An invitation to discover the Indicateurs vitaux du Grand Montréal!
FGM is proud to be teaming up with the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal to launch the Vital Indicators…
In the 2023 granting cycle for the Collective Fund for Climate and Ecological Transition at FGM, the Fund’s evaluation committee focused on the issues of territorial inequality, climate justice and socio-ecological transition in the process of deciding which projects to support.
The committee therefore gave particular consideration to factors of vulnerability stemming from the localization and mineralization of the targeted geographic areas. As a result, the Fund will support initiatives and organizations working in the sectors of food autonomy, creation of cool areas (to fight heat islands) and support for community empowerment.
The organizations and projects being funded in 2023 are:
Building on the success of its program to train and mentor young Black entrepreneurs in the food industry, DESTA will implement a pilot program to train and support a new generation of Black horticulturists and farmers. The initiative will combine learning with practical internships on local Black-owned farms during the growing season, and support for GardenShare, a local family gardening program. It will therefore provide valuable assistance for DESTA Food’s program for promoting food autonomy in Black communities.
From the Root to the City grows food on the unceded territory of Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). It engages the community in immersive gardening in the heart of downtown. It also aims to augment food sovereignty in the neigbourhood through awareness raising and educational initiatives. As well, the organization often works in collaboration with like-minded organizations in the area. Garden sites include Concordia University’s VA Building, the Evangel Pentacostal Church, the Versailles Community Garden on behalf of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal, Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, the Roundhouse Café in partnership with L’Itinéraire, the Delta Hotel near McGill University and Hector-Toe-Blake Park.
The Climate Justice Organizing HUB organizes and supports the actions of a network of more than 1,000 young Montreal activists working towards climate and ecological justice. In conjunction with the Foundation for Environmental Stewardship, a Canada-wide organization that empowers young environmental activists, the HUB will create a space for collaboration, discussion, rallying people and mutual support for Montreal’s young environmental activists. This Climate Space will be a mulitifunctional shared environment that will be safe, accessible, and community-focused.
For more than 10 years, Chinatown residents have mobilized to create and maintain green spaces and fight against gentrification in this sought-after downtown Montreal neighbourhood. The Fund’s support will aid in citizen mobilization and in the preservation of the area’s only community garden. The members of the Green Chinatown Montreal citizens’ collective will continue to be involved in the development of new and inclusive intergenerational spaces. Their goal is to unite the community around its food culture.
ZéN is a territorial approach to the implementation of a socio-ecological transition on the whole of Laval’s territory. Its objective is to bring about sustainable change in a variety of systems (for example, energy, transport, food), and ultimately aiming for carbon neutrality and social justice.
mind.heart.mouth was created on the lawns of Concordia University’s Loyola Campus. Its initial goal was to offer the Concordia’s community a space for experiential learning and a model for sustainable urban farming on university campuses. Thanks to the involvement of the community and of local organizations, the garden has become an intergenerational meeting place. It helps combat food insecurity, which affects more than 40% of students as well as a significant proportion of area’s seniors. It also builds up the solidarity and resilience of the community vis-à-vis climate-related crises.
The Oasis des enfants de Rosemont reaches out to vulnerable families in the area. Those composed of newcomers and asylum seekers are of particular concern. The organization provides a safe space and programming tailored to children aged 0 to 12. Support from the Fund will enable the mobilization of families around a project to transform the organization’s property into a biodiversity hub. The project will include a space to harbour pollen producing plants, the planting of native species, tree conservation. This will turn this spot into a true island of coolness in an industrial sector. The installation of planters for horticultural production is also planned. At the heart of the initiative is an effort to offer children interaction with nature. It is also a chance to produce fresh food, an experience that hopefully will prove transformative for the entire community.
The traditional food and medicines garden is part of a holistic approach based on cultural affirmation. This approach is unique to the first health centre for Indigenous persons residing in Tiohtià:ke (Montreal). The Fund’s help will contribute to expanding the garden and the development of activities for individuals served by the Centre. It will also support knowledge sharing of Indigenous approaches to diet, health and land conservation. The mission of the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtià:ke is to improve the health outcomes, quality of life and social determinants of health of Indigenous people in Montreal. It also offers the services of a doctor and nurse through its urgent care clinic, sessions with a Traditional Healer, art therapy for all ages and a Health Navigator who can assist with case planning and navigation through the health and social service sector.
Voices of Olympia Canada promotes civic participation for girls who have not yet reached the voting age. The girls participate in a mentorship program based on a global citizenship-learning program that focuses on education, collaboration and intergenerational solidarity, the promotion of women’s leadership, community-oriented action and youth civic engagement. The program will culminate in 2024 with a school competition, inspired by the themes of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women and focused on capacity building for young girls. The theme of the 2024 school competition will be oriented on the intersectional perspective on climate change and how the environmental crisis accentuates inequities.
The Quebec Black Food Sovereignty Movement (Mouvement pour la souveraineté alimentaire des Afro-Québecoises) is the result of long-term collaboration between Black agricultural and food systems entrepreneurs who share the goal of improving access to healthy, locally grown and culturally appropriate food for the communities of African descent. The Movement will provide infrastructure for the growing network of Black food systems stakeholders in Quebec, facilitate political representation, incubate new projects, provide mentoring, and support for emergent Black agricultural entrepreneurs. Its vision is to create sustainable transformation of existing food systems by promoting holistic and rights-based approaches that focus on the needs and cultural perspective of the Quebec Black communities.
In closing, a reminder that priority is given in the granting process to initiatives that specifically aim to improve the quality of life of historically marginalized groups identified by FGM. The choice of organizations and projects is also made according to the principles of trust-based philanthropy. This approach has allowed the Foundation to strengthen the capacity of organizations and citizen groups that represent diversity and are active in the ecological transition, and support innovative and potentially high-impact initiatives.
Have a look at our Granting Strategy to better understand the values that guide our choices when we make grants to charitable organizations.
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