The Evergreen Brick Works is an inspiring abandoned industrial brownfield meets social enterprise meets ecological restoration story.

What began in 2002 as a simple idea for a native plant nursery grew into one of Canada’s leading environmental community hubs. Evergreen, a nonprofit focused on greening cities, saw promise in the crumbling Don Valley Brick Works—an abandoned factory nestled in a Toronto ravine. With a $50,000 seed grant and a vision for social, environmental, and economic impact, Evergreen reimagined the site as a center for sustainability.

The transformation was monumental: over eight years, Evergreen raised $55 million and turned the historic factory into a living laboratory for green cities. Today, a park offers scenic walking and cycling trails. Restored industrial buildings now house an environmentally focused community and cultural center. An education center hosts programs on nature, environmental sustainability, urban ecology, and green design. The site preserves and interprets Toronto’s industrial and geological heritage, with heritage-designated buildings and historical displays integrated into the visitor experience. And the site is a business incubator that supports small businesses and social enterprises.

Driven by citizen action, heritage protections, and a belief in lasting change, the project exemplifies how rethinking disused spaces can reshape not just places—but relationships with both community and nature. Still evolving, Evergreen Brick Works stands as a testament to transformation: of land, of organizations, and of the cultural shift needed to build sustainable cities.

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