Update | A Rocha Ontario, April 1st

NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT – WONDERFULLY WILD PLACES

There’s something extraordinary about exploring this wild and wonderful Creation and being directly linked to where one’s food is grown. Sadly, those on the margins rarely get the opportunity to get beyond the bounds of a city, for reasons like a lack of transportation, finances and the social capital required to organize excursions to wild places. Yet, many people we work with, like those living in the neighbourhood of Beasley, come from rural-agricultural societies and long to experience the wonder of the wild again–picking local flowers, harvesting vegetables locally, or even seeing wildlife like birds, coyotes and fish. After two years experience of working in Hamilton, we’ve come to realize that A Rocha has a unique educational experience to give to those less fortunate.

This work will transform the hearts and lives of over 700 people by sharing and experiencing healthy food, hospitality, the wonder of creation and opening their imaginations to God’s love.

This project is a continuation of our work in partnership with other organizations in Hamilton. The following are organizations that have expressed interest in this project and in bringing groups to Cedar Haven Farm: World Vision, Canadian Programs, Hamilton Sustainable Victory Gardens, Indwell, CityKidz, Wesley Urban Ministries, HARRRP, Hamilton Public Library and over 50 churches.

ARE YOU IN THE GTA?

Need some advice on how to care for Creation? Knowing what to do that is effective can be dizzyingly confusing. A Rocha Canada’s Stewardship Adviser in the Greater Toronto Area, Paul Abell, can offer you and your faith community (church, school, campus club, small group) some help. What better way is there to learn about how to care for Creation than to first participate hands-on in how some of the leaders in the conservation field are themselves doing it? They’re also in need of much help!

To that end, join Paul this spring at:

The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust’s StarCliff Nature Reserve in the Township of King, where A Rocha continues to lead the hands-on efforts to conserve the ecological integrity of this remnant greenspace in the region’s provincial Greenbelt. Nature Reserve Stewardship—as we refer to our activities at StarCliff—is the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, 9:30 am until 12:30 pm, beginning April 11; and/or at
Milne Hollow in the City of Toronto’s Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, where Paul has been co-leading the City’s Natural Environment and Community Program’s Community Stewardship Team. Milne Hollow is a former sheep-farm-and-woollen-mill-turned-ski-hill that is being re-naturalized as one of Toronto’s Bird Flyways. The Community Stewardship Team meets Thursdays, 10 am until 12 pm, beginning May 7. Program orientation is during the evening of April 21. Weekday evening teams are also available.

ENGAGING CHURCHES

Over the past 3 months, A Rocha Hamilton has engaged over 50 churches, asking how they need support in Caring for Creation? To do this, Redeemer grad Cam Phillips met and listened to Pastors and influencers across the City. He heard wonderful stories of community gardens, greening the church building, sermons on the “New Creation” and much more.

Among other things, we found that Creation Care is something Pastors and Ministers value but are not exactly sure how to engage with. There is a longing to engage this cultural conversation, from a biblical perspective and

Based on these findings, A Rocha Hamilton is offering three key services to churches:

1. A Speakers Network. There are a dozen speakers who understand the theology of Creation Care.

2. Church Visits to Cedar Haven Farm: This summer Churches can “do church” in Creation. Come up to Freelton for a hike, restoration project or even host your service at Cedar Haven Farm.

3. Coaching for the Regent ReFrame Series. See the promo website for more details.

WELCOMING NEWCOMERS IN ONTARIO

A Rocha has once again teamed up with World Vision and their Partners to End Child Poverty Program, this time in Hamilton, Ontario, where we are working with newcomers to Canada in Hamilton’s Beasley neighbourhood – one of the most impoverished neighbourhoods in all of Canada.

Since many newcomers hail from rural environments characterized by rich webs of familial relationships and connection to the land, arriving in a neighbourhood defined by cement and industrial pollution can be disorienting and isolating. A Rocha’s Earth to Table project is helping newcomers find community and become rooted in their new home. During the winter months we helped newcomers connect with food and community through regular cooking classes held in partnership with Wesley Urban Ministries.

“Every day is a struggle for these people,” says Carrie Van Dorp, Earth to Table’s project coordinator. “My latest class had refugees from Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. They told me that our cooking classes, in which I teach them how to cook with local, healthy food, is their favourite appointment of the week.” Carrie is looking forward to the summer when she can be outside with these newcomers, helping them build even stronger friendships and connecting them directly to the earth and opportunities to grow food.