Canada's largest city is hiding hundreds of secret gardens
High above Toronto’s busy streets, green roofs are providing space and food, while helping to reduce flooding
Across Canada, many cities and communities can anticipate an increase in future extreme rain events. In Canada's largest city, the expanse of pavement and buildings means rainwater is not absorbed into the ground easily. During heavy storms, water can quickly overwhelm Toronto's sewer system and flood into the streets.
The city has experienced six major floods in the past 15 years, but new building requirements are providing one solution. Green roofs are now mandatory for all large new buildings in Toronto — the first city in North America to implement such a by-law.
There are now over 700 of them throughout the city. The rooftop greeneries not only provide recreation and space for farming, they also absorb up to 70 per cent of rainwater during storms.
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