not the true native species. Studies have shown that many nativars are less beneficial (e.g. contain less pollen) than the true native species.

• Try to avoid using nativars and stick to the true native species (if possible)

2. Provide nesting sites

Bare ground: Many native bees build nests in soil, so leave some bare patches and limit your use of mulch.

• Limited use of mulch – if you must use mulch only use at base of plant with areas of open bare soil provided
• When using mulch opt for hay or straw mulch, which is a better alternative to wood chips.

Dead wood: Large branches and decaying logs can be kept in a sunny spot to provide additional shelter, resting sites for birds and nesting locations for bees and other wildlife.

• Dead branches or logs are incorporated in garden

Fallen leaves: Leave the leaves where they fall or rake them into your garden to provide overwintering habitat for butterflies. Leaves can be removed in late spring, after overwintering adult butterflies are gone, or left in the garden to decompose.

• Leaves are raked into garden in the fall

Dead stems:  Some cavity nesting bees use hollow or pithy stems to lay their eggs.

• Choose plants with hollow or pithy stems. See the list below for inspiration.

3. Provide water

Offer a drink: Pollinators need water. Add rocks for perch points to a birdbath or shallow dish of water to help bees and butterflies quench their thirst.

• Water source provided or nearby (does not have to be directly in the garden)

4. Provide sun

Create sunny spots: Butterflies like to bask in the sun.

• Place flat rocks in sunny, sheltered spots

5. Provide a chemical free zone

Avoid pesticides: Don’t spray pesticides or insecticides, especially neonicotinoids. Ontario has a Pesticide Ban that prohibits the cosmetic use of pesticides.

• Pesticides will not be used on site at any time

6. Be mindful about maintenance

Leave dead stems: Bundles of sticks and stems that are put out for yard waste collection too early in spring will often contain overwintering bees.

• Bottom 8 inches of dead stems are left in place
• Cut stems are bundled and left in garden.
• Wait until the temperature is consistently above 10 degree Celsius (April or May) before you remove dead stems.

Leave the leaves: Leave the leaves where they fall or rake them into your garden to provide overwintering habitat for butterflies. Leaves can be removed in late spring, after overwintering adult butterflies are gone, or left in the garden to decompose.

• Leaves are raked into garden in the fall

Avoid tilling: Keep large patches of land unmown and untilled to provide secure and undisturbed nesting sites for ground-nesting bees.

• Ground is not tilled

Prevent the spread of invasive plants: Monitor your garden for invasive plants and remove them when detected. For example, the invasive dog-strangling vine has a negative impact on Monarchs – female butterflies mistakenly lay their eggs on it since it’s in the milkweed family, instead of native milkweeds, causing their larvae to starve.

• Invasive species are removed or reported when detected (Call the Province of Ontario at 1-800-563-7711).

Plant material is replaced: Monitor garden regularly for dead plants and replace accordingly in order to ensure healthy plant diversity.

• Plant material that does not survive is replaced as required.

7. Spread the word

Tell your friends and neighbours: Help spread the word about what pollinators need by sharing your experience with others. Let them know how they can create or enhance pollinator habitat on their property.

• Each project participant shares with one other person

Offer tours of your garden: Inspire others to create pollinator gardens by showcasing yours. Identify plants and offer tips for success.

• Annual garden tour offered (upon request)

Install signage provided: Identify your garden as pollinator-friendly. Create your own sign or use the PollinateTO sign.

• Signage installed

Best practices for pollinator education

Download this information here – PollinateTO_Best Practices for Pollinator Education

Educational messaging should align with the guiding principles and priorities of the City’s Pollinator Protection Strategy. The following are best practices for designing a pollinator educational initiative funded by PollinateTO.

1. Incorporate the following key messages:

• Toronto is home to a wide range of pollinators, including bees, wasps, flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, and birds.
• Threats to Toronto’s pollinators include forage habitat loss, loss of larval host plants, nesting habitat loss, overwintering habitat loss, pesticides, introduced and invasive species (including honey bees), diseases/pests, and climate change.
• Habitat loss is the greatest threat to pollinators. Habitat protection, creation and enhancement is key to supporting Toronto’s pollinators.

2. Raise awareness about the differences between native bees and non-native honey bees

• Toronto’s diverse bee community consists of over 360 species of native bees and one species of managed bee, the European Honey Bee, which is not native to North America.
• Native bees are primarily solitary, don’t make honey, live underground or cavities, come in a wide range of colours and sizes.
• Honey bees are not native to North America, managed by beekeepers, and they can be re-established when beekeepers experience a loss.
• Native bee species are more threatened than honey bees.
• Mention that Toronto has an Official Bee – Agapostemon virescens.

3. Discuss alternatives to beekeeping

• Many well-meaning individuals may wish to pursue hobby beekeeping in the belief that this is how they can help pollinators. Adding more honey bee colonies to the city without the habitat to support them, adds to the problem.
• Evidence suggests that native bees may be negatively impacted by urban beekeeping activities. Studies have shown that honey bees may act as an additional stressor on native bees, due to competition for food and the spread of diseases and pests. One honey bee colony can potentially out-compete thousands of native bees for food.
• Establishing a pollinator garden, or adding pollinator-friendly plants to an existing garden is a much more significant way to help pollinators, including honey bees.

4. How can we help? Pollinators need:

• Foraging resources – native flowering plants rich in pollen and nectar
• Larval host plants – butterflies can only lay their eggs on specific plants (eg. monarch and milkweed)
• Places to nest and overwinter – bare sandy soil, hollow stems, dead wood, leaf litter, etc
• A chemical free environment – insecticides (especially neonicotinoids) are the most harmful. Toronto’s Pesticide Ban has been in place since 2003.

5. Acknowledge funding support from the City of Toronto

• On your website, direct participants to www.livegreentoronto.ca for more resources.
• On all project-related communications and marketing materials, including garden signage, posters, brochures, signage, your newsletter, presentations, videos, etc.
• At project-related events

Community Engagement and Education Ideas

How will your project educate and engage the community? Some ideas you might consider:

• offering demonstrations, workshops, or garden tours
• installing informative signage, plant labels or interpretive art
• inviting the community to participate in planting, maintenance, and celebratory activities
• engaging users of the green space (youth, teachers, seniors, families and others) to participate in planning, implementing and/or maintaining your project
• developing an online tool, webinar or instructional video
• creating toolkits, how-to guides, lesson plans, and/or teaching activities
• collecting seeds, sharing plants and/or helping others start their own garden
• participating in citizen science projects and community research

Here are some native flowering plants organized by season to help you provide a continuous source of food for pollinators. We’ve also indicated growing conditions in sun or shade and whether it’s a larval host plant.

Site conditions:

Native plant species vary in their light preferences. Select plants based on your site conditions:

• Full sun – at least 6 hours of direct, late-morning/afternoon sun
• Partial shade – 3 to 6 hours of morning or afternoon sun, but shaded from the hot, midday sun.
• Full shade – less than 3 hours of sun

Spring:

Summer:

Fall:

Native plant information sheets

• The PollinateTO group at St Boniface School created a guide that profiles 32 native plant species with photos and details about site conditions, bloom time, pollinators supported and more.

Trees and Shrubs

Native trees and shrubs offer benefits to pollinators too. Here are a few to consider based on size and moist soil conditions (see rain garden species).

Large species:

• Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
• Basswood (Tilia Americana)
• Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Small to medium species:

• Serviceberry (Amelanchier species)
• Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis)
• Purple Flowering Raspberry (Rubus odoratus)
• Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
• Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
• Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
• Common ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius)
• Red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea)
• Common elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
• Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

Rain garden species:

• Meadowsweet (Spirea alba)
• Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
• Grey dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

More native species profiles:

• Ontario Tree Atlas
• Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests (LEAF).

Resources

PollinateTO Best Practices Guides:

• PollinateTO_Best Practices for Creating Pollinator Habitat
• PollinateTO_Best Practices for Pollinator Education

Wild about Bees:

Wild About Bees brochure – Learn more about native bees and honey bees and what you can do to help.

Get to know Goldenrod:

Get to know Goldenrod brochure – includes photos of the goldenrod species to help you choose a species that’s right for your garden. And no, goldenrod doesn’t cause allergies (that’s ragweed).

City of Toronto Biodiversity Series:

• Bees of Toronto
• Butterflies of Toronto
• Trees, Shrubs & Vines of Toronto

Pollinator Partnership Canada (P2C):

• Pollinator Steward Certification
• Project Swallowtail
• Planting Guides for your Ecoregion

Kids & Schools

• Your School and Pollinators
• The Bee Smart School Garden and Curriculum Kit
• Kids activities
• No fear of stings

Where to find native plants:

• North American Native Plant Society Plant Sales
• North American Native Plant Society verified commercial growers (scroll down to the Ontario section)
• Seedy Saturdays and Sundays
• How to source native seeds and plants – David Suzuki Foundation
• Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Suppliers List – Ontario
• Ask your local garden centre if they have a native plant section

Seed starting:

• Native Plant Propagation – Seed Sitters Club resources – learn from Seed Sitters through Project Swallowtail that undertook an overwintering journey with native plant seeds in Toronto.

Indigenous resources:

• The City of Toronto’s Reconciliation Action Plan will guide its actions to advance truth, justice and reconciliation for the next 10 years, from 2022 to 2032.
• The Indigenous Climate Action Report explores collaborative approaches to involve Indigenous Traditional Knowledges and Indigenous communities in designing and delivering climate action in Toronto.
• Whose land are you on? Learn more about the territories where you live, work, go to school, and play.
• Support Indigenous businesses and groups – View this list compiled by Carolinian Canada.
• Indigenous gardens and organizations – View this list created by Toronto Urban Growers (TUG)
• Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle is a Circle of Elders, knowledge keepers, community members and leaders who are committed to healing Indigenous lands and community here in Tkaronto.

North American Native Plant Society (NANPS):

• How to Start Gardening with Native Plants
• Native Plant Database
• Photo Album

Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA):

• Gardening for bees factsheet
• Butterfly gardens factsheet
• Guides to help community groups and gardeners create and maintain habitat

Rain gardens:

• A complete guide to building and maintaining a rain garden
• Book a free consultation with a rain garden expert from RAINscapeTO.

Pollination Guelph:

• All resources
• Suggestions for a Pollinator-Friendly Garden
• Plants that Attract Pollinators
• Example Full-Sun Pollinator Garden
• Putting Your Garden to Bed the Pollinator-Friendly Way
• Spring Clean-Up for Your Garden
• Considerations for Buying Managed Bees

David Suzuki Foundation:

• A starter guide to creating a butterfly way through your neighbourhood (pdf)
• How to create a wild bee sanctuary
• The Butterflyway Project

Canadian Wildlife Federation:

• Canadian Wildlife Federation Garden Certification
• Gardening for Pollinators
• Gardening for Butterflies – includes list of larval host plants
• Native Plant Encyclopedia

Carolinian Canada:

• Native Butterfly Host and Nectar Plants

Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation

Fall tips

• Put Down Those Pruners: Pollinators Need Your ‘Garden Garbage!’
• Leave The Leaves!
• Fall Garden Tips To Benefit Bumble Bees All Year
• Where Do Pollinators Go In The Winter?

Spring tips

• Five Ways To Support Queen Bumble Bees This Spring
• Don’t Spring Into Garden Cleanup Too Soon!

Nesting tips

• 5 Ways To Increase Nesting Habitat For Native Bees
• Remember The Ground Nesting Bees When You Make Your Patch Of Land Pollinator-Friendly

Pollinators and growing food:

• Investing In Pollinator Conservation Through Urban Agriculture

Resources created by PollinateTO Groups

• St Boniface School created a guide that profiles 32 native plant species with photos and details about site conditions, bloom time, pollinators supported and more. Thank you Claire Moulds for creating and sharing this excellent document.

Videos:

Forms – For groups that have been approved for a PollinateTO grant.

Expense tracking:

• Payment Receipt / Honorarium Form – This form is like a receipt. You would use it when you pay someone for a service or a product, and don’t get a receipt. You can also use this form for honorarium payments.
• Tracking Log for Transit Fares / Gift Cards Issued – This form tracks tokens, Presto Tickets (one ride) and gift cards given out.

Photos and Videos:

• Multimedia Consent Form

Impact Report:

• PollinateTO Impact Report Form – When you are ready to submit your final report, please ensure that you use this online form.
• Impact Report Questions Summary – This is a reference document which lists all the Impact Report questions. You can use this document to help prepare, organize, and draft your responses.
• Garden Locations Summary (5+ Pollinator Gardens Only) – use this form if you created more than five pollinator gardens as part of your project.

PollinateTO Impact

Since 2019, PollinateTO has:

• Supported 107 community-led projects, with 25 projects located in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, 5 in Emerging Neighbourhoods and 45 projects on school grounds
• Helped create over 300 gardens resulting in an estimated 22,000 m2 of pollinator habitat

Videos by PollinateTO Groups

• Watch how Green Thumbs Growing Kids created pollinator gardens at schools in Toronto
• See how Flemingdon Park Ministry increased pollinators at their Common Table Farm

PollinateTO Projects Map

View the PollinateTO Approved Projects Map to see where all our projects are located.

Grant Recipients

PollinateTO funded projects are listed below by ward and neighbourhood.

NIA = Neighbourhood Improvement Area

EN = Emerging Neighbourhood

Round 3 – 2021/2022

Forty applications were selected to receive funding from among 120 applications submitted. Of the forty approved projects, 12 are located in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and two located in Emerging Neighbourhoods.

In total, over 100 gardens and more than 7,500 square metres of pollinator habitat will be created through these projects.

Congratulations to the groups listed below!

Round 2 – 2020/2021

Thirty-two applications were selected to receive funding to create pollinator gardens in their communities, including 11 located in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and one located in an Emerging Neighbourhood.

In total, over 60 gardens and 5,000 square metres of pollinator habitat will be created through these projects.

Congratulations to the groups listed below!

Round 1 – 2019/2020

Thirty-five applications were selected to receive funding from among 151 applications submitted. Of the 35 approved projects, 2 are located in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas and one is located in an Emerging Neighbourhood.

Approved projects include community faith gardens, Indigenous education gardens, residential rain gardens, schoolyard teaching gardens, and multiple front-yard gardens on residential streets (which serve as pollinator pathways).

In total, over 115 gardens and almost 9,000 square metres of pollinator habitat will be created through these projects.

Congratulations to the groups listed below!