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?
Here are some valuable tips to create a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment for participants of all abilities, backgrounds, ages, and gender identities!
Park clean-ups bring neighbours together, foster connection, and leave a lasting impact—explore our 5-step guide to get started.
Explore inspiring community-led events funded by our microgrants program, from land-based learning to nature walks and skill-sharing workshops.
How a temporary plaza in Montreal’s Parc Marcelin-Wilson was created to offer a gathering space for youth, with design improvements informed by Metalude’s insights through direct observations and youth engagement.
Come together with community members, park professionals, and municipal staff at the 2025 Park People Vancouver Forum!
Come together with community members, park professionals, and municipal staff at the 2025 Park People Toronto Summit!
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
Join us and hundreds of park changemakers—NGOs, community groups, municipal staff, and advocates from across the Greater Toronto Area and beyond—for a day of knowledge sharing, connection, and inspiration.
This network-wide gathering gathers those dedicated to creating vibrant, accessible, and climate-resilient parks and public spaces.
What to Expect:
Join the conversation on the future of urban parks and public spaces in Toronto, and gain fresh perspectives from diverse voices in the community.
Details on the program and registration will be shared soon. Stay tuned!
Daniels Spectrum is located on the unceded Ancestral shared lands of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit Nations.
Daniels Spectrum is a community cultural hub in Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood. It is home to many outstanding arts-based and community-focused organizations, and contains several event, performance and exhibition spaces that host tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of arts and cultural events each year.
Building access:
Daniel spectrum is fully accessible by Ontario standards. Barrier-free access to the building via the Dundas Street entrance.
Amenities and Support:
Email Cynthia Hashie to let us know how we can support your attendance at chashie@parkpeople.ca.
This event will be facilitated in English.
Daniel Spectrum is located at 585 Dundas St E, Toronto, ON M5A 2B7. The main entrance is on Regent Park Blvd, barrier-free entrance is on Dundas Street.
Parking:
Paid public parking at Daniels Spectrum is available in a lot located underneath the building (approx. 100 spaces). The vehicle entrance is located at the rear of the building, accessed via Sackville Street on the western side of the building. Parking is $10.00 for 8 hours. We encourage you to come via public transit if possible.
Public transportation:
Cycling: A Bike Share station is located a 12-minute walk away.
If transportation assistance is needed, please let us know, and we can arrange coverage upon request.
Music will be playing in the background during the event. It will be at low/moderate volume.
Interaction level will be high. Participants are encouraged to initiate conversations and engage in discussion with others. However, this is optional.
Come together with community members, nature enthusiasts, park professionals, and municipal staff at the Park People Vancouver Forum on April 3, 2025.
This network-wide event is completely free and offers a great opportunity to meet or reconnect with others who share your passion for green spaces. Join the conversation about shaping the future of urban parks and public spaces, and gain fresh perspectives from diverse voices in the community.
All are welcome! Whether you’re deeply involved in Vancouver’s parks or simply curious to learn more, we’d love to see you at the forum.
From 1:00 PM
Join us from 1:00 pm at the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre. In between tours and talks, take part in engaging activities, meet like-minded people, and discover new initiatives at our community stations and discussion tables. Fun games and activities will also be available.
If you do not wish to join a guided tour or visit the garden on your own, we suggest arriving at 2:00 pm.
1:30 PM
Space is limited! Register early to secure your spot.
Pirates and Astronauts – Led by the Vancouver Botanical Garden Association
Ever wonder how important plants are to human survival? Come join us for a walk through the garden and learn about how pirates and astronauts, two groups that seemingly have nothing in common, actually share a very similar relationship to plants.
Trees, Our Oldest Resource – Led by the Vancouver Botanical Garden Association and Sayemin Naheen from Solastalgia (Accessible tour)
Many species of trees have been around since the beginning of time and have endured the various changes to the Earth’s environment since then. Yet, many of these species are now struggling to survive due to human activity. Join us for this tour to learn more about what threats trees face and how botanical gardens work to protect them.
A Taste of Forest Bathing (Shinrin Yoku) – Led by Tamiko Suzuki, trained ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) Forest Guide
In this walk, you’ll be introduce you to Shinrin Yoku or Forest Bathing, which aims to connect people to the more-than-human being world around us. We won’t have time for a full length experience, so consider this a “taste” of what a Forest Bathing walk is about!
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You can also visit the Botanical Garden on your own before the official start of the event at 2.30 pm. Self-directed digital walking tours are available here.
2:30 PM
With Talaysay Campo, Indigenous Business Advocate and Co-Owner of Talaysay Tour, which offers immersive experiences to discover Indigenous culture and nature’s healing.
3:45 PM
Park leaders will share insights and inspiring stories on how community-driven initiatives and local collaborations are transforming parks into vibrant spaces that foster social connection.
With:
This panel will be moderated by Robyn Chan, Project Manager for the False Creek South Community Housing Trust and the False Creek South Neighbourhood Association, and member of Park People’s board.
5:00 PM
Enjoy finger food while exchanging ideas, sharing inspiring projects, and envisioning the future of our urban parks.
Talaysay Campo is a proud member of the Squamish and Sechelt Nations. Raised in a traditional household, Talaysay learned the…
Tamiko Suzuki is a trained ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy) forest guide. Recently retired from a career in…
Grace Nombrado is founder and Executive Director of Free the Fern Stewardship Society, an environmental nonprofit based on the Champlain…
Fernando Garci-Crespo Santaló is an MA student at IRES working under the supervision of Milind Kandlikar with an interest in…
Dennis Josey a 2024 Senior Parks People Program Leader is a graduate of St. Francis Xavier University (BA Sociology and…
Robyn Chan is the Project Manager for the False Creek South Community Housing Trust and the False Creek South Neighbourhood…
Sayemin is a climate advocate committed to building a more climate-just future—one project at a time. She is passionate about…
Secure your spot and book your guided tour on Eventbrite
VanDusen Botanical Garden is located on the unceded Ancestral shared lands of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Nestled in the heart of Vancouver, the VanDusen Botanical Garden is a 55-acre oasis featuring over 7,500 plant species and varieties from around the globe. Highlights include totem poles, large stone and wooden sculptures, a maze, a Korean Pavilion, a cypress pond, and a seasonal heritage vegetable garden.
The award-winning Visitor Centre, with its green roof and orchid-inspired design, provides a beautiful indoor space overlooking the lake and garden, an ideal setting for our forum.
Attendees of the Park People Vancouver Forum will have free access to explore the garden before the official start time (between 1 and 2.30 pm). Please note that the garden will close at 5 pm.
Facility and garden access: The Visitor Centre, Administration Building, Floral Hall, Shaughnessy Restaurant, and most paved garden paths are fully accessible to wheelchairs, scooters, and walkers.
Touring the garden: Some of the pathways, both paved and unpaved, can be uneven. Care should be taken for those using walking aids. Some steps do not have handrails or handrails on both sides.
Guided tours:
Participation in the tours is optional.
Amenities and Support
The event will be held at the Visitor Centre of VanDusen Botanical Garden, located at 5151 Oak St, Vancouver, BC V6M 1A2.
Registered attendees will receive free access to the garden—simply show your ticket at the entrance.
Parking: The VanDusen Botanical Garden parking lot is located on West 37th Ave, just off Oak St. Parking is free, and accessible spaces are available. A designated accessible drop-off loop is located near the garden’s front entrance on Oak St. The parking lot is about a 5-minute walk from the Visitor Centre.
We’ll have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available. Water stations will be on-site, so we encourage you to bring a reusable bottle to help reduce waste.
Ice cream and finger food will be served during the event, with gluten-free and vegan options available.
The forum is rain or shine. The main event will be indoors, but please dress appropriately for the tours.
We want to make the event accessible to everyone. Upon request, we can cover local travel expenses and offer a flat rate for childcare costs, subject to available funds. For more details, please contact Joy at jralamboarisoa@parkpeople.ca.