The CN Tower rises behind a burst of summer colour in one of Toronto’s public gardens.
Creator: Kristofer Sonderskov-Lamb | Credit: City of Toronto.
Author: Serena Datta | BHSc Student at Queen’s | TNO Community Ambassador
In the great rat race for productivity, we’ve designed a world that runs counter to our biology. Modern life has confined us to cubicles, condos, and concrete. And in the process, we’ve lost something elemental; our connection to the natural world—and with it, a part of ourselves.
Erich Fromm, who first introduced the term “biophilia” to describe humanity’s search for connection and belonging. Coined in the 1960s by German psychoanalyst and social psychologist Erich Fromm, biophilia originally referred to “the passionate love of life and all that is alive.”.⁷
Harvard biologist and naturalist Edward O. Wilson later expanded the concept to describe the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other forms of life systems. Wilson, in his seminal 1984 book Biophilia, argued that we don’t just enjoy nature—we’re biologically designed to seek it.⁶
Work meets wellness—The IHI Innovation Center embraces biophilic design to reshape urban spaces, as seen here in this modern Tokyo office. | Photo Credit: Nacasa & Partners
Why Biophilia Matters for Mental Health
For most of human history, survival depended on being attuned to the rhythms of the earth: the shift in seasons, the constellations, the migrations of animals and the cycles of plant life.
Today, researchers believe that this ancient connection still shapes our emotional well-being. Dozens of peer-reviewed studies have shown that regular exposure to green space, trees, water, and sunlight can:
– Decrease cortisol (stress hormone) levels
– Lower blood pressure
– Boost mood and cognitive clarity
– Improve focus and attention
– Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression³⁴⁵
Reclaiming Green in a Concrete World
For newcomer families, many of whom come from rural or semi-rural regions, this loss of natural exposure can feel jarring. There’s often a cultural connection to land and growing food that gets severed in migration. This summer, we are encouraging Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park residents to explore North York’s underappreciated green corridors.
Don Valley Trail (Thorncliffe Park Access Point)
Nestled right beneath our neighbourhood, the Don Valley Trails offer a slice of forested escape just steps from home. From the lush ravine behind the Ontario Science Centre to the bridge near Overlea Boulevard, this network is perfect for quiet forest walks, creekside reflections, and casual cycling.
Fun Fact: Some sections of the trail follow ancient Indigenous pathways that have existed long before Toronto’s urban grid.²
The Don Valley Trail, a quiet escape winding past the CNR rail lines and a pedestrian bridge, just beneath the city’s buzz | Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Don Valley Trail (Thorncliffe Park Access Point)
Nestled right beneath our neighbourhood, the Don Valley Trails offer a slice of forested escape just steps from home. From the lush ravine behind the Ontario Science Centre to the bridge near Overlea Boulevard, this network is perfect for quiet forest walks, creekside reflections, and casual cycling.
Fun Fact: Some sections of the trail follow ancient Indigenous pathways that have existed long before Toronto’s urban grid.²
Mindful Moments:
Beyond its recreational value, this stretch of trail plays an important role in local environmental restoration. Through the Don’t Mess with the Don (DMWTD) organization, residents are invited to participate in hands-on stewardship programs that reconnect people with the land. These sessions include equipment, instruction, and education on the ecological impacts of urban development on Toronto’s watershed.
Sun Valley Invasive Species Stewardship / Wednesdays, 5 PM | 11 Redway Road
Each week, volunteers gather in Crothers Woods to pull invasive species like dog-strangling vine and replant native vegetation such as milkweed and wood grass. The program is part of a broader effort to stabilize fragile ecosystems in the Don Valley and slow the spread of biodiversity loss across the region.
Intro to Mountain Biking / Saturday, 10 AM | 11 Redway Road
The Don Valley’s singletrack trails are narrow, uneven, and often unforgiving, typically suited to experienced riders. This program lowers the barrier to entry by supplying bikes, safety gear and guided instruction tailored specifically to first-time mountain bikers.
Paddle & Protect: Kayaking the Don River / Sundays, 9:30 am | Cherry Beach
Each Sunday morning, small groups push off from Cherry Beach, paddling past shipping terminals and concrete embankments into a part of the city few recognize. The Don River winds through decades of environmental neglect and ongoing recovery, its course revealing a history of industrial runoff, the delicate ecology of wetlands and the relentless advance of invasive plant species. Guided by trained staff, participants trace the river toward the Port Lands and Tommy Thompson Park, then collect debris along stretches of shoreline on the return trip.
A Slower Summer
Torontonians are caught on this hedonic treadmill—chasing speed, productivity, and endless stimulation—and slowing down can almost feel unnatural. But there’s beauty in an unhurried life.
This summer, step outside. Not to escape your life, but to return to it.
Got a green space you think we should feature?
Send your favourite picture of local trail, garden, or quiet nook to our newsletter team. We’re building a community collage of biophilic spots across Toronto.
References
1. Klepeis NE, Nelson WC, Robinson JP, et al. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): A Resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology. May 2001. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11477521/.
2. Indigenous beginnings of the Don River Valley. The Don River Valley Park. Accessed June 8, 2025. https://donrivervalleypark.ca/about-the-park/history/#:~:text=Indigenous%20beginnings%20of%20the%20Don,First%20Nation%20for%20$145%20million.
3. Why are green spaces good for us? Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI), Queensland. February 2025. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://www.detsi.qld.gov.au/our-department/news-media/down-to-earth/why-are-green-spaces-good-for-us.
4. Yang B-Y, Zhao T, Hu L-X, et al. Greenspace and human health: An umbrella review. Innovation (Cambridge (Mass.)). September 24, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8479545/.
5. Beyer KMM, Kaltenbach A, Szabo A, Bogar S, Nieto FJ, Malecki KM. Exposure to neighborhood green space and Mental Health: Evidence from the survey of the Health of Wisconsin. International journal of environmental research and public health. March 21, 2014. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3987044/.
6. Barbiero G, Berto R. Biophilia as evolutionary adaptation: An onto- and phylogenetic framework for biophilic design. Frontiers in psychology. July 21, 2021. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8334556/#:~:text=Wilson’s%20Phylogenetic%20Perspective-,E.O.,134).
7. Ludewig J. Erich Fromm’s biophilia. NiCHE. July 4, 2023. Accessed June 7, 2025. https://niche-canada.org/2023/07/06/erich-fromms-biophilia/.
