Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012 - (Page 22)
PROJECT PROFILE
HEALTHY HAVEN FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS
HEALTH CARE MULTICULTURAL YOUTH AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING ALL COMING TOGETHER UNDER ONE GREEN ROOF
L
ocated in the TaylorMassey neighbourhood in the Danforth community of Toronto, Access Alliance can be found brightly illuminating its community with splashes of blue and yellow on its façade. The multiservice hub is home to five agencies which include Access Alliance (the lead agency), Action for Neighbourhood Change, City of Toronto Employment and Social Services, East York East Toronto and Warden Woods Conflict Resolution Services. This 14,500 square foot facility
is home to a multitude of social services welcoming local residents. As an interdisciplinary team their approach offers services in an inclusive environment to community members struggling with various issues such as low income, health care and education. Unfortunately residents in surrounding communities often lack the knowledge and resources to understand what environmental issues affect them. The Access Alliance Rooftop Community Garden program is a hands on environmental edu-
cational approach that is designed to improve awareness of the local environment among its community members. By promoting environmental education the residents are able to link social health issues such as food scarcity and improper eating habits with a broader understanding of nature and the importance of healthy foods and eating. The program utilizes the green roof to promote healthy food eating practices among its participants. In a culturally diverse neighbourhood the community rooftop
VEGETABLES GROWN
Multiple varieties of tomatoes Asian and Casper eggplant Ground cherry Yard long, yellow, purple and scarlet runner beans Okra Bitter melon Malabar spinach Chili peppers Tomatillos Napa cabbage/bok choy.
LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / WINTER 2012 / 22
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Winter 2012