Thank you to our Greater Victoria Green Team community members who joined this activity:
Addiem Alanna, Artemii, Ashley, Brandon, Charlotte, Chloe, Clayton, Dmytro, Earl, Estelle, Grey, Harjot, Hector, Jonathan, Lee, Leia, Lyn-John, Mason, Matthew H., Matthew Y., Otone, Rafael, Rei, Sanshiro, Sergio, So, Sungmi, Tamara, Tesla, Trevor & Urara
Community members came out in the rain for our last activity of 2025 to connect & steward this park!
Impacts
- 34 community members engaged
- 11 people removed invasive plants for the first time
- 15 people visited Colwood Creek Park for the first time
- 93 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 23.5 cubic metres (about 147 bathtubs full) of invasive Himalayan blackberry, English Holly, English Laurel & English Ivy removed
Highlights
- Artemii arrived early to help with setup – thank you!
- John W. (CJ), who lives right across from the park, provided access to a washroom, thank you, CJ!
- Community members of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels joined us today, including folks from Colwood and beyond – Saanich, View Royal, Langford, Sooke, Metchosin, Victoria, Port Coquitam and Coquitlam
- Dmytro organised the tools in the car at the end of that activity
- Otone and Adam helped put out all the refreshments and to pack up at the end of the activity – much appreciated!!
- Dez (a Greater Victoria Green Teamer) came by to say hi before the activity began
- Miguel from City of Colwood was working nearby & let us know we were doing a great job!
- Many passersbys walking their dogs thanked us for the work we were doing!
- We had many yummy snacks & drinks like: sugar cookies in the shape of Himalayan Blackberry leaves, chocolate cookies, cheddar chips, cucumbers, carrots, bananas, melons, grapes, pineapple, mandarins & a variety of juices.
- Thank you Alana for picking up the directional arrows!
- A big thank you to EVERYONE who helped pack up our tools and supplies!
- This activity built on the efforts of many other community members who joined us at Colwood Creek Park this year! Check out our recent activities at this park:
- We first started working in this park in 2014, and it’s incredible to see how much healthier and more vibrant the ecosystem has become thanks to our ongoing community stewardship and partnership with the City of Colwood!
What Community Members Said
Video of Alana talking about loving being out despite the rain
Video of Sergio talking about contributing to community
Video of San and So talking about how fun it was
Video of Brandon talking about how much this activity meant to him
Community Investment Partner
THANK YOU to the City of Colwood for providing the financial support, ecological expertise and guidance for this activity!
Through this partnership, we are creating opportunities for community members to come together, connect with each other and nature, and take care of the environment.
This was our last activity of 2025 together, however we will be back with more opportunities to make an impact in Colwood in 2026!
In-Kind Support
Thank you to LUSH for providing their fantastic shower gels, body conditioner and bath bombs that use natural ingredients, sustainable packaging, and are made in Canada! Our participants were excited to take these gifts home.
If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please contact Kaitlin. 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 behaviour 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 Possible
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.
This activity was run by Green Teams of Canada’s Founder and Executive Director, Lyda.
Partnerships Managers, Kaitlin Warren and and Ashton Kerr supported this activity behind the scenes.