Thank you to everyone who participated in our TD Tree Days activity!
AJ, Alexis, Becca, Brodij, Bruce, Cara, Cassie, Chloe, Corrinn, Daykin, Desmond, Deyga, Erik, Ethan, Felix, Finn, Jeremy, John, Kalden, KP, Ling, Mae, Marina, Mark, Michelle, Moussa, Otone, René, Rennie, Rina, Rylan, Serhii, Shawn, Steven and Will
Despite a little drizzle, we had a GREAT TD Tree Days activity at Colwood Creek Park!
Impacts
- 35 community members were engaged
- 12 participants visited Colwood Creek Park for the first time
- 13 participants planted for the first time
- 10 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
- 12 participants visited Colwood Creek Park for the first time
- Community members joined us from Colwood and from other areas in the Greater Victoria area including: Langford, View Royal, Sooke, Saanich, Oak Bay, Victoria and Esquimalt
- 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
- 100 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
- 180 native trees and shrubs were planted, including Shore pine, Bigleaf Maple, Vine Maple, Douglas fir, Salmonberry, Nootka Rose, Oregon Grape, Ocean spray, Red flowering currant, and Red alder!
- 150 square metres of habitat was revitalized!
Highlights
- This was a TD Tree Days event organized with TD and with guidance & support from the City of Colwood! This is the 15th year of TD Tree Days!
- Special thank you to:
- Adam and Otone for coming early to help set up and for staying later to help pack up
- John (CJ), a local resident, for providing his washroom to our participants
- Jeremy, Moussa and Mae for giving us some left over snacks for our Green Team activity happening the next day
- Everyone for helping pack up and for such an amazing day!
- This activity built on the efforts of our team and the City of Colwood that started in this part of the park in 2022 and as part of 11 years of Greater Victoria Green Team stewardship in the City of Colwood! Read summaries and see photos of this year’s previous Colwood Creek Park activities:
- Oct. 5, 2025 community invasive Himalayan blackberry removal, clearing the area for our planting today!
- Sep. 7, 2025 community invasive Himalayan blackberry removal building on previous work in the park and clearing space around previously planted native shrubs & trees.
- July 5, 2025, community invasive Himalayan blackberry removal clearing space around previously planted native shrubs and trees.
- May 11, 2025, native species planting in the previously cleared invasive Himalayan blackberry patch.
- We enjoyed yummy snacks including apples, bananas, carrots, home baked sugar cookies in the shape of trees, chocolate chip cookies, two bite brownies, hot chocolate and more!
- MANY residents came by to personally thank us for the work we were doing
- We had several volunteers return to the park after past activities removing invasive plants here though the spring, summer, and fall. All were excited to build on their work and continuing to steward this space! We couldn’t have succeeded today without all their previous efforts!
- We also removed some invasive Himalayan blackberry around these plants to best set them up for success!
- All ages, backgrounds, abilities & experience levels came out including TD employees, families, students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, & returning GVGTers!
What Community Members Said
Video of Corrinn talking about the importance of planting
Video of Will talking about meeting new people & connecting to nature
Video of Adam talking about having fun and doing good for the community
Video of Alexis talking about creating a future for his son
Video of Finn talking about taking care of our local community
Video of Ling and Rennie talking their commitment to this community
TD Tree Days
We worked with TD to deliver this TD Tree Days event thanks to support received from the TD Tree Days grant.
Special thanks to Michelle, Blayre, and our TD Site Leaders, Jeremy, Moussa, and, Mae, from local TD Branches!
TD Tree Days is a flagship volunteer program of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and aims to provide TD colleagues, their friends and family, and community members, the opportunity to volunteer to help build healthy communities by planting trees and shrubs in urban and rural greenspaces.
This year, TD is working together with 60 different organizations to plant over 30,000 trees and shrubs which will add to the more than 555,000 trees & shrubs that volunteers have planted through TD Tree Days since 2010. In alignment with the TD Ready Commitment, TD Tree Days events are helping to create a more vibrant planet by growing and enhancing green spaces in communities within the TD footprint.
Guidance & Support
Thank you to the City of Colwood for being a Community Investment Partner to make our work in Colwood possible. City staff Graydon & Gord played a key role in organizing this activity. Mariah and Carter delivered the native shrubs and trees and helped place them. Thank you for your help!
Their direction and support was key to making this activity the success it was and included the selection, ordering, & delivery of all our plants!
In-Kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporters for donating products to show appreciation for our community members:
- LUSH for sharing their eco-friendly personal care products such as body scrubs, body wash and lotions
- Gathering Place Trading for sharing their fair-trade and organic spices
These Canadian 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, 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!
GTC 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.
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.