Your Impact Report
2025 has been a magical year so far at the Garden. Achievements featured here were made possible through your generosity.
nto Botanical Garden (TBG)
s 350,000 visitors per year, offering o nature, and inspiring connections ts, places, and each other
G thrives on the deep connections ween people and nature. It’s the ly rhythm of each visitor, volunteer, d staff member that breathes life and ergy into this shared space, making it uly vibrant community hub.
STEPHANIE JUTILA CEO of Toronto Botanical Garden,
pictured with TBG Volunteer
Eco-learning inspires action
YOUR GIFT SPARKS CONNECTIONS WITH THE NATURAL WORLD
LIVING WINTER
Each year, 1,500 Grade four students from Toronto’s priority communities learn about animal habitats through TBG’s free program.
AFFORDABLE EDUCATION PROGRAMS
Each year, 7,000 child and adult participants engage in hands-on learning programs indoors and outdoors in all four seasons
FALL RAVINE FESTIVAL
In October, more than 1,000 visitors learned about ravines and local wildlife, becoming ecostewards with enriching hands-on activities.
URBAN RAVINE SUMMIT
Two hundred and fifty eco-leaders, advocates, and the public will gather on Friday, Nov 7th to explore the role of Toronto’s ravine system in fostering connected, resilient and inclusive
TRELLIS
A new issue of Trellis magazine is published every season All editions from the past 70 years are now digitized Garden Communicators International just awarded it with a Gold Laurel award for the second year running. Cozy up in the library to read your print edition or access past issues online anytime.
Library learning opens doors
YOUR GIFT KEEPS CANADA’S LARGEST HORTICULTURE LIBRARY ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
THE WESTON FAMILY LIBRARY
Open to the public seven days a week with a collection that is also searchable online. Rotating exhibitions like “Celebration 70” focus on the evolution of Edwards Gardens from private estate to public park and garden
ECO INSPIRATIONS AND LITERACY
INCLUSION
The Library added 250 thoughtfully selected books to its collection, including diverse voices and perspectives in horticulture and ecology Community celebrations like Pride and National Truth and Reconciliation Day are marked with children’s story times and other programs fulfilling our mission to be a Garden for All
Visitors enjoy story circles, drop-in programs, lectures, and books galore, like Dr. Nadina Galle’s debut book, The Nature of Our Cities: Harnessing the Power of the Natural World to Survive a Changing Planet Dr Galle returns on November 7 as a keynote speaker for our Urban Ravine Summit The public is invited to attend
SEED LIBRARY
The Seed Library invites visitors to get free seeds for their home gardens, and donate harvested seeds at season’s end, creating a cycle of sharing and sustainability.
TBG connects plants & people
YOUR GIFT OFFERS HORTICULTURAL INSPIRATION
REGENERATIVE ARRIVAL PLAZA
This summer, nature helped us design our arrival garden beds through “rewilding,” a cost-effective strategy combining re-seeded plants plus new plants, edited for impact Antiqued, mirrored windows adorned with floral motifs symbolize TBG’s reflection on its 70-year anniversary as a public garden.
ANNUAL PLANT SALE
6,000 happy shoppers discovered new and classic garden plants in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, with lucky raffle winners taking home sample containers brimming with inspiration
FLOATING GARDEN INSTALLATION
The outdoors came indoors with a “tunnel” of arranged dried plants and flowers, harvested and artfully arranged by our talented horticulture team
36 QUESTIONS THAT LEAD TO LOVING TORONTO GREEN SPACES
This interactive pop-up exhibition in partnership with the Museum of Toronto welcomed 15,000 visitors to explore their connections to the city’s parks, ravines, and wildlife.
GET A JUMP ON SPRING
Featuring over 30 plant and garden vendors, 1,000 visitors connected with clubs and environmental groups, gathering tips at the advice clinic, or joining the plant swap hosted by TBG’s horticulture team to trade plants.
Birding is big at TBG Our 3rd annual Dawn Chorus Bird Walk celebrated “International Dawn Chorus Day” During our 90-minute walk, before the sun rose over the horizon, we shared a moment of meditative silence by the creek listening to the band of characters.
SASAN BENI Seasonal Horticulturalist
TORONTO’S PRETTIEST “SELFIE STATION”
365 days a year we see amateur and professional photographers capturing special moments with friends and family, and the Garden’s flora and fauna.
PLANT-CENTERED LEARNING
A plant database project launching late this year will leverage an online website feature from IrisBG called Garden Explorer This feature allows anyone to search TBG's plant collection from any device (with internet access) and will include an updated accurate map of the gardens.
PLANT COLLECTION & TRIAL GARDENS
Indoor spaces house a variety of tropical species, cared for and displayed as a living museum in all four seasons. Outside, Trial Gardens feature design combinations of new plants entering the marketplace, inviting visitors to vote
GREEN ROOF AND SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
The green roof on our silver-LEED building was refurbished with native species, with a new ecotour launched to build awareness of its benefit.
PEER CONNECTIONS
Data from our collections reached peers at Cambridge University Botanic Garden for their research project on the state of plant collections around the world Closer to home, peer-to-peer exchanges took place with TMU’s Urban Farm initiative, fostering connections with future green thumbs through specialized tours for horticulture postsecondary students, cooperative and intern placements, and student mentoring.
Eco-arts & events
YOUR GIFT CREATES INSPIRATIONAL EXPERIENCES
ESSENCE OF THE GARDEN: PLEIN AIR ART EXHIBITION & SALE
During October, this curated, site-specific exhibition will feature more than 70 original works created in and inspired by the Garden, highlighting the intersection of art and nature in partnership with 27 local artists
EDWARDS SUMMER MUSIC SERIES
Our beloved free outdoor concert series returned to offer our most diverse line-up to date, with eight summer concerts enjoyed by five thousand music and garden fans
THROUGH THE GARDEN GATE
Every June, treasured Toronto private gardens open to the public during our annual Through the Garden Gate tour This year, hundreds of guests visited 14 special gardens in Hoggs Hollow, some located on or near the Upper Don River, with reverse woodland ravines and more.
PERFORMANCE AT THE GARDEN
Tafelmusik at the Garden has now expanded to all four seasons, performing baroque chamber music in a beautiful garden setting. Artists’ Play, now in its third year, presents an enchanting, immersive experience blending aerial dance, circus arts, and garden beauty.
REFLECTING SCULPTURE
“Solstice” is a new permanent installation designed by Toronto Metropolitan University's Deptartment of Architectural Science Unveiled on June’s summer solstice, it creates a beautiful dialog and the broader environm
ECO-MARKETS
Each year, six thousand visitors flock to our eco-minded, natureinspired annual Holiday Market with live music, free admission and more than 60 local vendors displaying plant-friendly, botanically inspired products. This beloved annual event features free workshops, plant swaps, exclusive member lounge and more.
Partnerships make more possible at the Garden
Volunteers are critical partners in TBG’s success, caring for the Garden, assisting events, leading tours and school programs, welcoming visitors and more. Their efforts create an inclusive and inspiring atmosphere.
So far this year, 250 active volunteers have devoted thousands of hours to enrich visitor experiences and strengthen community connections, creating a vibrant hub for learning, beauty, and environmental stewardship
partnerships with Garden Clubs and Plant ve plant people valuable spaces to connect s, workshops, markets, and other activations heir members and the public. Toronto deners partner with us, inspiring t through workshops and gardening advice.
in the community
ork Food Bank receives fresh produce from g Garden. This year we harvested 100
ships enrich our community TBG cop he award-winning installation “Monet’s Women in a Garden” at Bloor-Yorkville’s Fleurs de Villes ARTISTE, and a pilot project with the Joy of Music brought a new level of artistic performance to TBG.
Corporate partners seek out TBG for education, like plant propagation workshops hosted by TBG’s horticulture team and volunteers. This fall, we welcome Foresters Financial as our first Official Community Partner
Celebrating 70 years as a public garden
In 2025-2026, the Garden celebrates its 70th anniversary as a park, and 20 years as a Botanical Garden Throughout the years, TBG has been the place for plant lovers and the public to join a dynamic community. Celebrate 70 with us!
s ago, Rupert Edwards sold his property to n to keep the property as a free and essential green space for city dwellers. Rupert was the first philanthropist to support what is today’s TBG, having sold his land below market value for community benefit.
1955
50 years ago, through the support of City and civic leaders, including Tommy Thompson (the City’s first Parks Commissioner), the original Civic Garden Centre designed by the late Raymond Moriyama opened its doors In the same year, we launched Trellis, our member publication sharing gardening tips and inspiration
This year, We will celebrate a new 30year management agreement with the City of Toronto. Our first agreement was signed in late 2004, making 2025 our 20th year as a botanical garden
1 9 6 5 1975
2 0 0 4
60 years ago, the Civic Garden Association (now TBG) became a registered nonprofit through the leadership of the Garden Club of Toronto, and what is now known as Milne House Garden Club
20 years ago, we evolved from the Civic Garden Centre to the Toronto Botanical Garden
