Thank you so much Greater Victoria Green Team participants for your hard work and enthusiasm:
Ben, Blake, Bob, Bruce, Chloe, Chris, Dennis, Don, Elsie, Eric, Estella, Gina, Isobel, Janice, Jennifer, Jensen, Judy, Kathy, Kylee, Leia, Lucas, Mateo, Mike, Oliver, Salar, Shane, Sophy, Stephane, Tony, and Wayne!
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
- 30 community members engaged
- 99 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 15 people removed invasive periwinkle and Himalayan blackberry for the first time
- 21 people visited this area for the first time
- 18 cubic metres (over 112 bathtubs full) of ivy and blackberry removed
Highlights
- Everyone loved the lemon cookies, chocolate chip cookies, fresh fruit, veggies, apple rings and pretzel crisps to help keep energy levels up!
- Lucas, Jennifer & Estella helped set up table, tent, tools etc. prior to participants arriving – thank you!!
- Community members stayed to help with pack up – thank you so much!
- Community members enjoyed the additional education provided by the invasive and native plant signs, learning about identification in a fun, creative way!
- We were joined by Bob (past Knockan Hill Park steward!) and View Royal Habitat restoration volunteers. It was empowering to join forces and work together!
- Knockan Hill Park is part of the Garry oak ecosystem – an ecosystem that is endangered, with only 3% in Canada remaining in a natural state. The work we do by removing invasive species allows native species in this integral ecosystem to flourish. These ecosystems provide important habitat to a large diversity of plants and animals – particularly species at risk. Chris, View Royal Habitat Restoration Coordinator, provided an excellent overview of this ecosystem!
- All ages, backgrounds, and experience levels were engaged including students, nearby residents, newcomers to Victoria, returning Green Team members, and first-timers!
What Community Members Said
Izzy and Sophy talking about what they enjoyed about the activity!
Salar talking about the benefits of participating in Green Team activities especially as someone who is new to the region!
Community Investment Partner
A huge THANK YOU to the Town of View Royal for partnering with our charity, Green Teams of Canada, and making this activity possible with their financial support and direction!
Together we are achieving our common goals and creating connected, healthy and resilient communities engaged in environmental stewardship.
Thank you to Chris, View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator, for helping facilitate this activity! To learn more about the programs Chris runs in the Town of View Royal, and how to get involved, click here! Email Chris for more info at: restorevr@gmail.com
In-Kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporter, LUSH!
Thank you LUSH for providing their fantastic shower gels & body conditioner with natural ingredients, sustainable packaging, made in Canada!
If you’re interested in contributing in-kind or have ideas for potential partnerships, please contact Kaitlin Warren. 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, litter clean-ups, and more, 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 staff work hard to run high-quality community activities. Outreach, activity logistics, social media, reporting on impacts, partnership building and more – they do it all!
This activity was run by Greater Victoria Green Team’s new Program Manager, Jace.
This activity was supported by Kaitlin, Greater Victoria Green Team Partnerships Manager.
Lyda , our Founder and Executive Director who works hard behind the scenes to run and grow our charity, also supported this activity!