City Launches Outdoor Fitness Initiative in Parks

As part of a public health campaign, Toronto has installed fitness circuits in local parks to encourage active lifestyles in all age groups.

By Frontier Echo Editorial Team | June 28, 2025 at 06:48

Two of Toronto’s leading academic institutions, the University of Toronto and Toronto Metropolitan University, have joined forces to launch a new incubator focused on green technology and climate innovation. The initiative, called EcoForge Labs, aims to accelerate sustainable solutions through interdisciplinary research and industry collaboration.

Located in the heart of Toronto’s Discovery District, EcoForge Labs will provide startup funding, lab space, and mentorship to student-led teams and researchers working on projects ranging from carbon capture to bio-based materials.

“This is about uniting the city’s academic brainpower to address the climate crisis,” said Dr. Sanjay Roy, co-founder and professor of environmental engineering. “We’re building a pipeline for science-backed solutions to become market-ready.”

The incubator is funded by a $10 million joint grant from the provincial government and private donors, including several clean-tech venture capital firms. A portion of the funding will be reserved for Indigenous-led climate initiatives and projects based in underserved communities.

In its first round, EcoForge Labs will accept 15 startup teams into a six-month accelerator program. Participants will receive business coaching, technical support, and access to a network of angel investors and government procurement channels.

Beyond entrepreneurship, the program also aims to foster public engagement. Plans are underway to host public lectures, climate hackathons, and open-lab days to raise awareness and encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue.

The partnership is being heralded as a model for how universities and industry can co-develop technologies that not only have commercial viability but also a measurable environmental impact.