Park People | Rachel Yanchyshyn

COVID-19 has seriously impacted our access to and use of public spaces. This is especially true in communities that are already experiencing systemic inequalities.

The Healthy Communities Initiative is a $31 million investment from the Government of Canada to support communities as they create and adapt public spaces to respond to the new realities of COVID-19. Projects funded through the Healthy Communities Initiative will create safe and vibrant public spaces, improve mobility options and provide innovative digital solutions to connect people and improve health.

Photo credit: Wex POPS. This photo was taken in 2018.

Organizations have shown tremendous creativity and resourcefulness in developing temporary and longer-lasting solutions that enable people to connect and access public spaces safely while still respecting public health measures. In a recent Community Mobilization Session, Park People highlighted some inspiring projects we have seen in recent years.

These can inspire project submissions

Red Embers– Indigenous weaving and art installation on gates in a city park
Flemo Farm– A 2-acre community food garden in a hydro corridor
MABELLEpantry– A food security program in response to the COVID-19 shutdown emergency
WexPOPS–Temporary seating and native gardens in a parking lot
Milky Way Indigenous Initiative-Greenest City–Indigenous garden in a community space
CAP Jarry Forêt Éphémère–Pop-up art installation in the park of recycled Christmas trees
SINGA Québec- Deconfinons l’espoir– Travelling photo exhibition walk for newcomers, to warm up in winter and reduce isolation
La forêt nourricière de Lac-St-Charles– Green infrastructure project in the form of an edible forest
Le Carré et sa ruelle– Beautification of a Montreal laneway through botanical painting workshops
Park Ave Community Bake oven-Volunteer-run, wood-fired community oven that is located inside a custom-built structure that transforms into a food preparation area, alongside a community garden and orchard
Hives for Humanity-Hastings Folk Garden–Community garden in the downtown eastside, serving vulnerable community members
Still Moon Arts Society -The Spectacular Dawn Chorus–Virtual birdwatching workshop followed by community members recording the dawn chorus, all observations shared on a digital platform
Flyover Park–an innovative park project empowering the next generation of city builders in Calgary
East Van Skate Crows–roller skating group formed during COVID, workshops on DIY roller-skating pop-up infrastructure (skate rails)
Springboard Performance- ContainR Youth mural project–Team of youth painting murals on shipping containers used for public art performances and installations

The projects linked here are provided as to sources of inspiration. For eligibility details, please be sure to check specifics on the Community Foundation website.

With funding between $5,000 and $250,000, the Healthy Communities Initiative aims to support local efforts to develop small-scale infrastructure solutions, programming and services for communities across Canada. Local governments, charities, Indigenous communities and nonprofits are all welcome to apply for funding.

Funding can be used for adapting public spaces, or for programming or services that respond to COVID-19 and serve the public or a community disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Organizations are encouraged to engage the community when designing their projects.

Read more in the Applicant Guide, attend an upcoming event and the deadline to apply is June 25, 2021.

Watch our webinar on Simple ways to create vibrant and safe spaces during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has given Canadians a greater appreciation for the role parks and green spaces play in supporting our physical and mental health as well as the resilience of our communities.

Park People, with the support of the TD Ready Commitment, has launched this year’s TD Park People Grant program to help build the vital connection between people and parks at a time when people need it most.

In 2021, TD Park People Grants will support the work of 72 community groups across the country with micro-grants of $2,000 to support activities that promote environmental education, sustainability and stewardship in Canada’s parks and green spaces. This year, at least 50% of all grants will be given to underserved community groups, ensuring equity-seeking groups are involved in shaping the natural spaces that matter to them.

An activity organized by Le Carré et sa ruelle in 2020 thanks to the TD Park People Grants Program. Photo credit: Marie-Hélène Roch.

Throughout 2020, we were amazed and inspired by the in-person and virtual activities that connect people to parks and nature.
Some examples included:

Vancouver’s Still Moon Arts Society invited the community to tune into nature and create a virtual symphony of bird songs to celebrate bird month. A local expert delivered an online presentation about early morning bird songs and what they mean. Then at 5:00 am the following day, participants headed outdoors to listen to the dawn bird chorus and record a minute-long audio clip of birds in their neighbourhood. These recordings were shared with Still Moon Arts, who compiled them into the Spectacular Dawn Chorus playlist available on their website.
Springbank Hill Community Association in Calgary celebrated the city’s annual Neighbour Day with the Tokens of Hope Project. Over 200 wooden tokens and paints were given away at the community park. Then, neighbours decorated tokens with personal messages of hope and returned the tokens to the park, decorating a bridge. The tokens remained on display throughout the summer to lift the spirits of anyone walking by, and to beautify the park.
The Neighbours of Meadowvale Park in Ottawa coordinated an Eco I Spy Challenge for the residents and children of the neighbourhood. A list of pollinator plants in bloom and native tree species with photos was provided to participants and the hunt was on to search for examples of these plants in the neighbourhood. Participants could submit pictures of their successful finds for a chance to win a gift certificate from a local business.

A pollinator garden. Photo credit: Friends of Dallington Pollinator Garden.

Starting today, qualified organizations and community groups who are interested in connecting their community to their parks and green spaces are encouraged to apply to receive a $2,000 grant to host their activities between April 17 and December 31, 2021. The application process is simple, and we’ve developed a number of resources to help groups host engaging community events that help build the vital connection between people and parks. The deadline to apply is March 1, 2021.

Made possible by a great collaboration:

Park People takes part in a new Healthy Communities Initiative

These can inspire project submissions

TD Park People Grants Build Vital Connections Between People and Parks

Park People takes part in a new Healthy Communities Initiative

These can inspire project submissions

TD Park People Grants Build Vital Connections Between People and Parks

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