2026
Impact Report 2026 has been a year of growth, connection, and impact. Together, we are cultivating community, inspiring lifelong learning, and creating a place where everyone can connect with nature.
"One of the greatest privileges of my role as CEO is hearing the stories people share about this Garden and the place it holds in their lives. In a growing city, spaces like TBG offer something increasingly rare—a place to connect with nature, community, and ourselves." STEPHANIE JUTILA, CEO of Toronto Botanical Garden
A Garden For All TBG is a free public green space where everyone belongs At TBG, our vision is to be a Garden for All, and that commitment is reflected in every aspect of our work. Families, newcomers, seniors, students, and visitors from across Toronto and around the world find inspiration, connection, and moments of respite here. As Toronto grows denser and access to nature becomes increasingly unequal, TBG provides something essential: a welcoming public space where people can gather, explore, learn, celebrate, and simply be. Open year-round, the Garden offers opportunities to experience the beauty and benefits of nature in the heart of the city.
Removing Barriers to Nature
14 free community festivals & events this year Wheelchairs and sensory backpacks are available for visitor use 400+ people accessed free seeds through the Seed Library in the first half of 2026 14 free & subsidized education programs expand access to nature-based learning. Pride at the Garden celebrates inclusion and belonging
Accessibility, inclusion, and community are built into everything we do because we believe public gardens are called to reflect and serve the full diversity of our city. Whether attending a concert, exploring the gardens, participating in a workshop, or joining a community celebration, visitors are invited to engage in ways that are meaningful to them.
"The Toronto Botanical Garden is a community. Together, we laugh, learn, share, and support one another. We have a common bond, a sense of belonging, and there's something here for everyone." Millean Kung, TBG volunteer of 18 years
Nature in the Heart of the City TBG is where city life meets ecological stewardship As a gateway to Toronto’s ravine system, TBG is where city life and the natural world meet. Here, visitors can slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience firsthand how urban green spaces support both environmental and human wellbeing. TBG demonstrates sustainable horticulture in action. Through ecological planting, careful stewardship of plant collections, and a focus on biodiversity, the Garden models how urban spaces can be both beautiful and environmentally responsible. Each garden reflects a balance between human design and natural systems, showing how cities can support thriving plant and pollinator life. The impact of this work extends beyond the Garden itself. Visitors leave with inspiration, ideas, and a stronger connection to the natural world, bringing those experiences back into their homes, gardens, and communities.
Home to 17 themed gardens and more than 4,000 plant species, TBG’s living collection showcases biodiversity through carefully curated gardens and evolving plant displays.
A Model for Urban Nature Get the Jump on Spring
Through the Garden Gate: The Beach
Garden Explorer & What’s in Bloom
Over 1,000 visitors connected with horticultural experts, local vendors, and fellow gardeners through plant swaps, advice clinics, and hands-on learning opportunities that inspired a new season of growing.
By welcoming visitors into extraordinary private gardens in the Beach neighbourhood, Through the Garden Gate sparked creativity, fostered appreciation for urban green spaces, and inspired hundreds of participants to reimagine the possibilities in their own landscapes.
Visitors can now experience the Garden in new ways through the online Garden Explorer and What's in Bloom display, making TBG's living collections more accessible than ever and helping people identify plants, discover seasonal highlights, and learn as they explore.
Learning That Lasts a Lifetime TBG is on track to engage more than 17,000 learners of all ages in 2026 From camps and school programs to tours and adult workshops, TBG creates opportunities for people of all ages to learn through direct experiences with plants and the natural world. Every child deserves the chance to connect with nature. That’s why all TBG school programs are subsidized, ensuring that children and families facing barriers can still access meaningful, hands-on environmental learning. For those for whom even small fees can be a barrier, we go a step further, offering free programs and drop-in experiences that open the Garden to everyone. At TBG, our mission is to foster sustainable communities and reciprocal relationships with nature through lifelong learning. Education is not just something we offer, but central to who we are, shaping every corner of the Garden and experience within it.
“Here, the children learn with their senses – touching coyote fur and beaver pelts; the feet of a chickadee eating sunflower seeds from their palm of their hand; the smell of lemon balm; the taste of purslane; feeling the downy silk inside a milkweed pod. It is purposeful learning– the curriculum running silently in the background. The children’s program cuts across all social lines, every child experiences the same wonder when they pick up a worm or chase a monarch.” Margareth Lobo Gault, TBG Volunteer & Board Director
Expanding Access to Eco-Learning Over 65% of children learning at TBG access programs through free or subsidized opportunities. Free school programs for priority communities:
Family & Drop-in Learning:
Living Winter
By bringing free, drop-in activities directly into the Garden, the Discovery Cart has created spontaneous opportunities for families to learn together and engage more deeply with nature during their visits.
Living Winter welcomed 1,599 Grade 4 students into the Garden this past winter season, giving them the opportunity to explore winter habitats firsthand and build lasting connections with the natural world.
Discovery Cart (new)
Fall Ravine Festival
Biodiversity in Action (new)
In October, the Fall Ravine Festival will welcome the community for a day of exploration, hands-on learning, and celebration, in partnership with 12 local organizations, creating opportunities for visitors to deepen their understanding and connection to Toronto’s ravines.
Munchkins in the Garden (new)
Lifelong Learning:
A new three-year Ontario Trillium Foundation grant is helping TBG inspire the next generation of environmental stewards through the launch of Biodiversity in Action, a free outdoor education program for Grade 6 students. Launching in September, this new program will give kindergarten learners the opportunity to discover nature through playful, sensory-rich experiences that nurture curiosity and a sense of belonging outdoors. Made possible through a generous gift from a friend of the Garden.
Weston Family Library
Open to all, the library offers free access to a world of plant knowledge, inspiration, and discovery, while serving as a hub for author talks, readings, and community learning experiences.
“I have brought my class to the Toronto Botanical Garden for the Living Winter program for two years and it is an absolute highlight of our year. Our students have the chance to see their learning in the real world and to make connections with their knowledge in a meaningful way. We would not have the opportunity to visit the Toronto Botanical Garden without this amazing program and we are very appreciative for it.” Grade 4 Teacher at Grenoble Public School
Bringing People Together TBG is a vibrant hub for arts, culture, and civic life. In a time of growing isolation, TBG offers opportunities to gather, celebrate, and connect. Concerts, exhibitions, eco-markets, and festivals invite people into the Garden and transform it into a vibrant public space where everyone belongs. TBG serves as a trusted gathering place for community organizations, cultural groups, businesses, and families. From meetings and volunteer activities to weddings, celebrations, and special events, the Garden provides a welcoming setting where people come together to mark milestones, collaborate, and strengthen community connections. Every visit creates moments of joy, inspiration, and connection that strengthen the social fabric of our city.
Moments of Connection Across The Year Tafelmusik at the Garden
Seasonal baroque performances brought worldclass music and immersive cultural experiences to the Garden.
Pride at the Garden
In June, we celebrated inclusion and belonging with over 700 members of our community. Sponsored by the City of Toronto and the Canadian Department of Heritage.
Essence of the Garden: Plein Air Art Exhibition & Sale Edwards Summer Music Series Eight free outdoor concerts in July & August welcomed over 5,000 visitors for evenings of music and community. Generously supported by the Edwards Charitable Foundation and Presented by Foresters Financial.
In October, TBG will showcase over 100 original works by 46 artists, created in and inspired by the Garden and surrounding ravines.
Holiday Eco-Market
In November and December, a market featuring 100+ local, planet-friendly vendors will bring people together for eco-conscious shopping, and a collaborative textile art project celebrating sustainability, and creative reuse.
A Garden Powered by People TBG is supported by 305 volunteers, 2,800 members and the generosity of donors and sponsors who make this work possible. TBG's impact extends far beyond its gardens because of the people who choose to invest their time, expertise, and generosity in this shared space. Volunteers welcome visitors, lead tours, support programs, care for the gardens, and share their knowledge with others. Members and donors provide vital support that keeps the Garden accessible to all, while community partners expand opportunities for learning, stewardship, and connection. Together, they form a vibrant network of people united by a shared belief: that access to nature enriches lives and strengthens communities.
A snapshot of our growing community
19,700+ volunteer hours dedicated to supporting our mission in the last year 17 horticultural groups call TBG home 230+ community organizations & local businesses partner with TBG 600+ programs & events are hosted at the Garden each year
"I first came to TBG because I was looking for a way to connect more closely with a community, plants, and nature. Over the years, there have been many changes in my education, career and life, but volunteering has always given me a way to stay connected to people and to something larger than myself. TBG became a place where I could learn, contribute, meet people from diverse backgrounds, and feel a real sense of belonging." Liann Dsouza, TBG volunteer
Join Us
Toronto Botanical Garden is charitable organization powered largely through philanthropy, earned revenue, memberships, and community support, with more than 95% of funding self-generated. Because of your support, TBG continues to provide free access to nature, meaningful learning opportunities, and spaces where community can flourish. TBG is in a period of growth and we will continue to follow this momentum further, listening to the changing needs within our community and responding to them, but we can’t do this without you. Together, we are cultivating a future where everyone has the opportunity to connect with the natural world and with one another.
Become a member. Volunteer. Attend a class. Make a gift. Together, we can ensure this Garden remains a refuge, resource, and source of inspiration for generations to come. For assistance in making a gift, including gifts of stock, call: 416-397-1372 or email development@torontobotanicalgarden.ca. Visit torontobotanicalgarden.ca/donate-today to give online. Cheques may be mailed to: 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, ON, M3C 1P2 Attn: Development