Thank you to everyone who participated in our TD Tree Days event:
Ana, Anais, Anne, Avery, Chloe, Chris, Dennis, Devin, Diana, Elaine, Erika, Ian, Irelynd, Jasmine, James, Jenn and her son, Jeremy, Jieun, Judy D., Judy S., Karen W., Karen C., Kath, Katie, Lingan, Maddie, Maria, Nick, Ning, Parminder, Peter, Ryan, Travis, and Xing
Impacts
- 34 community members were engaged
- 19 participants planted trees / shrubs for the first time
- 14 participants visited Portage Park for the first time
- 110 hours were contributed towards restoring local habitat
- 310 native trees and shrubs were planted, including: Douglas Fir, Garry Oak, Big Leaf Maple, Tall Oregon Grape, Oceanspray, Nootka Rose, Red Flowering Currant, Pacific Ninebark, Red-Osier Dogwood, and Red Elderberry
- 5 cubic metres (31 bathtubs) of invasive English ivy and English holly was removed from the park to help create space for the native trees
- 600 square metres of habitat was revitalized through this activity
Highlights
- This was a TD Tree Days event organized with TD and guidance and support from the Town of View Royal
- After being postponed due to extreme weather, we were so fortunate on this day to have very mild fall weather with no rain at all during the activity!
- We organized 2 activities in Portage Park East earlier this year to remove invasive plants to prepare it for planting. Read summaries and see photos at the links below:
- All ages, backgrounds, abilities & experience levels came out including TD employees, families, students, working professionals, retirees, first timers, & returning GVGTers
- People joined us from all over the Greater Victoria region including from right next door to the park!
- We enjoyed warm tea, veggies, apples, granola bars and mandarin oranges to keep us fuelled throughout the day!
- A strong sense of community was felt as people worked closely together to revitalize this urban forest. Everyone brought positive energy to this day!
Art Inspired by Nature!
One of our lovely community members, Avery, created a beautiful piece of art the night before this TD Tree Days event!
Thank you so much Avery for sharing this beautiful artwork with us!
One of our youngest participants of the day was inspired by the English ivy we removed and created some English ivy bracelets!
We love seeing the way these activities inspire people in different wonderful ways!
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, James and Rennie!
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.
Guidance & Support
Thank you to the Town of View Royal for being a Community Investment Partner to make our work in View Royal 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 to all of the parks staff for helping coordinate the delivery of plants to the park.
Thank you Chris, View Royal’s Habitat Restoration Coordinator for helping facilitate the activity and ensure a smooth and fun day!
In-Kind Support
A big thank you to our in-kind supporters: Blume, Green Beaver, Gathering Place and Myni, for providing their health-focused, eco-friendly 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 Viloka Luna 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.
At the forefront is Kaitlin Warren, the Program Manager for the Greater Victoria Green Team, whose vision drives our efforts. She’s supported by Viloka Luna, our Partnerships Manager, ensuring every aspect runs smoothly behind the scenes. Together, they’re not just making plans; they’re building a brighter, greener future for our community.