This activity was organized in partnership with the Town of Sidney
Thank you to all of the community members who joined us!
Alida, Alison, Andrew, Aram, Barbara, Bob, Catherine, Charles, Chloe, Cilla, Dennis, Dominic, Elliot, Francine, Jamie, John, Judith, Karen, Karolína, Maddy, Mayuri, Nate, Neko, Nicole, Oliver, Rafael, Ray A., Ray Z., Robin, Roger, Scott, Simone, Susan, Sofía, Tim & Tristan!
Community Impacts
36 community members were engaged, contributing 102.5 hrs to environmental action!
- 64% visited the Calvin for the first time
- 44% planted trees for the first time
- 19% removed invasive plants for the first time
24 participants completed a survey, and results showed:
- 100% felt inspired to take future environmental action
- 92% felt a sense of belonging & connection to others
- 100% felt their well-being improved
- 83% said meeting other people contributed
- 79% said helping the environment contributed
- 75% said time spent in nature contributed
- 67% said feeling pride in what they did contributed
- 79% increased their understanding of environmental issues
- 79% gained practical knowledge (e.g. about native & invasive species, how environmental activities like this are planned and run, how this work supports community well-being, how to care for the environment)
- 88% developed new skills (e.g. hands-on environmental skills, teamwork, communication & applying new info)
Change starts with people. To have a lasting environmental impact, people need to feel connected, capable and empowered to take action.
Our activities are designed to increase:
- Community resilience & social connection
- Well-being through time in nature
- Participation in climate & environmental action
- Awareness of environmental issues
- Connection to local places & natural areas
- A culture of volunteerism & civic engagement
Environmental Impacts
- 30 large Karpick maple trees were planted along the Calvin Pathway!
- 7 cubic metres of invasive English ivy were removed (equivalent to the volume of 44 bathtubs!)
- 219 square metres of habitat were revitalized
Highlights
- Community members joined us from across Greater Victoria including from including Sidney, North Saanich, Central Saanich, Saanich & Victoria!
- Environmental & social issues don’t have borders. By bringing together people from across the region, participants see others showing up to care for places beyond their own neighbourhoods. This reminds us that we share responsibility for the people & places around us, and that we’re all in this together.
- This activity was featured in the Peninsula News Review!
- This activity was part of Sidney Tree Appreciation Day!
- Councillor Scott Garnett joined us for this activity to plant trees and remove invasive ivy! He also expressed his thanks and shared some of the history of Sidney Tree Appreciation Day, which began in 2020
- For many people this was their first time being able to plant a tree of this size!
- It took a lot of teamwork to move and plant trees so large!
- Passersby such as local resident “Smoking Granny Beth” and her dog Ted thanked us for our work along the pathway!
- Participants got to take home Douglas fir seedlings to plant thanks to the Town of Sidney!
- We were joined by members of the Rotary Club of Sidney by the Sea, who wrote a lovely summary of this activity! They brought a great enthusiasm to this activity. Special thanks to Ray for coordinating their participation!
- Jamie was determined to clear the ivy from the trees on a blind corner to make it safer for cyclists and pedestrians to see each other!
- We unearthed multiple batteries dumped in the ivy, which do not belong in our natural areas and can pose as a hazard. It was a great reminder about the importance of proper recycling!
- Town of Sidney arborists Mike and Denby showed us how to plant trees of this size and gave us background on the area!
- This newly created pathway is a great addition to the area and improves connectivity to other pathways!
- Invasive trees were previously in the area and impacting local residents’ house foundations! It was exciting to be part of the replanting of new trees that will grow to shade this pathway for many years to come
- Many delicious snacks and refreshments were enjoyed during our well-earned break, including fresh pineapple, mini muffins, brownies, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, dried shiitake mushrooms, banana marshmallows, fruit snacks, various types of granola bars, Bubly, juice and more!
- People of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and experience levels came out including students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, families, and returning GVGTers!
- We’ve been part of Sidney Tree Appreciation Day since it began in 2020! Read about and see photos from some past Sidney Tree Appreciation Days:
What Community Members Said
14 participants shared what this activity meant to them:
Video of Mayuri speaking about having fun talking with new people during her first time planting trees and volunteering!
Video of Arum speaking about enjoying having a positive impact on nature and our city by planting trees and removing ivy!
Video of Susan from the Sidney by the Sea Rotary Club speaking about beautifying our community by planting trees and getting of invasive species!
Video of Alison speaking about being new to the area and wanting to do something to be part of the community, help the park and be active!
Community Investment Partner
Delivered in partnership with the Town of Sidney, our Community Investment Partner.
Green Teams of Canada and the Town of Sidney are working together to achieve our shared environmental and community objectives.
The Town provides ecological direction, while we bring expertise in community engagement – mobilizing people to take meaningful environmental action and inspiring future stewardship.
This partnership includes financial investment from the Town to build connection, improve well-being, and create lasting environmental and community impact.
Special thanks to Town staff Mike, Kristi, Denby & Clayton for their valued contributions in bringing this activity to life!
Staff Who Made This Activity Possible
Our dedicated staff are passionate about community engagement and environmental action. Their work includes extensive outreach, activity logistics, social media, reporting on impacts, partnership building and MUCH more!
This activity was run by Ashton Kerr, our Director of Partnerships & Programs and Chevy Alexander, our Greater Victoria Green Team Program Manager.
We Are All In This TOGETHER! The Future Depends on Us
The Greater Victoria Green Team is a program of the charity Green Teams of Canada, engaging communities in hands-on environmental action since 2014.
We bring people together to improve well-being and inspire environmental stewardship. Through activities like invasive plant removal, native species planting, and litter clean-ups, participants take practical action and see the impact they can make.
What sets us apart is our focus on people. Our activities are inclusive and accessible to all ages, abilities and experience levels, especially those new to environmental action. Many join for the first time, deepen their understanding of environmental issues and leave feeling capable and motivated to take future action.
We also strengthen and support the broader stewardship network by working with governmental agencies, non-profits, land trusts, volunteer-led groups, schools, and businesses, bringing new people into existing efforts and expanding their reach. Many participants go on to deepen their involvement, take on leadership roles, or contribute to other initiatives.
We believe lasting environmental change starts with people. By creating meaningful opportunities for people to take part, we help build more connected, resilient communities.
We can all make a difference!