Thank you to our Greater Victoria Green Team community members who joined this activity:
Adam, Ashlynn, Charles, Chloe, Daegan, Daniel, David, Dennis, Erwin, Ethan, Gaby, Hanna, Jen, Justin, Karmynn, Kathy, Keo, Lizel, Mary, Mia, Molly, Natalie, Olena, Otone, Porter, Rachel, Rafael, Raphael, Richard, Robert, Samantha, Sameer, Scott, Taylor, Tristan, Willow, Yuka, & Ziya!
Community members came out in the rain for our very first activity of 2026 to connect & steward this beautiful park!
Impacts
- 39 community members engaged
- 20 people removed invasive plants for the first time
- 30 people visited View Royal Park for the first time
- 127 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 18 cubic metres (about # bathtubs full) of invasive Himalayan blackberry, & English Ivy removed
Highlights
- View Royal Habitat Restoration group (Kathy, Dennis, Bruce) joined us! Loved working side by side with them
- Community members of all ages, backgrounds, & experience levels joined us from View Royal as well as Saanich, Colwood, Langford, Sooke, Metchosin, & Victoria
- Sorority sisters from UVic’s Kappa Beta Gamma: Upsilon joined us
- Gaby and Jen helped put out all the refreshments- Thank you!
- Big shout out to David for helping load the car up with tools at the end
- Thank you Karmynn & Gaby for being First Aid Attendants
- 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 invasive blackberry leaves, cinnamon rolls, cucumbers, broccoli, tomatoes, mini chocolate eggs, granola bars, veggie chips
- A big thank you to EVERYONE who helped pack up our tools and supplies!
- Participants got wet & muddy and kept on smiling and working hard removing the invasive blackberry (no rain was going to hold them back!)
- This activity built on the efforts of many other community members who have joined us, and other stewardship groups, at View Royal Park over the years! Check out some of our previous activities at this park:
- Thanks to the many activities that have taken place in this park over the last several years, 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 Town of View Royal!
What Community Members Said
Video of Sam & Mia talking about giving back to the community, helping the environment, & meeting new people
Video of Justin talking about how it’s nice to do something that’s a good workout and good for nature
Video of Gaby talking about being out in nature and making a big impact with the community
Video of Karmynn & Ziya talking about meeting new people and helping out the environment
Video of Daniel talking about how he enjoys doing good work for the community
Video of Taylor & Natalie talking about doing something meaningful for the community and helping the environment together
Video of Charles talking about how important and satisfying it is to help protect native species
Video of Willow & Ashlynn talking about connecting with their community and making an impact
Video of Daegan talking about how he appreciates the chance to create space for native plants & make a difference locally
Video of Molly talking about the satisfying feeling of pulling out big blackberry roots & the joy of making a difference
Community Investment Partner
Thank you Chris, View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator, for helping to facilitate this activity. Email Chris at restorevr@gmail.com to get involved
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 first of 11 activities together in 2026 and we are so excited for another fantastic year of work together!
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, and Sara, Greater Victoria Green Team’s new Program Manager.
Partnerships Managers, Kaitlin and Ashton supported this activity behind the scenes.