Milton MP Adam van Koeverden plants a tree at Kelso Conservation Area
A federal investment will support youth-led environmental improvements in Milton, with nearly $340,000 being directed toward permaculture landscaping projects in publicly accessible green spaces.
The funding was announced by local MPs Adam van Koeverden and Kristina Tesser Derksen, along with Director of Muslim Families Development Corporation (Muslim Families), Asif Siddiqui. The investment will support work led by the Muslim Families through its Blue Dot Stewards program.
The initiative will focus on underused public spaces near Sherwood Park at the Indian Creek Trail Head and Milton Community Park. Youth participants will study and assess environmentally sustainable improvements while developing landscaping plans based on permaculture principles.
The project will see native plant species that produce food or traditional medicines incorporated into approximately 56,000 square metres of public park space. Organizers say the work is intended to improve biodiversity, increase climate resilience, and create opportunities for youth leadership and environmental education.
Permaculture is a design approach focused on creating sustainable systems that require minimal human intervention. Supporters say projects such as food forests and native plant gardens can help strengthen ecosystems, address food insecurity, and improve communities’ ability to adapt to climate change.
In a statement, MP van Koeverden said the project will help young people discover their talents while making their communities “more beautiful and sustainable.” MP Tesser Derksen added that youth are helping drive positive change in Halton and that the project will support climate resilience while bringing nature closer to home.
The Blue Dot Stewards program is a youth mentorship and environmental leadership initiative that encourages participants to take an active role in community sustainability projects. The Muslim Families Development Corporation has provided youth development, social well-being, and civic engagement programming since 2018, with a focus on supporting diverse, immigrant, and at-risk populations.
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