During the first month of my Rediscover Toronto Challenge I have gone back to a number of places that I have always loved, but haven’t visited in a while. This week I decided to go somewhere I’ve heard about but have never been - Evergreen Brick Works.
Let me start by saying, it wasn’t what I expected for a number of reasons.
For one thing, I was expecting a farmers market and there wasn’t one.
Not because there isn’t one, there is – every Saturday and Sunday from early May through the end of October. Except of course when a large charity event has booked the farmers market venue for the day. That’s what happened the day that we went. I’m told that it is one of the best in the city, so I’ll have to make another trip to see it for myself.
Despite the lack of farmers market, our visit exceeded my expectations.
Evergreen Brick Works Site Map
It’s a former brick works - now environmental interpretive centre
The Don Valley Pressed Brick Works Company was built at the foot of the Don Valley River. This location provided the brick works quarry with a good quantity of high quality clay.
Original Brick Works Equipment in the Young Welcome CentreBuilt in 1889, the bricks manufactured here built many of Toronto’s most important and recognizable buildings including the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park, Massey Hall, Osgoode Hall, Casa Loma and many of the city’s heritage buildings.
Massey Hall was built from bricks from the Don Valley Pressed Brick WorksThe brick works closed for good in 1984 and the site feel into ruin.
The Valley Stack is the last remaining of the original smokestacks
It wasn’t until 2010 that Evergreen, a Canadian non-profit organization, stepped in and renovated the site and its buildings. Now, the Brick Works supports the organization’s efforts to connect people with nature.
Looking into the Koerner Garden
It’s one of North America’s most important geological sites
Within the Young Welcome Centre there is a large display showing the rock layers found on the north slope of the quarry. This face of exposed sedimentary rock reveals significant information about the area's glacial history. Almost 100 years ago, a geologist and University of Toronto professor named A.P. Coleman studied the layers of rock and fossils gathered at the quarry, and found conclusive evidence of 2 ice ages with a preserved interglacial deposit layer - which is highly irregular. The north slope remains of interest to the scientific community and continues to be studied today for insights into climate change.
It’s an art gallery
Throughout the property there are a number of installations that fuse nature and art into beautiful works for the public to experience.
The Toronto Watershed
Entrance to the Market
It's an upscale eatery and cafe
Enjoying the view at Cafe BelongThe cuisine at Cafe Belong is local and organic with a focus on sustainability. We found the menu to be challenging for our picky young eaters, but everything we ordered was delicious.
Being (Ever)Green
Shuttles to transit, electric car charging stations and a community bike shop are all ways that Evergreen encourages the community to use alternative modes of transportation to get to and enjoy this green oasis in the heart of the city.
Regular shuttle service to public transit
Preferred parking for electric and hybrid vehicles
Sweet Pete's Bike shop and the community Bike Works
As part of their mission to reconnect people with nature, the Evergreen Garden Market sells native plants and other non-invasive species to encourage responsible horticultural practices. Many of the plants sold here are cultivated and grown locally by one of my favorite nurseries – Native Plants of Claremont.
All profits from the Market are used to support the community programs
On my next visit, I want to see the farmers market, participate in some of the community programs and get a better look at the north slope to see if I can find the evidence of the ice ages for myself.