We’re buzzing with excitement at the Bernard Betel Centre! We’re proud to share that we’ve been awarded a PollinateTO grant from the City of Toronto to create our very own pollinator-friendly garden!
Thanks to this generous support, we’re transforming underutilized green space at the Centre into a thriving garden that supports bees, butterflies, birds, and other vital pollinators. These small but mighty creatures play an essential role in sustaining healthy ecosystems and growing the food we eat — and they need our help.
In June, staff and volunteers braved the heat and worked together to remove weeds, turf grass, and replaced non-native plants with a stunning selection of native plants that offer food, shelter, and nesting materials for pollinators.
Some of the native plants now calling our garden home include:
🌸 Black-Eyed Susan
🌸 Smooth Blue Aster
🌸 Wild Bergamot
🌸 Blue Wild Indigo
🌸 Big Bluestem
🌸 Blue Stem Goldenrod
🌸 Smooth Oxeye
🌸 Cardinal Flower
🌸 Butterfly Milkweed & Common Milkweed
🌸 Purple & Yellow Coneflowers
🌸 Lanceleaf Coreopsis
🌸 Yarrow
🌸 Wild Columbine
🌸 Prairie Smoke
🌸 Sunflowers
…and many more!
With help from community volunteers and upcoming hands-on workshops, our pollinator garden is not only a green oasis but also a space for learning, engagement, and environmental action. Stay tuned for updates as our garden grows and blooms throughout the seasons!
