Thank you so much Greater Victoria Green Team participants for your hard work and enthusiasm:
Ada, Adam, Amanda, Aspen, Bahareh, Bahi, CC, Colin, Elouise, Emily, Eyal, Fuko, Harry, Ha Young, Jacob, Jennifer, Josh, Kristine, Leo, Mahieddine, Mark, Mason, Mike, Nick, Otone, Owen, Patrick, Porter, Rei, Ro, Tesla, Yon & Yuka
Rain or shine, we always have fun making an impact and connecting with each other! Keep on reading to find impacts, highlights and more from the day…
Impacts
- 33 community members engaged
- 5 people removed invasive plants for the first time
- 20 people visited Watkiss Way Park for the first time
- 105 hours contributed to habitat restoration
- 16 cubic metres (about 100 bathtubs full) of invasive Himalayan blackberry, Evergreen Blackberry, Scotch Broom & Daphne
- 150 square metres of habitat was revitalized
Highlights
- Community members joined us from across the Greater Victoria region including from View Royal, Langford, Colwood, Metchosin, Esquimalt, & Victoria
- Our activities are designed to foster a sense of community that extends beyond municipal borders. By engaging community members from across the region, we are reminded that we are part of a larger, interconnected community and have a shared responsibility of creating a cleaner, healthier environment regardless of where we call home!
- Councillor Damian Kowalewich came by to thank the Greater Victoria Green Team for their work in the Town of View Royal!
- Jacob and Harry rode their bikes to participate in this activity! Way to go with using sustainable transportation
- Mason helped us set up and pack up. Thank you!
- Ada helped us set up refreshments. Thank you!
- We had several families out (Kristine, Nick, Colin and Aspen also Patrick and Porter)
- The weather held out! Just a light drizzle and a bit of wind. The sun even came out for awhile
- 5 Green Teamers (Bahar, Leo, Mark, Porter & Emily) participated in the “who can pull up the biggest Himalayan Blackberry root crown” game. We couldn’t decide which root was bigger so everyone won a prize!!
- Amanda celebrated her birthday weekend with us, & we sang happy birthday to her
- Some earthworms were moved so they wouldn’t get injured (thank you Ro, Elouise etc.)
- We rescued baby Garry Oak trees (special thanks to Jenny for finding the really tiny ones)
- We rescued many native shrubs like Nootka Rose, Trailing blackberry and Snowberry
- Our snacks included: mini muffins, sugar donuts, oreo cookies, bananas, mandarins, carrots, granola bars, apple slices, macaroons, cheddar chips apple juices and a variety of bublys,
- A big thank you to EVERYONE who helped bring our invasive plant bags, tools and supplies to the car ! (special thanks to Patrick directing people on where to put the tools in the car)
- Everyone put in an amazing amount of effort and made a HUGE difference in the in this little green space!
- We last visited this area (just across the street) 2 years ago:
- This activity built on work of the View Royal Habitat Restoration Project!
What Community Members Said
Video of Emily talking about loving volunteering & meeting new people
Video of Tesla talking bout getting to see community impact
Video of Ada talking about wanting to be outside in nature & learning about local ecosystems
Video of Kristine talking about how great it was getting her family out to protect the Garry Oak Ecosystems
Video of Fuko talking about having the opportunity to spend time with people in nature and having fun!
Video of Mike talking about getting to know new people and help out the ecosystem
Video of Amanda talking about celebrating her birthday weekend with us & making a positive impact
Community Investment Partner
THANK YOU to the Town of View Royal (special thanks to Dave & Ivan!) for providing the financial support, ecological expertise and guidance for this activity!
Special thanks to Chris, View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator, for helping to facilitate this activity.
Learn more about and get involved with the Town of View Royal’s habitat restoration program HERE and/or email Chris, the Habitat Restoration Coordinator at restorevr@gmail.com.
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!
In-Kind Support
A big thank you LUSH for sharing their eco-friendly personal care products such as body scrubs, body wash and lotions
This 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 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 Greater Victoria Green Team Program Assistant, Nicola.
Partnerships Manager, Kaitlin Warren, supported this activity behind the scenes.