NORTH YORK, October 24, 1997 -- High--rise dwellers, local businesses, city councillors and York University student organizers will get together to celebrate the Community Garden of Friends with a Pot Luck Dinner on Saturday, October 25, 1997 at 6:00 pm at Northminster Baptist Church.

Sarah Kear, 23, and Angela Simone, 22, conceived, organized and implemented a community garden project as part of their senior honours work last Spring and Summer. Both Kear and Simone are Bachelor of Environmental Studies students at York's Faculty of Environmental Studies (FES).

'This is a terrific project of social and environmental advocacy," said FES Dean Dr. Peter Victor. "Not only did they get 27 families to grow their own food, they broke down the barriers that prevent people from interacting with each other in this area of North York."

The gardeners will be serving the fruits of their labours and will be formally recognized, as will local businesses and Canada Trust's Friends of the Environment Foundation, which donated more than $3,000 to this student-initiated project.

Where: Northminster Baptist Church
1725 Finch Ave. West (West of Keele Street), North York

When: Saturday, October 25, 1997
6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Certificate presentation: 7:00 pm

Who: Dr. Peter Victor, Dean, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University
Peter Li Preti, North York Councillor (Black Creek)
Maria Augimeri, Metro Councillor (Black Creek)
Anthony Peruzza, Candidate, North York (Black Creek)
Sarah Kear, Project Coordinator
Angela Simone, Project Coordinator

Media Contacts: Angela Simone, (905) 851-4524 or Sarah Kear, (416) 663-1362
YU/091/97