Toronto’s Greenest Choice 2019
Thank you Toronto! Over 75,000 votes were cast and the results are in!
Toronto’s Greenest Choice is an annual online poll that gives residents the opportunity to vote for the businesses, places and things that make Toronto one of the greenest cities in North America. The two-week poll closed on November 11. Winners were decided by popular vote.
Congratulations to our 2019 winners and runners up!
2019 Greenest Choice Awards |
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| Category | Winner | Details | First Runner Up | Second Runner Up |
| Beach | Woodbine Beach | Located in the Beach Neighbourhood, Woodbine Beach is a perfect spot for picnics, sunbathing, swimming and well-known for its beach volleyball courts. | Hanlan’s Point Beach | Kew-Balmy Beach |
| Hiking | Don Valley Brick Works Park | Once a former quarry, Don Valley Brick Works Park is now a City of Toronto flagship natural environment park. | High Park | Humber River, Old Mill & Marshes |
| Day Trip | Toronto Island Park | Toronto Island Park has activities and attractions for the entire family, including fishing, swimming, bird-watching, amusement park rides, Far Enough Farm, Franklin Children’s Garden and much more. | Evergreen Brick Works | Royal Ontario Museum |
| City Park | High Park | High Park is a mix of natural areas, maintained parkland, recreational facilities and attractions, that make for a unique urban park experience that can be enjoyed year-round. | Toronto Island Park | Trinity Bellwoods Park |
| Cycling | Martin Goodman Trail | The Martin Goodman Trail is part of the Waterfront Trail System, and spans 22 km from east to west along Toronto’s waterfront. | Toronto Islands | Lower Don Trail |
| Farmers’ Market | Evergreen – Saturday Farmers’ Market | Toronto’s largest farmers’ market, offers a variety of local and seasonal food. | The Stop’s Farmers’ Market | Withrow Park Farmers’ Market |
| Coffee Shop/Roaster | Balzac’s Coffee Roasters | Balzac’s roasts a wide selection of beans in small batches at their Ontario roastery and serves organic, bird-friendly and Fairtrade coffees. | Jimmy’s Coffee | Rooster Coffee House |
| Sustainable Butcher | Rowe Farms | Rowe Farms offers sustainably raised, locally grown, minimally processed and organic foods. | The Healthy Butcher | Sanagan’s Meat Locker |
| Organic Grocer | The Big Carrot | The Big Carrot is a worker-owned natural food market that has been committed to local, organic, non-GMO and sustainable food systems since 1983. | Whole Foods Market | Fiesta Farms |
| Seafood Store | Hooked – Kensington | With four Toronto locations, Hooked supports responsible fishing practices and promotes a direct relationships between fisher and consumer. | Diana’s Seafood Delight | De la Mer – Roncesvalles |
| Vegetarian or Vegan Restaurant | Fresh | For more than 20 years, Fresh is Toronto’s original source for modern vegan and vegetarian food. | Planta | Hogtown Vegan |
| FeastON Restaurants | Le Select Bistro | Le Sélect supports sustainable farming and fisheries, food grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, food bred without hormones, growth promotants or antibiotics. | Brickworks Ciderhouse | 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower |
| Craft Brewery | Bellwoods Brewery | Bellwoods began as a small brewery and pub in downtown Toronto, it now has two locations, employs approx. 40 people and is exporting its beers outside Ontario. | Left Field Brewery | Junction Craft Brewing |
| Grown at Home | Basil | Easy to grow on balconies, decks and yards, this popular herb is a great source of vitamin K and vitamin A. | Tomatoes | Mint |
| Playground | Jamie Bell Adventure Park | A large playground located in High Park that includes a wooden castle, swings, slides and much more. | Dufferin Grove Park Playground | Kew Gardens Playground |
| Festivals & Events | Doors Open Toronto | The annual event lets participants see inside more than 150 architecturally, historically, culturally and socially significant buildings across Toronto. | Pride Festival | Nuit Blanche Toronto |
| Sharing and/or Second Hand | Value Village | Value Village is a for-profit, global thrift retailer offering great quality, gently used clothing, accessories and household goods. | The Salvation Army Thrift Store | Habitat for Humanity |
| Vintage and Consignment | Black Market Clothing | Located on Queen Street West for over 30 years, Black Market Clothing sells curated vintage, printed t-shirts, accessories and alternative clothing. | Courage My Love | Common Sort |
| Dog off-leash areas | High Park | High Park is home to large off-leash area, that includes a space known as ‘Dog Hill’. | Cherry Beach Off-Leash Dog Park | Trinity Bellwoods Park – Dog Bowl |
| Bike Shop | MEC | MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op) is Canada’s go-to place for outdoor gear, including bike sales and service. | Sweet Pete’s Bike Shop | The CyclePath Danforth |
| Toronto’s Best View | Riverdale Park East | This 18-hectare park near Danforth Avenue and Broadview Avenue is popular for winter tobogganing and views of downtown Toronto skyline. | Ward’s Island Ferry Dock | Bluffers Park Lookout |
| Native Tree | Red Maple | The red maple is found across Toronto. It is a beautiful medium-sized shade tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. | Sugar Maple | Redbud |
| Urban Wildlife | Raccoon | These playful and sometimes naughty masked bandits have successfully adapted to life in our city. | Chipmunk | Eastern Cottontail |
| Bird | Northern Cardinal | A beautiful medium-sized songbird. Males are bright red with a black mask around their red bill, females are olive brown with red on their wings, tail, and crest, and a red bill. | Blue Jay | Red Tailed Hawk |
| Garden Escape | Allan Gardens Conservatory | This indoor botanical garden features six greenhouses that showcase a wide variety of plants, such as orchids, bananas, cacti, hibiscus and many more. | Edwards Gardens / Toronto Botanical Gardens | Evergreen Brick Works – Plant Positivity Gardens |
| Pollinator-friendly Flower | Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) | A hardy native plant that blooms for long periods and thrives in sunny locations. | Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) | Clematis |
| Winter Fun | Skating in Nathan Phillips Square | Toronto’s premiere outdoor skating location offers skate rentals, lockers and views of City Hall. | Allan Gardens Conservatory | Cavalcade of Lights |
Toronto’s Greenest Choice asks Torontonians to vote for their favourite businesses, places and things that are helping to make Toronto a great, green city.
The City of Toronto makes no endorsement, representation or warranty, express or implied, relating to the competence, quality, or suitability of any business or place part of Toronto’s Greenest Choice. It is the responsibility of the user to perform due diligence into the merits of the businesses, places or things that are part of Toronto’s Greenest Choice.
Toronto’s Greenest Choice is supported by the following sponsors.
| Category | Winner | Runners Up |
|---|---|---|
| Beach | Woodbine Beach | Bluffer’s Park Beach
Ward’s Island Beach |
| Bike Shop | MEC | Sweet Pete’s Bike Shop
Duke’s Cycle |
| Bird | Blue Jay | Northern Cardinal
Red-Tailed Hawk |
| Brewery | Steam Whistle Brewery | Amsterdam Brewing Co.
Bellwoods Brewery |
| Bike Trail | Toronto Island Park | Martin Goodman Trail
Humber River Trail |
| City Park | High Park | Toronto Island Park
Trinity Bellwoods Park |
| Coffee | Balzac’s Coffee Roasters | Birds and Beans
Propeller Coffee |
| Day Trip | Toronto Island Park | Evergreen Brick Works
Edwards Gardens/ Toronto Botanical Gardens |
| Eco-conscious Clothing | MEC | Preloved
Logan & Finley |
| Eco-friendly Baby and Kids | MEC | Baby on the Hip
Mini Mioche |
| Farmers’ Market | St. Lawrence Market | Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers Market
Saturday Farmers Market at Evergreen Brick Works |
| FeastON Restaurant | 360 The Restaurant at the CN Tower | Le Select Bistro
Richmond Station |
| Garden Escape | Allan Gardens Conservatory | Edwards Gardens / Toronto Botanical Gardens
Toronto Music Garden |
| Grown at Home | Tomatoes | Hot Peppers
Kale |
| Hiking Trail | High Park | Don Valley Brick Works Park
Rouge Park |
| Native Tree | Red Maple | Sugar Maple
Redbud |
| Organic Food Delivery | Mama Earth Organics | Fresh City Farms
The Healthy Butcher |
| Organic Grocer | The Big Carrot | Fiesta Farms
The Sweet Potato |
| Seafood Store | Hooked | The Big Carrot – Danforth Community Market
Seafront Fish Market |
| Sharing and/or Second Hand | Value Village | The Salvation Army Thrift Store
Habitat for Humanity ReStore |
| Sustainable Butcher | Rowe Farms | The Healthy Butcher
The Friendly Butcher |
| Urban Wildlife | Chipmunk | Raccoon
Eastern Cottontail |
| Vegetarian or Vegan Restaurant | Fresh | Kupfert & Kim
Planta |
| Wet Cleaner | Riverdale Cleaners | Glenforest Cleaners |
| Vintage and Consignment | Courage My Love | Kind Exchange
Bunz |