March 15, 2012
Peter Woolcott, owner of Algonquin Landscape Design in Toronto, reports about a project that Josh Hollander from Hollander Landscaping in Schomberg and he were involved in this past fall.

Woolcott continues, “We renovated the courtyard for St. Christopher House, a 100-year-old community agency in downtown Toronto. The courtyard renovation became a very enjoyable and gratifying project, which we helped to initiate along with the Horticultural Societies of Parkdale and Toronto. We installed 3,000 square feet of permeable pavers. We donated trees, labour, and received additional support from Kelly’s Tree Care of Scarborough for tree removal and Unilock for the donation of some permeable pavers. These donations topped up a grant which St. Christopher House received to improve wheelchair access in the courtyard.”

An additional planting will include the courtyard and alongside the Ossington Ave. side of St. Christopher House.

“We really want to do an excellent environmental planting at St. Christopher House, because the courtyard is used by so many children. We are seeking the help of Toronto City councillor Mike Layton to try and get the city to remove some trees that will allow for this planting,” says Woolcott.

He and Josh Hollander are planning to seek additional donations next year to complete the planting projects. “We may also seek donations of patio furniture to help St. Chris.” It is hoped to get all this done in time for the 100 year anniversary of St. Christopher, in June 2012.

“It is turning out to be a great project, because we are turning an unsightly, almost unusable space into a beautiful, environmentally friendly, green courtyard and streetscaping. The project has been written up in the the monthly newsletter by the Horticultural Societies of Parkdale and Toronto,” concludes Peter Woolcott.