New Leaf opens new sensory garden with help from York Region grant

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 21, 2023
Simon Martin

When you visit the 110-acre property where New Leaf is located in Queensville, you feel miles away from the city.

One of the more recent outdoor additions is a sensory garden that was made possible with a $5,000 grant from the York Region Greening Action Partnership Fund. The funding covered the costs for clearing the overgrown areas; removal of invasive species; planting serviceberry and maple trees; and new bird, butterfly, and bat houses. “This grant will impact our capacity to further our organization’s mission and make a positive difference for individuals supported and the greater community,” Jennifer Corrie, manager at New Leaf, said.

New Leaf highly values the unique rural farm environment that it provides to individuals with developmental disabilities and intends to respect and preserve this environment, to the best of its abilities.

Future improvements to the sensory garden will include updating the wheelchair accessible path and the introduction of Ontario native species including shrubs, plants and wildflowers.

New Leaf provides a safe home to, and enriches the lives of, individuals with developmental disabilities in a unique sensory and natural environment. Celebrating 40 years in 2024, New Leaf was founded by a dedicated group of individuals from Toronto who sought to create a rural living choice for individuals with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviours. Today, New Leaf operates 13 supported living homes and community-based day services, including a variety of activities on its 110-acre farm property on Leslie Street.