News and Views
Insights, stories, and updates to inspire a greener future.
News and Views
Insights, stories, and updates to inspire a greener future.
- All
- GNN Events
- GNN News
- How-To
- Member Events
- Member News
- Members Views
Beyond the backyard: Urban agriculture is growing in Toronto
As we shake off the last vestiges of winter, our thoughts turn to milder days and becoming reacquainted with our gardens…
Integrating Nature-based and Science-based Thinking in a Big-city Environmental Movement
Nature and science are both part of our thinking, but seem to reside in separate parts of our brain…
$3,125 Raised for a Greener Toronto—Thank You!
The Green Neighbours Network (GNN) Online Silent Auction has wrapped up, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised $3,125…
Growing Together: A Look Back at 2025, a Year of Local Action
2025 was a year of small steps, new members, and the quiet power of neighbours coming together for climate action…
From Lahore to Toronto, Pt. 3: No sustainability in fast fashion
Thrift culture in Toronto and Lahore reveals a shared resistance to fast fashion. A look at how reuse and repair give clothing a second life…
From Lahore to Toronto, Pt. 2: Beyond the bin
Plastic has become woven into nearly every part of modern life. This piece reflects on where our waste goes, and what shared responsibility can look like…
From Lahore to Toronto, Pt. 1: Climate anomalies are ‘the new normal’
From snowstorms in Toronto to hazy mornings in Lahore, extreme weather is no longer unusual. A reflection on what “normal” means in a changing climate…
Laughing Toward a Greener Future: Inside Toronto Climate Comedy with Gaurav Dhama
Some people fight for the planet with petitions, policies, or picket signs. And then there are people like Gaurav Dhama, who walk…
GNN’s Eco Online Silent Auction returns on February 7!
Singer and songwriter Bruce Springsteen once said he’d happily “play all night long” if it meant raising money for the right cause…
Inside Harbord Village: How a Tiny Toronto Neighbourhood Became a Giant in Community Climate Action
Some neighbourhoods don’t just exist, they glow. They pulse with the kind of everyday magic that…
🌿Cultivating the Next Generation of Environmental Leaders — One Caterpillar at a Time
How do you cultivate the next generation of environmental and community leaders? At EcoSpark, we use a three-part formula…
Building Resilient Neighbourhoods: How TRCA and SNAP Transform Communities
From Global Challenges to Local Solutions When you think about climate action, you might picture big policies, massive…
Orange Shirt Day 2025: Remembering the Past, Building the Future
When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its Calls to Action nearly a decade ago, the message of reconciliation gained national attention. Canadians…
Start Here: Set Up Your GNN Account
Create a free account to join conversations, follow groups, add friends, post events, and use the Volunteer Matching System (VMS). What you’ll need Step-by-step Step 1: Open the site Go to…
Want Groups to Find You? Complete Your Volunteer Interest Profile (VIP)
If you’d like member groups to reach out to you with the right opportunities, this is the one step we strongly recommend: fill out your Volunteer Interest profile. It…
Walkable Cities: The Secret to Our Healthier, Greener Futures
What if everyone were a 15-minute walk away from accessing their essential services and daily needs? According to Evergreen, a national non-profit transforming public…
Volunteer Matching System (VMS): FAQs & Tips
Got a role to fill or skills to offer? The VMS connects groups and neighbours quickly and with care. Below you’ll find clear answers to common questions plus practical tips to help you get great matches…
Find Volunteers Who Match Your Needs
Looking for the right helping hands? In addition to posting roles, group admins can search GNN’s pool of registered members who’ve filled out their Volunteer Interest profile. The Find Volunteer tab lets you…
Find Volunteer Roles on the GNN Volunteer Matching System (VMS)
Want to pitch in with your skills and time? Here’s your friendly, step-by-step guide to finding (and landing) volunteer opportunities through GNN’s Volunteer Matching System…
Post Volunteer Roles on the GNN Volunteer Matching System (VMS)
This step-by-step guide shows member group admins how to publish volunteer opportunities on the new GNN website. It’s written for non-technical users. Follow…
GNN Volunteer Matching Now Live!
Toronto and the GTA have many people who want to help, and many groups that need a hand. Too often, they don’t meet at the right time. The Volunteer Matching System (VMS) fixes that. It’s a simple…
Volunteer Matching System (VMS) Launches Sept 2
On September 2, 2025, we’re opening a new doorway for individuals who want to take action on climate change to connect with GNN member groups already driving environmental solutions…
The Toronto Home Energy Network: Transforming Homes, Strengthening Communities
Curious about heat pumps? GNN is linking you to THE Network this fall. Get tools, training, and support to launch your own program. The…
Thorncliffe Park Tree Walk: Two Powerful Messages
On July 15th, members of Don Valley West for Environmental Action participated in a Tree Walk in Thorncliffe Park, organized by Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA). We were joined by…
How to Make Your Cottage Trip More Eco-Friendly
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and Torontonians are packing up their cars for summer cottage weekends. We all love beating the city heat and getting out into nature during the summer, so…
Circular Economy in the Classroom
Think about all the garbage we produce here in Canada. From single-use plastics to diapers to packaging materials to textiles and so much more we need a good alternative to throwing waste in a…
Missed Our GNN Website Tour? Catch the Replay!
On May 29, 2025, we hosted a special virtual event to celebrate and showcase the newly redesigned Green Neighbours Network (GNN) website — and it was wonderful to see so many of you there! If you…
Start a Topic, Join a Thread: Explore the GNN Member Forum
We’ve been looking forward to this moment: a dedicated space where GNN members can swap ideas, ask questions, and spark conversations that fuel grassroots climate action…
Canada’s Largest Climate AI Hackathon, Hosted by One Degree Cooler, Reimagines the Use of AI
In the last few years, AI has increasingly found its way into every aspect of our day to day lives. The…
New! Member Groups Can Now Edit Their Profiles
GNN’s website now includes a feature that gives member group admins more control over their online presence. From adding volunteer opportunities and refreshing your group description…
Got an Event? Share It on GNN’s Calendar!
We’re excited to introduce the improved GNN Events Calendar—your new go-to space for promoting and discovering grassroots environmental happenings across Toronto. From planting trees…
Connect & Collaborate on the New GNN Site
Our community just got a whole lot more connected. With the new GNN website, we’ve created a members-only space designed to make it easier than ever to meet, chat, and collaborate with fellow…
Welcome to the New GNN Website (Beta)!
We’ve been hard at work behind the scenes, and it’s finally here: the Green Neighbours Network of Toronto now has a fresh, vibrant website—built by and for our grassroots community! By…
Urban Wildlife in Toronto: How to Coexist with Nature in the City
Spring into Action with Birds, Blooms, and Green Roofs Dear Nature-Lover, As tulips bloom and migratory birds return, this is your invitation to live alongside nature…
3 Pollinator-Friendly Plants for Your Garden
Did you know that Toronto is home to over 360 species of bees? And bees aren’t the only pollinator you’ll find in the city. In fact, we also see over 100 species of butterflies, as well as moths, beetles, wasps…
The Moment — A Song About Waste, Nature, and the Earth’s Silent Cry
Adylla’s second English single blends nostalgic pop, ambient soundscapes, and a powerful message inspired by a poem from Margaret Atwood.
Earth Day and the Upcoming Federal Elections
Since 1970, inspired by the student-led Vietnam anti-war protests, Earth Day has been globally celebrated on April 22. This year the Earth Day campaign invites us all to unite behind their theme “Our power, Our planet”, by encouraging…
2025 Green Hearts Awardee – Krissan Veerasingam
This year GNN is thrilled to celebrate Krissan Veerasingam, a lifelong Scarborough resident, community activist, Director & Co-founder of Scarborough Environmental Association (SEA), and Board Member of TTC riders.
$3,396 Raised for a Greener Toronto—Thank You!
The Green Neighbours Network (GNN) Online Silent Auction has wrapped up, and thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, we raised $3,396 to support grassroots environmental initiatives across Toronto and the GTA! A Huge Thank You to…
How Silent Auctions Strengthen Toronto’s Green Community
When we come together as a community to support a shared vision, remarkable things can happen. Silent auctions are a fun way for us to come together, get inspired, and take action toward meaningful…
REmarket: Swap, Repair, and Reimagine!
At the Green Neighbours Network of Toronto (GNN), we believe in the power of community-driven action to create lasting change. That’s why we’re thrilled to spotlight REmarket, an inspiring event…
Champion Toronto’s Green Future with Your Donation – GNN Online Silent Auction
On February 7, the Green Neighbours Network (GNN) of Toronto is excited to launch our first-ever online silent auction, a unique fundraiser bringing together businesses, individuals, and organizations…
Transform Etobicoke: residents meet to plan our climate actions 2025-2030
Are you ready to help shape a sustainable future for Etobicoke? Here’s your chance! GNN Member Group, Etobicoke Climate Action invites you to join them in a special in-person workshop: Transform…





















































































