TD Tree Days Planting & Invasive Plant Removal at Hoffmann Park, Pitt Meadows

October 6, 2024

Thank you to everyone who participated in our TD Tree Days event:

Aaliyah, Abby, Abelene, Adam, Angie, Anwar, Archie, Aryan, Brendan, Cameron, Christine, Corey, Elise, Gary, Gio, Grace, Gyuyeob, Huimook, Hyojung, Isabelle, Jan, Jeonghui, Josh, Joshua M., Joshua W., Judy, Julie, Kasie, Kathleen, Laura, Li, Lily, Michael, Mingyung, Miran, Nam, Natalya, Naya, Nobu, Noor, Paige, Paul, Penny, Richard, Seoyeong, Shannon, Simon, Sophie, Stephanie, Tristan, Trystan, Vas and Violet!

It was a perfect autumn day for a TD Tree Days event at Hoffmann Park! Not only did we get to plant hundreds of native species, but we also had time to remove lots of invasive plants that were threatening native plants and trees in the area. It was satisfying to be able to add new and remove things to the park!

VIDEO of Community Members in Action

Check out our 19 second video of community members in action planting native trees and shrubs and removing invasive plants

Impacts

53 community members were engaged
- 31 participants visited Hoffmann Park for the first time
- 23 participants planted for the first time
- 27 participants removed invasive plants for the first time
Community members joined us from across the Lower Mainland including from Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, New Westminster, Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Mission and Abbotsford
- 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
148 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
288 native trees, shrubs and plants were planted, including Vine maple, Grand Fir, Pacific crabapple, Red-Twig dogwood, Salal, Bracken fern, Deer fern, Fringecup and Star flowered Solomon’s Seal
3 cubic metres (19 bathtubs) of mulch was spread around our plants
7.5 cubic metres (47 bathtubs) of invasive English ivy, Himalayan blackberry and English holly was removed once we finished planting
260 square metres of habitat was revitalized

Highlights

This was a TD Tree Days event organized with TD and guidance and support from the City of Pitt Meadows
This was the 2nd of 3 TD Tree Days events we are organizing this fall
- SIGN UP to join us on Oct 19 at Ruth Johnson Park, White Rock!
We organized 2 activities at Hoffmann Park this past spring to restore a nearby area of the park. Read summaries and see photos at the links below:
- Mar 30, 2024 – invasive plant removal
- Apr 21, 2024 – native species planting
Tristan and Gary won the longest ivy vine contest!
All ages, backgrounds, abilities & experience levels came out including TD employees, families, students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, & returning LMGTers
We enjoyed Timbits, coffee, hot chocolate, brownies, veggies, granola bars and mandarin oranges to keep us fuelled!
Special thank you to:
- Our TD Site Leaders Brendan (Branch Manager) and Cameron (Financial Planner) from the Maple Ridge Westgate Shopping Centre TD Branch who helped lead this event. Their enthusiasm was felt by all!
- Anwar and Jan for leading the packing up of our tools and supplies
A strong sense of community was felt as people worked closely together to revitalize this urban forest. Everyone brought positive energy to this day!

What Community Members Said

"We had been looking forward to participating in this event for weeks. To be remembered from previous events is more than expected, and instantly made us feel valued for being back. It is beyond making us feel appreciated for participating at the event, but truly makes me feel appreciated as an individual. I can see these little connections being made with each one of the volunteers during the event and admire how names are remembered, events run smoothly and still have the time for these little get-to-know-you talks. It makes us "seen" as people and really allows a connection to the event, to our fellow volunteers and to the Lower Mainland Green Team. I cannot get over how personal the experience is, given how many new people always attend. The program you offer allows such an easy opportunity for people to explore a new urban location and perhaps a new activity. It allows community members from all over to share their own stories and experience with each other while working toward a common goal. This program not only has positive impacts on the selected locations (such as beautification, nature restoration, litter clean-up, etc.) but it is so accessible for all individuals - families, neighbours, friends can all participate, giving each person who attends a chance to feel like they've really accomplished something and can be proud."

"I had a wonderful time attending and participating in today’s event at Hoffmann Park. It was a great experience to be part of such an important cause. Many thanks to TD Bank and the Green Team for organizing and making it a memorable day!"

"It was a great experience for my family to volunteer to learn and to be doing something for good cause. Kids enjoyed every process."

"Lyda and Ashton were incredible. The impact of this program is environmental improvement and education for all volunteers!"

"I love planting! Free coffee helped. The people were really nice. First visit to Hoffman park. This program helps people get out into parks, learn to plant, learn native plant names and stay active"

"Amazing good feeling of giving back to the nature! It gives me a feeling of participation and doing some real good, rather than just enjoying the always beautiful views of our parks. Thank you to all the organizers of the event - very well planned, making it just pure fun do dig and plant. Since humanity tends to mainly consume natural resources it’s time to give back to nature and support where we can."

Video of Cam, one of our TD Site Leaders, speaking about the impacts of the day!

Video of Stephanie, Violet and Abelene, speaking about why they love coming to events like these as a family!

Video of Elise, speaking about her experience removing invasive ivy!

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 Blayre and our TD Site Leaders, Brendan (Branch Manager) and Cameron (Financial Planner) from the Maple Ridge Westgate Shopping Centre TD Branch!

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 75 different organizations to plant over 30,000 trees and shrubs which will add to the more than 520,000 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.

Join our next TD Tree Days event at Ruth Johnson Park on Oct 19 – SIGN UP HERE!

Guidance & Support

Thank you to the City of Pitt Meadows for being a Community Investment Partner to make our work in Pitt Meadows possible.

Their direction and support was key to making this activity the success it was and included the selection, ordering and placement of all of our plants. Thank you Olivia for helping ensure a smooth and fun day!

In-Kind Support

A big thank you to our in-kind supporters: Blume, Gathering Place and Myni, for providing their health focused products to our community to take home. These 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 Ashton Kerr. Your support makes a difference!

Why We Do This Work

The Lower Mainland 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 staff work hard behind the scenes to bring high-quality community activities to you. Partnership building, fundraising, outreach, social media, activity logistics, leading on-the-ground, reporting on impacts and more – they do it all!

Ashton Kerr, the Lower Mainland Green Team’s Partnerships Manager led this activity with support from Lyda Salatian, our Founder and Executive Director!