Request for Expression of Interest Establishing and Operating an Urban Farm at Downsview Park Canada Lands Company CLC Limited (CLC) is inviting individuals and organizations to submit an Expression of Interest to establish and operate an urban farm at Downsview Park. We kindly ask that you reference the included material in preparing your submission. All interested parties will need to submit a copy no later than 12:00 pm on Friday November 24 th. Late submissions will not be accepted. Digital copies can be sent to vsimone@clc.ca, and hard copies can be submitted at the following address: Canada Lands Company 70 Canuck Avenue Toronto, ON M3K 2C5 Attn: Victor Simone Please be advised that there may be an opportunity for a face to face meeting with CLC to discuss your Expression of Interest in more detail after the review of all submissions is complete. Please note clearly on your submission that you are responding to the Parc Downsview Park Expression of Interest Establishing an Urban Farm at Downsview Park We thank all participants for their time and interest. Victor Simone Project Coordinator 227056.00829/97444536.2
Background Urban Agriculture has always been a part of the vision for Downsview Park. The master plan for Downsview Park describes the inclusion of a cultivation campus and calls for it to focus on both the cultivation of land and participation of communities In 2011, Downsview Park launched a pilot project to test community and market interest and the viability of urban farming. At the current location on the southeast corner of Keele Street and Sheppard Avenue, there are three greenhouses and almost three acres of land being leased for agricultural uses. The response to the pilot project and interest in urban agriculture at Downsview Park has been very supportive. An area located at the south end of the Park has been determined as the most suitable location to expand and create a permanent urban agriculture space, the Cultivation Campus. CLC is now seeking to develop an innovative model for an urban agriculture program that is financially viable, provides a supply of fresh and locally grown food and supports Downsview Park s education and other community programing initiatives. CLC has consulted with the public to share project information and to gather input from subject matter experts. The objectives outlined below are based on what was heard at these consultations and what was learned from the pilot project. Site Description and Context The Cultivation Campus will be located in the south end of Downsview Park and could have an area of up to 15 acres. A decision has not yet been reached on whether it should include the existing orchard. In August 2017 the area was graded, top dressed and seeded (rye) in order
to improve soil organics. The area may be accessed from Downsview Park Boulevard. An adjacent gravel parking lot provides parking for approximately 40 vehicles. The area shown above shows a building referred to as the Orchard Pavilion. The building, which includes washrooms and a shaded event space, will remain open to the public and be maintained by CLC. The event space would be made available from time to time to the future leaseholder(s) for special events under separate arrangement. By 2020, the new Stanley Greene neighbourhood will be home to approximately 1,350 residents when fully built. Residents of this new neighbourhood may become regular visitors or participants in future farm activities. Urban Agriculture Opportunity The purpose of this Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) is to gauge market reaction from the urban agriculture industry regarding the opportunity to lease within Downsview Park for the purpose of operating an urban farm that achieves CLC s objectives for the Cultivation Campus. This RFEOI process will assist CLC in determining the potential feasibility, functionality and commercial interest in the space and will aid in identifying the appropriate agricultural uses and type or types of entity with whom to engage in business discussions and ultimately enter into a lease agreement. The RFEOI process will also help CLC, as the landlord, to identify what would be required and what it would be expected to provide and ultimately what a lease agreement may look like. Objectives CLC s objectives for the Cultivation Campus are as follows: Be the location of a productive and efficient commercial urban agriculture operation that demonstrates best practices in the industry and is managed using organic principles (not necessarily Certified Organic). Promote sustainability by providing a source of locally grown food that could be marketed and sold within the community and reduce the volume of agricultural imports, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions related to food transportation impacting climate change. Provide opportunities for community economic development by creating jobs and meaningful work for the local community. Provide opportunities for new farmer training programs. Provide a space for celebrating the cultural diversity of communities by growing a diverse range of crops. Promote social equity and food security in communities by providing opportunities for increased access to fresh, healthy foods. Provide opportunities for the local community to grow its own food by offering allotment gardens for groups and individuals.
Partner with organizations to pilot and implement sustainable agricultural practices and programs which include Beneficial Management Practices and Ecological Goods and Services. Partner with CLC to develop innovative educational programs that provide learning opportunities and first hand experiences working with the earth; programs that are focused on themes of sustainable farming practices, the environmental benefits of urban agriculture, the health and community benefits of growing your own food, the importance of food security and the recreational opportunities for fun and physical activity. Have a positive impact beyond Downsview Park s natural boundaries and be part of the social and economic fabric of the communities surrounding the Park. Celebrate the spirit of Downsview Park as a dynamic urban park that combines active and passive elements, reflecting the diverse nature of the surrounding Downsview area. Inclusions with Submission Your written submission should include: 1. The name of your organization; 2. The name of key individuals in your organization; 3. Your organization s mission statement and history; 4. Description of your organization s current business activities and/or services; Responses to the following questions that provide detail and context for your statement of interest and experience. For each bullet below, please provide an answer of 100 words or less. Answers in point form are acceptable. You may include images such as maps and photos to support your submission. 5. Why are you interested in this opportunity? 6. Please describe your experience with similar projects. For each similar project, please use the headings below to describe aspects of the project. a) Description of operation b) Governance structure c) Management and staffing d) Total annual operating budget e) Volume of food produced and sales per year f) Marketing and outreach programs g) Community-focused programs and services 7. If you were selected as the leaseholder at Downsview Park s Cultivation Campus: a) What type of urban agriculture operation would you operate?
b) What is the length of lease term needed for a financially viable and productive urban agriculture operation? c) How might you allocate the land among the different types of uses? d) What type and size of buildings or structures do you consider necessary to support the urban agriculture operation? e) What type and size of buildings or structures do you consider useful to have to support the urban agriculture operation? f) What utilities do you consider necessary to support the agriculture operation? g) What other services do you consider necessary to support the agriculture operation? h) Provide a list of products (crops/value-added products) that you might grow/produce and sell. i) Provide a list of the educational and community services/programs that you might offer in partnership with CLC. j) How might you reach out to your clients, customers and members of the local community to get them engaged in your project? 8. Describe the types of urban agriculture practices that you might implement at Downsview Park, including the following: a) Soil preparation and fertility management b) Planting methods c) Disease/pest management d) Weed control e) Irrigation f) Harvesting methods and post-harvest handling g) Distribution/sales h) Equipment needs i) Utility consumption and management PLEASE NOTE: This RFEOI is an information-gathering process to assist CLC in determining how to structure the Cultivation Campus opportunity. CLC is under no obligation to enter into discussions with any organization or to select any submission as part of this RFEOI process. The information contained herein is offered for assistance; however, CLC assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of same and nothing herein shall be construed as a representation, warranty or guarantee by CLC. All submissions shall become the property of CLC, and CLC may incorporate any concepts, methods or other elements contained in any submissions into the requirements of any lease agreement for the Cultivation Campus.