Thank you to everyone who participated in this invasive blackberry removal:
Osvaldo, Lorna, Ace, Hanna, Tamara, Tasnia, Angie, Leonardo, Natalia, Jonathan, Ananya, Ruby, Tesla, Tristan, Tyler, Hanni, Kyle, Gary, Trevor, Stephanie, Rita, Marita, Erika, Abby, and Roger!
There was a bit of rain in the morning, but it cleared up for most of our activity and we had a great time together making a positive impact at Latoria Creek Park.
Impacts
- 25 people were engaged in this activity
- 81 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
- Participants came from all over the Greater Victoria area including from as close as next door, to as far as Victoria! 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.
- 13 participants visited Latoria Creek Park for the first time
- 12 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
- 3.5 cubic metres (22 bathtubs) of invasive Himalayan blackberry were removed
- 100 square metres of habitat revitalized
What Participants Said
Highlights
- We had a great day working together to improve the habitat and increase biodiversity in this creek-side park!
- It was a fun mix of first-timers and experienced community members! We had fun working together and learning and exploring the beautiful forest!
- Many passersby enjoying the trail through the park thanked us for our work – it was a great way to connect with even more of the community!
- During a break from the hard work, community members enjoyed: home made brownies, granola bars, oranges, apples, cucumbers, carrots, warm tea & juice
- We built on previous work at this park; neighbours to the park, Abby and Roger, have been removing invasive plants from this park for the last 17 years! We were delighted to have them join us to share some of the history of the park with us.
- Latoria Creek Park has many native species thriving thanks to the many years of ongoing restoration efforts here
- Community members learned about the importance of ongoing ecological restoration and learned to identify many of our region’s native plant species throughout the activity.
We are so grateful to the dedicated community members, Abby and Roger, who have been stewarding this park in their neighbourhood for the last 17 years! Thank you Abby and Roger for helping support and facilitate this activity, providing additional historical and ecological knowledge!
Here they are pictured with the tree that was planted in their honour in recognition of their dedication to environmental stewardship during the Citizen’s Environment Network in Colwood’s annual awards ceremony in 2022. The tree is still growing well here in Latoria Creek Park and is such a lovely reminder of the well-deserved recognition these two citizens have received!
Community Investment Partner
We sincerely thank the City of Colwood for their financial support, ecological expertise, and guidance for this activity.
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, 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.