Thank you to everyone who participated in this invasive Scotch broom removal:
Aaron, Atousa, Chloe, Councillor Colby Harder, Councillor Mary Wagner, Erika, Jamie, Jeff, Jia, Juliana, Keke, Khan, Laura, Luyan, Maria, Matte, Muen, Nan, Savonah, Stéphane, Sven, Travis, Tyler!
What a fun day we had connecting people to one another and nature, all while restoring habitat! Keep on reading to find impacts, highlights and more from the day…
Impacts
- 23 community members were engaged in this activity
- 68 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
- Participants came from all over the Greater Victoria area including: Esquimalt, Langford, North Saanich, Oak Bay, Victoria and View Royal! Our activities are designed to foster a sense of community that transcend municipal borders. By engaging community members from all around Greater Victoria, community members realize that they are part of a larger, interconnected community and that we all have a responsibility of creating a cleaner, healthier environment regardless of where we call home.
- 19 participants visited Rain Garden Park for the first time
- 3 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
- 26 cubic metres (150 bathtubs!) of invasive Scotch Broom and dead woody debris was removed
- 360 square metres of habitat revitalized and FireSmarted
Highlights
- This FireSmart activity was run in partnership with Langford Fire Rescue! We cleared the forest floor of flammable materials, including the oily, invasive Scotch broom plants, dead branches, and small logs.
- The day began with bright sunshine but soon turned windy and chilly. Despite the weather, the community members were motivated, had fun and made new friends through the activity.
- The FireSmart team delighted community members with some FireSmart swag, including warm and cozy toques that everyone appreciated!
- Many passersby, particularly dog walkers in the park, were intrigued by the work the community members were doing. They expressed interest in joining the team to lend a hand and meet new people, and they thanked us for our efforts.
- We were supported by a team of Langford Fire Rescue firefighters who helped us remove invasive plants and engaged with the community and passersby, educating everyone about FireSmart initiatives!
- A big shoutout to City of Langford Councillors, Mary Wagner and Colby Harder for joining us, motivating the community members, sharing information about the new City of Langford initiatives, particularly ‘Let’s Chat Langford!‘ and for bringing positive uplifting energy to the day!
- During a break from the hard work, community members enjoyed: brownies, veggies, fresh fruits, granola bars, fruit juices, refreshing drinks and warm mint tea!
- Community members learned about the importance of managing invasive plant species, particularly flammable ones, and the damage they can cause. They had a great time removing scotch broom, dead woody debris and witnessing the huge impact they made together at the end of the activity!
- This activity was featured in the Times Colonist!
- Read the Nov 11, 2024 article HERE
- Or find it under the Media Coverage section of our website here
What Participants Said
Community Investment Partner
We sincerely thank Langford Fire Rescue for their ecological expertise and guidance for this activity and providing funding through the British Columbia FireSmart program.
A special thank you to Tianna, Langford Fire Rescue’s FireSmart Coordinator, for helping facilitate this activity! We are so grateful to have your guidance on FireSmarting the park and furthering the community education about reducing the risk of wildfires!
Together we are creating opportunities for community members to come together, connect with each other and nature, and take care of the environment!
In-kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporters: Blume, Gathering Place, Myni, & Green Beaver for providing their health focused products to our community participants to take home. These businesses have wonderful, sustainable products that support more responsible consumer choices!
If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please contact Viloka. Your support makes a difference!
Why We Do This Work
The Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada.
We believe in the transformative power of hands-on environmental activities to empower individuals and strengthen communities.
Through initiatives like invasive plant removals, tree plantings, and litter clean-ups, we not only foster connections among participants but also deepen their relationship with nature. Spending time outdoors has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing mood, focus, and overall mental and physical health.
Our activities are designed to be inclusive, welcoming individuals of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, and skill levels.
What sets us apart is we attract a wide mix of young community members who may not otherwise spend time outside, igniting their passion for nature and environmental care.
We are committed to instilling an environmental ethic that leads to lasting behavior change. We aim to create a sense of belonging and connection to place, encouraging participants to recognize their ability to make a meaningful impact.
Together, we can all make a difference. Join us as we build a brighter, greener future for everyone!
Staff Who Made This Activity Happen!
Our dedicated team is passionate about creating engaging, high-quality activities that foster a sense of belonging, connection to nature while raising environmental awareness. We strive to make a positive impact on our environment and to build a thriving community that cares for it.
At the forefront is Kaitlin Warren, the Program Manager for the Greater Victoria Green Team, whose vision drives our efforts. She’s supported by Viloka Luna, our Partnerships Manager, ensuring every aspect runs smoothly behind the scenes. Together, they’re not just making plans; they’re building a brighter, greener future for our community.