West Broadway Greenspaces
Providing and maintaining community-access green space is a priority for our organization. West Broadway is a densely populated urban neighbourhood, over 92 percent of households are tenants, and few have access to a back yard or a vehicle for trips out of town. There is a long history here of community organizing, and our gardens, vacant lots, river banks, and public spaces are cherished and contested assets.
WBCO currently manages seven community garden sites, scattered throughout the neighbourhood, where families and individuals are encouraged to meet, spend time outside, and grow fresh healthy produce. WBCO supports resident-run organizing committees for each garden, and our Gardens Coordinator hosts work parties, workshops, and plant giveaways throughout the summer. We welcome any West Broadway resident who is interested in volunteering, learning, teaching, and/or signing up for a garden plot.
Presently, our gardens are organized for either ‘teaching’ or ‘allotment’.
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Community Allotment Gardens
The majority of these garden plots are allotted to West Broadway residents for use in growing food/herbs for themselves, their family and friends. Priority access is given to volunteers who gardened a plot during the previous summer and are returning.
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Teaching Gardens
Each spring and summer WBCO hosts as many as twenty workshops, often in our Teaching Gardens. Working in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and schools, our workshops series is almost entirely free for participants and delves into a wide range of relevant subjects.
"Working our plot at Rock and Horse park has helped my partner and I learn so much about gardening, and connected us to a wonderful and active community In West Broadway. As renters with no yard or lawn available, having access to green growing space means the world to us." — Sam Penner
- 80+ gardening plots available for community use
- 1368 hours worked by volunteers in 2020
The Environment
WBCO’s board and staff believe in climate change. We recognize that as individuals and as a community we can contribute meaningfully to environmental preservation and sustainability. We also recognize the critical value of green space, public space, and natural spaces in our urban environment, and we strive to ensure climate goals are prioritized in local decision making.
The hundreds of community members who contributed to the development of West Broadway’s most recent Five-Year Community Plan prioritized enhancing and adding to existing green spaces in the neighbourhood, while also improving the opportunities for other types of green initiatives. Community members have asked to see capacity building and training around initiatives.
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Composting
West Broadway Community Organization has installed a total of 26 compost bins at 6 sites throughout the neighbourhood. Community members are welcome to drop off organic waste at these sites, which are maintained by WBCO summer staff and many volunteers.
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Active Transportation
West Broadway Community Organization (WBCO), works with local stakeholders to improve transportation safety and efficiency, in accordance with community priorities as defined in West Broadway’s most recent consultations and planning efforts.
WBCO is actively working in these areas and we will post new projects and initiatives on this page as they roll out. Check back often!
