As Dave Harvey retires from his co-leadership position at Park People, he reflects on the incredible journey since founding the organization in 2011.
Why are events in parks important? How do grants fit into Park People’s larger goals for creating change in city parks?
Explore inspiring community-led events funded by our microgrants program, from land-based learning to nature walks and skill-sharing workshops.
How colonialism plays out in park practices and how we can work together to embed reconciliation and decolonization.
Discover ways to help you host events in your local parks during extreme heat events.
Each year, Park People Summits bring together our growing network of urban park changemakers to connect, reflect, and explore what’s possible for more inclusive, community-powered parks in our cities.
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
Are you currently running your park group on your own? Are you just getting your group started and looking for some direction around governance? The team model is a really effective way of working with others on collective goals. How the team model gets applied varies based on the nature of your group and your preferred leadership style. We look at two different park groups to give you a flavour of what the team model might mean for your organization.
It’s no surprise that park groups organize themselves differently from not-for-profit organizations with paid staff. For many volunteers, park work is a “side-hustle” that happens while managing busy work and family responsibilities.
Grassroots Growth, a project from Volunteer Toronto, talks about the various governance models common for smaller organizations like most community park groups. We’re going to cover the team model and address how it’s been applied by two different park groups, differently.
To do this, we spoke with Louise O’Neill, Convenor of Friends of Cedarbrook and Thomson Memorial Park (FCTMP) in Scarborough, Ontario, whose organization recently transitioned from a strong leader model to a leadership team model. We also spoke to Ana Cuciureanu from Toronto’s Friends of Parkway Forest Park (FPFP), an organization that has adopted a hybrid version of the team model that they’re found effective.
By way of definition, a team model means that “all core volunteers work together to make decisions.” Adopting a team model makes sense when your group is small; you are looking for ways to include others in decision making, and working to avoid the burnout that can come with one individual carrying the load as a leader. Your ideas and solutions might turn out to be more creative, and sharing the load can feel good for everyone on the team.
What happens when a team leader or key member leaves? Both Louise and Ana have given this considerable thought.For Louise, the team model build resilience and continuity into her group. For example, she’s already given a member with an interest in social media the reins in running their accounts. Louise figures that two or three people could split the responsibilities that she now manages. “Still, you need one person dedicated to taking on the role of convenor,” says Louise. “Someone has to hold things together.”
Like Louise, Ana recognizes that she’s a figurehead for the group. However, she feels strongly that an agile approach to her team’s leadership will ensure that many people will gain experience in different roles which will help the group remain resilient if she needs to step back for any reason;. “I’m trying to create a lot of mini-mes” she says “so that anyone can step into the lead role on a project and feel confident. We’re definitely getting there as people are gaining experience in different areas.”
If you are just getting your parks group off the ground and hope to do more than a couple events a year, think about the team model of governance. It puts control into more hands of more people and helps you accomplish more than going it alone.
In the early days, Friends of Cedarbrook and Thomson Memorial Park employed a strong leader model. To keep the explanation simple: Louise did everything herself. Eventually, Louise realized that the group could only diversify and grow its presence by involving more people. Also, sharing the leadership role meant building succession planning into her vision for the group. The transition to a team model was made easier by the fact that the group’s events were continually attracting new people who were eager to get more involved. Louis now has a core team of 10 members and a larger group of 60, many of whom help out from time to time.
According to Louise, the most essential roles to fill on a team include those of a treasurer/bookkeeper who manages funds and keeps accounts straight; and of a convenor who sets meetings, administers the membership list, creates agendas and generally keeps things on track. Louise says that a third type of team member could be a marketing person, mostly because they continually attract new people to the group. Each of the team members have specific roles and the team needs to form consensus to make important decisions.
By contrast, Friends of Parkway Forest Park has grown in numbers and has employed the team model from the get-go. So far, the group has been able to successfully function without much formality in the group’s structure. While Ana is technically the group’s figure-head, she doesn’t want to be recognized as the group’s ‘leader’ even though she’s happy to be “the glue” that holds the rest of the team together. “I don’t want to be a leader. I want the group to belong to everyone, but I also know that as the Founder, people see me that way. It’s something I try very hard to resist because its not my style and I don’t think it’s what’s best for this particular group.”
Friends of Cedarbrook and Thomson Memorial Park’s core team members choose the roles they wanted to fulfill. For example, one member is an accountant who offered to do FCTMP’s bookkeeping and keep track of attendance figures. Another member contacts local businesses to solicit donations, while yet another is a professional landscaper spearheads park beautification projects. Louise continues to oversee the group’s administrative duties.
FCTMP has other team roles that are program-based including a cycling coordinator, a nature coordinator, and a knitting enthusiast who organizes the group’s participation in Worldwide Knit in Public Day. Each coordinator works autonomously but makes decisions in consultation with the rest of the core group. The group’s structure is relatively fluid, making space for people to join in for specific projects and efforts as needed.
At Parkway Forest, group members also contribute based on their strengths. However, the group’s membership ebbs and flows largely based on volunteers’ availability. Part of the group’s reality is that many of the group’s members have outside commitments and responsibilities. There’s an inherent recognition that people won’t always be available tonpitch in. “We’re all volunteers with full lives that send us in different directions. We just can’t expect that everyone will always be able to participate, so we’ve created a structure that accommodates that.” Having worked on several projects together, the members know each other well and have an intuitive sense of what each can add to roles like grant writing, events, documentation and outreach. Ana recognizes that this approach may not be effective when new members join, but for now, it works.
The members of Friends of Parkway Forest Park have a core group of members that emerged through their partnerships with social service agencies and other volunteer groups. When someone emerges with skills and interests that intersect with the group, the existing group members discuss whether this person should be added to the core group. There’s no distinction between core group members and any other members. They’re very careful about adding new people to the group to protect the group’s dynamics.
Friends of Cedarbrook and Thomson Memorial Park’s core members have final say on the direction that FCTMP takes and the activities that it carries out. They base their decisions about core group membership on the principle that if you show up to multiple meetings and come out to a few events, you’re a core member. Otherwise, you’re still welcome at any meeting, but not considered a decision maker. The group adopted this approach to address the challenge of working with people who are primarily interested in leveraging the group to further their own agenda. For example, Louise recalls that one group wanted to organize a musical event and tried to get it organized through Friends of Cedarbrook Park, hoping they could avoid permit and insurance fees. “It made us realize that we need to have people commit to a certain extent,” says Louise. “We need to make sure that they are truly interested in our core mandate of improving the park.”
Residents of Canada should be prepared to feel the heat as our climate warms up at twice the global rate. Unfortunately, this means extreme heat events will become hotter, longer, and increasingly commonplace, which does not bode well for our cities. Because of urban heat island – a phenomenon where metropolitan areas experience higher temperatures than outlying areas due to factors like limited greenery and waste heat from densely-packed people –urbanites will feel the heat more than others.
At this time, we should be looking at our cities for solutions – specifically, our parks. Natural landscapes, like parks, mitigate urban heat islands by creating cooler microclimates, which help shield us from the sweltering heat.
In this resource, Park People will outline ways to help you host events in your local parks during extreme heat events.
Recent research shows that racialized and lower-income neighbourhoods in Canada often have less access to quality green spaces than wealthier, whiter areas—and are more exposed to urban heat islands. Even commuting to a park can involve unexpected barriers.
When access to parks is limited, staying cool in summer becomes a matter of health equity, one that puts already marginalized communities at greater risk.
Here are some general guidelines to remember when organizing your park event when it’s hot outside:
Providing refreshing food and drinks is a great way to ensure guests stay happy, healthy, and hydrated. When drafting your menu, here are some considerations to keep at the back of your mind:
Make sure meals and snacks are kept at the correct temperature to prevent food-borne illnesses and stop food from spoiling quickly in the heat. Check out Canada’s food safety website for ways to correctly and safely handle food stuffs.
With extreme heat events also comes heat-related illness – when the body becomes hotter faster than it can cool down. Luckily, heat-related illness is preventable, so it is essential that you take the time to understand and prepare for it.
Leading up to the event, consult local weather forecasts and advisories. It may also be a good idea to get a lay of the land and determine where amenities are in the park. Here are a few resources to help with planning:
Vancouver
Toronto
Montréal
National
Instagram and TikTok are fantastic platforms for park groups to build community, spread the word about events, and show off the beauty and energy of your local green space. Here are some tips to get you started.
Don’t worry about trying to be the next viral superstar. The most effective social media content feels authentic to the person making it. Share what feels fun, interesting, or beautiful to you and chances are others will feel it too.Think about what sorts of posts would best represent you and your work. If your park group is all about social connection (community picnics, outdoor movie nights, or volunteer meet-ups) your content might be light-hearted, casual, humorous, and focus on the people behind your group to encourage more volunteers and attendees. If your group leans more toward stewardship (protecting wildlife, native planting, or park cleanups) then your content might feel more educational to inspire viewers’ curiosity and care for the environment.Whatever your vibe, try to keep your tone and style consistent. A good way to do this is to entrust your social accounts to one person or a small team who understands the group’s personality and goals. It can also help to create a simple document with a few guidelines: things like what hashtags you use, how you describe your group, what kind of language or emojis feel right, and how you want to engage with comments or messages. This makes it easier for new volunteers to pitch in and helps your group feel welcoming and recognizable online.
Spend time on Instagram and Tiktok to understand what content is popular in your area, and what kinds of photos or videos your own group could recreate with your own unique spin.
If your group is more interested in videos, then spend time on Instagram Reels and TikTok. If photos are more your speed, stick to the Instragram feed. Search for hashtags like #parklife, #yourcityname (ex. #Toronto or #YYZ), or hashtags related to your neighbourhood or local parks to get the most relevant content.You’ll quickly see that you don’t need fancy equipment, just a smartphone and perhaps some free online editing software. Here are some more ideas to kick off your thinking:
Social media is, well, social! TikTok and Instagram work best when you build a community, rather than just posting into the void. After you’ve completed your profile and posted a couple of times, consider adding the following accounts:
Make a habit of recognizing others’ efforts and cheer them on. Comments like “great photo,” or “looks like a super event!” are always welcomed (and are likely to get you more followers).
TikTok and Instagram tend to spotlight active accounts, so it’s helpful to post regularly. Content creation doesn’t have to be anyone’s full-time job—a post once a week is great.To make it even easier to stay consistent, consider creating a content calendar. Add your group’s upcoming activities, and make a plan for what content you can share before and afterwards. You can also look to special days like Earth Day or International Women’s Day where you could post relevant content. Finally, consider regular features like “Volunteer Spotlight” or “Throwback Thursday” to highlight past events, share park history, or celebrate your community when you’re not holding events.
When sharing your posts, be sure to use relevant hashtags so more people can find you. Some basics: #parklife #yourcityname #yourparkname #communitygarden #volunteers #naturelovers. Tag your city, neighbourhood accounts, or partner organizations to help boost your reach.
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to be a content creator! Don’t forget to tag us at @parkppl so we can see your beautiful creations .
A picture is truly worth a thousand words. Snapping shots of your park group’s activities can help you attract volunteers, build your social media profile, garner media attention, and make your posters really pop.
Not a pro photographer? Not to worry! Here are some easy tips to take great pictures with your smartphone.
Before you bring out the camera, ask yourself: what story are you trying to tell with your photo? Is it about the natural beauty of your park, the sense of community, or the fun atmosphere at an event?Thinking about your story will help you come up with a list of images you want to capture. For example, if your goal is to attract new volunteers for your park group, your photos should tell the story of the volunteer experience. Your shot list might include pictures showing current volunteers engaged in hands-on activities in the park, chatting with their neighbours, etc.While it’s important to stick to your shot list, you’ll also want to leave space for surprises. If your City Councillor shows up, it would be great to grab a snap for the local papers!
Before snapping photos that include people, especially if you plan to share them publicly, it’s important to get consent. A simple verbal ask is often enough: “Hey, is it okay if I take your photo for our park group’s social media?” For children, always ask a parent or guardian first, and avoid taking identifiable photos of kids without their clear permission.If you’re hosting an event, consider having a sign at the entrance letting people know photos will be taken, and offer a way for folks to opt out (like a sticker or wristband).
It’s just human nature: we’re naturally drawn towards pictures of people’s faces. Unless your only story goal is to highlight local wildlife, you’ll want to show how your park activities bring people together whenever possible.Photos where you can clearly see people’s eyes are most likely to attract attention, so seek to use them throughout your promotions (social media posts, posters, etc).
When people aren’t used to having their picture taken, being asked to pose for the camera can make them uncomfortable. Instead of just saying “Smile!”, try giving out unique prompts like “Smile like that dog we saw on the trail!” or “Think about your favourite fellow volunteer!” Unexpected directions can help bring out genuine expressions.Another great way to help people feel comfortable is to let them see a few shots as you go. If they like what they see, it builds confidence. If not, you can adjust together.
Posed shots can be a good way to ensure you get everyone in the photo doing exactly what you want, but they also run the risk of looking, well, staged. To really tell the story of your park group or event, you’ll want to add several candid shots to the mix so viewers feel like they’re part of the action.Aim to take photos of people while they’re focused on something else: like talking to one another, cleaning up the park, whatever!
Beginner photographers commonly place the subject smack in the middle of the photo. While this can be an interesting stylistic choice, we recommend you experiment with using the rule of thirds.To do so, place your subject (whether it’s a person, a bunch of wildflowers, an animal, whatever) in the right or left third of the frame. Likewise, instead of composing your photo with the land-sky horizon cutting straight through the middle, try giving the sky one-third of the picture.
Remember, your camera is your point of view. If you take a photo while standing normally with the camera near your face, the viewer of the resulting photos will have the same perspective—and it’s one they likely have all the time.To make things more interesting, try switching up your perspective. Crouch down low, get up on a rock or bench or take a few steps up a hill to get above your subject. These techniques can help create a sense of scale and reveal more of the background of your image.
The best photos use light strategically to brighten peoples’ faces and highlight their features. Use natural light when you can and always shoot with light behind you, not facing into the light.Sunshine is a great natural light source, but direct sunlights can also throw harsh light and shadows, particularly in the middle of the afternoon. If it’s a very sunny day, try taking photos in the shade to soften the shadows.One hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset is known as the “magic hour.” During these times the sun is low in the sky, which produces a beautiful soft light. One thing to keep in mind while shooting during “magic hour” is how fast the light changes. You definitely want to factor in any set-up time to ensure you take advantage of magic hour.
Took some great photos, but maybe the lighting was a little off? Not to worry, you don’t need fancy software to make your photos pop. Free tools like Canva make it easy to crop, brighten, and add text or filters right from your phone or computer.
After the event, choose a handful of your best shots and spend a few minutes adjusting the lighting, straightening the horizon, or adding your park group’s name and event title. It’s best to keep it simple: your goal is to enhance the photo, not overdo it.
Finding volunteers doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. With a little intention and care, your group can create a welcoming volunteer experience that keeps people coming back.
Doug Bennet from Friends of Sorauren Park has spent years supporting and growing the park group’s base of active volunteers. Here are some of his top tips to create an engaged, connected, and joyful volunteer team.
Early on in their work together, Doug and the Friends of Sorauren Park realized that volunteer outreach kept falling to the bottom of their agenda. To change that, they began dedicating entire meetings to honing their recruitment and volunteer engagement strategies.This intentional focus helped them to build and maintain a strong and diverse core team that’s now large enough to pull off big park events without tiring out their members.Here are some prompting questions to help kick off your volunteer recruitment strategy meeting:
Who are we looking to reach? Who are our ideal volunteers? What skills, interests, or lived experiences would be valuable? Are there people in our neighbourhood or network who might love to help but haven’t been asked? Are there barriers that might be preventing people from getting involved (childcare, accessibility, communication style)? If so, how could we reduce these barriers? What’s the time commitment we require, and how can we also include people with busier schedules?
How will we find them? Where do potential volunteers spend their time (either online or in-person)? How can we show up there? What stories, images, or messages might catch someone’s attention and inspire them to get involved?
How will we make volunteering feel welcoming and worthwhile? How will we make it clear what volunteers can expect and how they can help? What would help people feel confident and connected right away? How will we ask volunteers for feedback and ideas to improve their experience?
Now that you know who you’re looking for, and what they’ll be doing, you’re ready to plan your outreach activities.
Think about the places your neighbours already spend time (such as community bulletin boards, local social media groups, farmers’ markets, libraries, or park events) and share a friendly, specific invitation to join your group. Use photos and stories that show what volunteering looks like, so people can picture themselves getting involved. Includes clear next steps like signing up for a newsletter or attending an upcoming event. The goal is to create lots of easy entry points for people to connect with your group.
You may want to test out a couple of approaches depending on your community, your capacity, and the technology you have available. For example, Friends of Sorauren Park first created a message board for volunteers, but found that they weren’t getting much traction. They swapped the message board for a simple sign-up form and noticed an increase in volunteer interest.
First impressions go a long way. A warm in-person introduction, a simple orientation email, or an invite to a casual planning meeting can all help set the tone for why someone would want to volunteer with you. Giving people a sense of what to expect also makes it easier for them to step in and feel like part of the team.To make sure everyone feels properly welcomed, consider starting a Volunteer Ambassadors Program. Doug’s group has seen the value of experienced volunteers stepping up to welcome and mentor new folks. Ambassadors can help answer questions, share their knowledge, and create a positive first experience for newcomers.
Over time, Doug noticed that volunteers who felt socially connected to the group were more likely to stay involved. Creating opportunities for people to get to know each other helps turn volunteering into something more meaningful than just a task. This could look like hosting a potluck, organizing a group photo at an event, or setting up a casual chat thread where people can share ideas and stay in touch.
As your group grows, some volunteers will naturally want to take on bigger roles. It helps to plan for this and encourage their development by creating opportunities to build their skills and confidence over time. Workshops, training sessions, or even informal mentoring can help volunteers feel valued and supported.
Doug saw this in action at Friends of Sorauren Park. When he stepped down as Chair, long-time volunteer Joël Campbell was ready to step into the role. Joël had already led the group’s Adopt-A-Park-Tree program for several years, which gave him experience and built trust with the group. Because of this, the transition into leadership felt smooth and natural for Joël and for the whole team.It’s great practice to continually consider who might take over when current leaders step away from the group, and then make sure they have the tools to do so with confidence.
You really can’t thank volunteers enough. Doug and the Friends of Sorauren Park make a point of highlighting volunteers in their communications, and they’ve also partnered with a local sponsor to host volunteer appreciation events.Depending on the size of your group recognition might look different. If you’re not able to coordinate an event, consider posting photos on social media, sharing quotes from volunteers in a newsletter, or creating a simple infographic to show the impact of their work.Recognition helps volunteers feel seen and reminds everyone that their time and efforts matter.
Thanks to Doug at Friends of Sorauren Park for the great insights that come from years of successful work with volunteers!
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Below are some key national grants that could help fund your next awesome park project.
At the bottom of the resource are options for more specific provincial and municipal grants.
Catherine Donnelly FoundationFunds projects that increase public support for fast and deep-reaching climate change solutions. Learn more
Climate Action and Awareness FundSupports Canadian-made projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more
Community Tree Grants CanadaOffers grants and technical support to community greening initiatives on publicly-accessible properties. Learn more
TD Park People GrantsSupports local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship. Learn more
EcoAction Community Funding ProgramProvides financial support to non-profit and non-government organizations for Canadian communities to take on local action-based projects that produce measurable, positive effects on the environment and to build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities in the future. Learn more
Patagonia Corporate GrantsSupports local groups that work to preserve the environment and protect local habitats and frontline communities. Learn more
Richardson FoundationOffers to fund charitable organizations that support youth initiatives and environmental issues. Learn more
Scotts Canada Gro For Good GrantsSupports community groups to develop sustainable gardens and green spaces in their communities. Learn more
TD Friends of the Environment FoundationFunds community work and park improvement projects through operating and capital grants. Learn more
Honda Canada Foundation (HCF)Funds educational institutions, charitable non-profit organizations or any national institution in the fields of family, environment, engineering and education. Learn more
Meridian Good Neighbour ProgramForges partnerships with local charities, not-for-profits, and public organizations so they can work together to meet each community’s needs. Learn more
TakingItGlobal Rising YouthSupports youth to participate in and becoming key stakeholders in strengthening global and local social movements. Learn more
Telus Community GrantFunds initiatives from Canadian registered charities that focus on local, grassroots community-based health and education programs that help youth reach their full potential. Learn more
Canadian Arts CouncilSupports professional art groups and non-profit organizations working in community parks and public spaces. Learn moreHeritage Canada – Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and HeritageFunds local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations. Learn more
Richardson FoundationFunds registered Canadian charitable organizations that support visual and performing arts, education, youth initiatives. Learn more
Canada Post Community FoundationSupports organizations and groups in delivering and expanding child and youth programming, including sports and healthy living initiatives. Learn more
Canadian Tire Jumpstart/Bon départ Community Development GrantThe operational stream assists organizations with operational and administrative costs. The programming stream helps organizations develop or sustain sports and recreational programming for kids in financial need and youth with disabilities. Learn more
ParticipACTION Community Better ChallengeEncourages Canadians to get active in search of Canada’s Most Active Community. Learn more
Medavie Active Living GrantEncourages access to physical activity with a focus on supporting increased participation across a population. Learn more
Indigenous Youth Roots Creation Grants Supports youth-led projects seeking to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth. Learn more
CRRF’s National Anti-Racism Fund
Strengthens the capacity of racialized communities, religious minority groups and Indigenous people to carry out their own work to combat racism and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue, learning and sharing with the broader public. Learn more
Heritage Canada – Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives ProgramProvides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament. Learn more
Hydro Flask Parks for AllSupports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and providing more equitable access to parks. Learn more
National Healing Forest Initiative
Supports groups or organizations to develop a healing forest in their community – a dedicated forest, garden, or green space – as a place for healing, learning, sharing, and reflection about Canada’s history and the legacy of Indian residential schools. Learn more
Enabling Accessibility Fund
Provides funding to eligible capital projects that creates opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community activities or access employment opportunities. Learn more
Communities For Gender Equality
Supports women, girl, gender-diverse and Two-Spirit-led and serving organizations to advance gender equality across the country. Learn more
Community Foundation FundsInvests in local initiatives that help to make Canadian communities better places to live, work and play. Click here to find your local Foundation.
British Columbia Grants & FundingExplore the different grants and funding dedicated to groups and organizations located in B.C. Learn more
Ontario Grants & FundingExplore the different grants and funding available for groups and organizations located in Ontario. Learn more
Grants & Funding in other ProvincesAlberta:
Nova Scotia:
New Brunswick:
Prince Edward Island:
Manitoba:
Atlantic Canada:
When your park group’s events, programs, or advocacy activities get featured in the media, it can boost your visibility, attract more volunteers, and even rally support for park improvements.
Local newspapers, radio stations, blogs, and podcasts are always on the lookout for interesting stories. With the right hook and approach, your group can land valuable media coverage! Here’s how to make it happen.
Build a list of journalists and media outlets that cover local news events or the focus issues that your park group is seeking to amplify.
You can maximize your media opportunities by tailoring a single pitch for different outlets. For example, let’s say you’re launching a new community garden program:
Timing is everything when pitching to the media. Different outlets have varying lead times, so it’s essential to plan accordingly:
Pro Tip: Tie your pitch to seasonal themes like spring cleanups, summer picnics, fall festivals, or winter activities to make it timely and relevant.
Most journalists prefer email, so your subject line and opening paragraph are crucial. Be concise, clear, and compelling. Your email should answer these questions:
Include a photo or a link to visuals. Before-and-after photos of park improvements or images of community members in action are especially effective.
The easier you make it for journalists to cover your story, the better your chances of getting featured. Think about how you can offer the following:
If you don’t hear back from a journalist, send them a polite follow-up email:
Don’t sweat it if you don’t hear back about your follow-up. Instead of emailing them again, take the opportunity to revisit your pitch. Could it be more engaging or relevant? Experiment with different angles to refine your message in the future.
Media relationships take time to build. Stay proactive by sharing updates about your park group regularly. This keeps your organization on their radar for future stories.
With these practical tips, your park group can secure meaningful media coverage, amplify your efforts, and inspire your community to take part in creating better parks for everyone!
Pumpkin parades are a creative way to celebrate local creativity and give carved jack-o’-lanterns a second life.
Usually held the next evening after Halloween, pumpkin parades encourage neighbours to light up local pathways and parks in a stunning display of community spirit. Free, family-friendly, and great for photos, these parades also encourage sustainability as volunteers arrange to compost submissions after the parade is over.
Pumpkin parades are also a made-in-Canada phenomenon! Back in 2004, the Friends of Sorauren Park kicked off the trend when they organized local residents to publicly display their creations in the park. From about 100 pumpkins in that first year to over 3,000 today—and with copycat parades now being held across the continent—the pumpkin parade is here to stay.
Ready to turn your own park or neighborhood into a glowing showcase? Here’s a step-by-step guide to make your pumpkin parade a smashing success.
Take a walk around the park with your community park group to choose the best route for your pumpkin parade. It can be hard to predict how many jack-o-lanterns will be part of your parade in the first year, so make sure you have the flexibility to make the path longer if necessary. Keep wheelchair and stroller accessibility in mind, and find opportunities to place pumpkins on different levels for optimum visibility.
Most park events of this size require a permit. In Toronto, there’s even a special Pumpkin Parade permit which makes the compost process simple and affordable. Check with your municipality or parks department to see if you require a permit or special insurance.
For effective (and free!) promotions, use social media to post in neighbourhood groups and email community centers, elementary schools, local businesses, and your city councillor asking them to spread the word through their own newsletters, bulletin boards, and social accounts. Put up posters in high-traffic areas like libraries, coffee shops, and grocery stores, and distribute flyers at local events leading up to the parade. Engage local media outlets—like newspapers, radio stations, and blogs—to feature the event in their community calendars. Finally, invite community members to help with promotion by tagging friends or sharing photos of their pumpkins as they prepare for the big night. The more people feel connected to the event, the more excitement and turnout you’ll generate!
You’ll need a few helping hands to prepare a great parade. Schedule a few volunteers to arrive early to get the pathway started and help people place their pumpkins. Community members can drop off jack-o-lanterns earlier than you might expect, with the after-school period being the most convenient time for many. Our park group experts advise groups to be on-site by 3:30pm.Volunteers can also distribute candles and help to light (and re-light) jack-o-lanterns throughout the night. Finally, you’ll want to have volunteers set up a table to collect sign-ups for your e-newsletter and ask people if they want to sign on to volunteer for next year’s Pumpkin Parade.
Will you clean up the park the night of the Parade or the next morning? Either way, you’ll need lots of volunteers with wheelbarrows or wagons to efficiently move the pumpkins from the ground to the compost bin, and to remove all of the candles from the jack-o-lanterns. The City of Toronto supports this effort by providing organic waste bins, and the pumpkins are turned into compost that can be used in parks and gardens throughout the city.
Make sure to let people know what to bring and what time to gather.
Food is a great way to bring people together in parks! Adding an outdoor picnic to events like a park stewardship day or a harvest festival can make the experience even more enjoyable.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you plan a successful event—from securing permits to post-picnic cleanup.
When selecting your location, think about accessibility, proximity to parking or transit, and amenities like restrooms, water fountains, and shade. Read our resource on making your event accessible and inclusive to help guide your thinking.Once you’ve picked the perfect spot, research your park’s rules and regulations. Many parks require permits for group events, especially if you’ll be reserving picnic tables, bringing grills, or hosting activities.Here’s a general guide, but note: regulations will vary depending on the city you live in. Contact your local parks department to confirm requirements and apply for permits well in advance.
Learn more about events permits in the following cities:
Keep the menu simple, portable, and easy to serve. Finger foods like sandwiches, wraps, and fruit skewers work perfectly. If grilling is allowed, burgers, hot dogs, or veggie options can elevate your picnic. Provide plenty of water and refreshing drinks, and don’t forget desserts like cookies or cupcakes! Bring coolers or insulated bags to keep perishables fresh and ensure food safety.
You’ll also want to provide diverse food options to accommodate different dietary needs and preferences—such as vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, halal and kosher options. Be sure to clearly label ingredients and allergens at the event.
Note: If you’re advertising your picnic as open to the public and are serving or selling food, you may be required to contact your local Public Health Authority and fill out a Temporary Food Establishment Application as part of your Special Event Permit.Only food that’s prepared in an inspected kitchen (a commercial kitchen or a community kitchen) can be served to the general public. If you’re not buying prepared food, or do not have access to this type of kitchen, consider encouraging community members to bring their own picnic basket of homemade food. The experience of eating together, rather than sharing food, can help you get around some permit hurdles.
Bonus tip: There are some foods that are considered lower risk foods. Focus on them to keep your application and health inspection simple.
A successful park picnic is more than just food—it’s about the fun! Think about activities that can engage attendees of all ages. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Once your permit has been approved and your agenda is planned, it’s time to let your community know about the picnic!
A good picnic leaves the park as beautiful as it was before. Encourage attendees to clean up by providing designated trash and recycling bags. Enlist a few volunteers to help with final cleanup efforts, ensuring that nothing is left behind. If compost bins are available, separate food scraps appropriately. Consider adding a “Leave No Trace” message to your promotions to emphasize sustainability, and encourage participants to bring and use reusable plates and utensils.
Read our resource on how to plan a zero-waste event in your park.
A community picnic is a great way to start a local community park group or find new volunteers for an already established one.Collect people’s email addresses on the day of the picnic so you can follow-up with them on future park activities, and talk to people about what other events they would like to see in the park. A movie night? Nature walk? Community garden? The sky’s the limit!
I’ve always been drawn to the sun. Like a housecat, I’ll seek out a sunbeam and bask in it all day. Needless to say, the dark and damp Vancouver winters aren’t usually my favourite time of the year.
But I’m proud to announce that this was the year I finally pushed myself to get outside and brave the elements. And I’ve never appreciated the wet winter weather more!
Feelings of freedom and pure joy overtook me as I welcomed the raindrops splashing on my face. I felt like a little kid again as I ignored all the usual nagging worries of frizzy hair. I accepted the rain and to my surprise, it was delightful.
Since we can’t pick and choose our weather, it’s important to get outside and enjoy nature—no matter what the forecast.
Here are 10 drizzle-friendly ideas for easy family activities, plus some guidance for parks groups looking to organize all-weather events for the public. We promise they’ll have you looking forward to the next rainy day.
Do you have any other tips or ideas for rainy day activities? We’d love to hear from you!