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 Toronto Park Summit!
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
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!
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.
Born and raised in the Squamish and Sechelt Nations, Talaysay Campo is a respected Indigenous entrepreneur, health and wellness advocate,…
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 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
This event will be facilitated in English.
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.
Public transportation:
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.
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.
This case study is part of the 2023 Canadian City Parks Report, showcasing Inspiring projects, people, and policies from across Canada that offer tangible solutions to the most pressing challenges facing city parks.
In Park People’s recent survey of stewardship program participants in large urban parks, 97% said stewardship contributes to their mental well-being, and 90% to their physical health. Yet, our survey also hinted at critical gaps in who has access to these benefits, with participants disproportionately identifying as cis-gendered women, able-bodied and white.
In North Vancouver, the city was noticing similar gaps in its City Park Stewards program—a city-led initiative established in 2001 that offers monthly volunteer events where residents can engage in activities like invasive pulls, native plantings, and educational workshops. To help reach under-represented groups, the city applied for a $5000 grant from BC Healthy Communities intended to support upstream health benefits in the community.
“We applied with the idea that we could enhance community cohesion and sense of belonging through the park stewardship program by increasing inclusivity and diversity.”
Anu Garcha, Planning Assistant at the City of North Vancouver
When the grant was successful, the city began outreach to partner organizations that serve diverse populations including underhoused communities, newcomers, and at-risk youth, as well as promoting through other city programs like English classes at the public library.
“Building these relationships is very important because it helps us connect with different people in the community.”
Anu Garcha
At the end of the events, city staff invite participants to share feedback about their experience in a voluntary exit interview. The interview includes prompts about whether participants felt welcome and included, the impact of the events on their sense of connection to others and the environment, and ideas for improvement. Importantly, interview participants are offered honoraria in recognition of their time and insights.
Participants have shared many benefits from the program, including discovering new green spaces, learning more about local ecology, and making new friends.
City staff are taking direction from the interviews to continue maximizing these benefits, said Angela Negenman, Environmental Coordinator at the City of North Vancouver.
“For those experiencing homelessness, maybe this is something that could give them an edge to get a landscaping job, right? If we are able to figure out what those things are through this process, we’ll be able to improve the program.”
Angela Negenman, Environmental Coordinator at the City of North Vancouver
The conversations have also unearthed important barriers. For example, city staff learned that getting to the events can be a challenge—not just in terms of accessing transportation, but also feeling comfortable venturing to new parts of the city. In response, the city has provided free bus passes to participants, and when possible, a staff member from the partner organization accompanies participants to the park.
“I wouldn’t have thought of [these barriers] if they hadn’t been shared with us. It’s definitely eye-opening.”
Angela Negenman
The city held a community meeting with residents who selected a smaller 10,000 square foot space in the park to be a programmed pollinator habitat, which would be stewarded by the community group Cianchino created with ongoing support from the city. In the future Cianchino said she wants to implement a QR code system in locations identified for potential naturalization asking residents to let the city know how they currently use the space.
Supporting community stewards will be a key part of the project’s ongoing success. Working with volunteers, Cianchino led the group’s first “bio blitz,” where residents measure the number of pollinators before the planting of native species this fall. Cianchino also works with the group to discuss what people can do in their own yards to support naturalization efforts. The core of the Eco Park Strategy, she said, is a series of linked habitats and green corridors,
“and you can’t just do that through public land. It’s critical that we educate landowners and help them build capacity to naturalize their spaces in a manner that works for them.”
Karley Cianchino, City of Brampton Environmental Project Specialist
Another learning is that outreach is more effective ‘offline,’ through posters and in-person visits, and must be ongoing, as there is high turnover at many of these organizations. For example, participants from a local shelter are often only there for short-term stays.
It’s not just participants who benefit from the park stewards program. For the city, the program is important in educating the public, building ongoing stewardship habits, and restoring degraded natural areas.
Another unexpected benefit is a morale boost for parks staff. Negenman noted that for operations staff involved with the program, engaging directly with the community and seeing public education in action “just gives them a different perspective on the work.”
These are benefits that Negenman knows firsthand, too: “it’s definitely inspiring, it fills my bucket.”
The Vancouver Park Board is now four years into their 25-year parks and recreation master plan, VanPlay. With a focus on equity, population growth, and evolving demographics, this strategy sets the stage for investments in green spaces and ensures the city keeps up with emerging needs.
While the city now boasts more parks than it did 25 years ago, rapid densification has resulted in a one-third decrease in park space per person. To tackle this challenge, the master plan offers a toolkit for efficient decision-making, accommodating diverse needs and user groups.
What sets this strategy apart is its integration of equity principles, including examinations of intersectionality, privilege, and oppression. At the heart of VanPlay is the goal of rectifying historical inequities in park access and quality across different neighbourhoods. VanPlay positions the City of Vancouver as a leader in this area.
VanPlay employs geospatial data to identify underserved areas that require increased park investments. These areas, known as Initiative Zones, are identified through an analysis of three key factors: park access gaps, demand for low barrier recreation, and tree canopy coverage. With the option to layer additional factors over time, such as income, community engagement, capital investments, and demographic data, the Park Board can gain a deeper understanding of nuanced needs and can effectively target key policy areas.
A significant priority of VanPlay is its water strategy. Vancouver, a city renowned for its connection to the waterfront and beaches, has unfortunately buried 91% of its urban streams. VanPlay enhances biodiversity and rainfall management by revitalizing these streams and bringing them back to the surface. This initiative simultaneously creates more natural spaces in the city, provides new amenities for residents, and helps manage rainwater during storms. It is a significant win for biodiversity and climate resilience.
When it comes to public space, streets play a crucial role. In Vancouver, streets occupy 32% of the city’s land area, compared to 11% for parks. Recognizing this untapped potential, VanPlay encourages the transformation of streets into public spaces. Collaborating with Planning and Engineering, the master plan suggests the creation of parklets, street closures, laneway activations, and more to meet the growing demand for public space.
Connectivity is another key focus of VanPlay. Vancouver already boasts the world’s longest continuous waterfront trail, the iconic 28 km seawall. Building on this success, VanPlay aims to expand the city’s network of bike lanes and pedestrian pathways. The master plan also introduces “network enhancers,” such as bike repair stations, wayfinding signage, lighting, and seating. These elements not only improve connectivity but also enhance safety, utility, and overall enjoyment between destinations.
Further Reading:
This case study is part of the 2024 Canadian City Parks Report, showcasing Inspiring projects, people, and policies from across Canada that offer tangible solutions to the most pressing challenges facing city parks.
In Metro Vancouver, a ground-breaking agreement between a government agency—Metro Vancouver Regional Parks—and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation shows a different way of managing parks and highlighting their past and present cultural value.
At 2,560 acres, təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park is two and a half times the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park and receives 1.2 million visitors per year. The park was also the site of the largest ancestral village within the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
Gabriel George, a Tsleil-Waututh Nation member and also the Nation’s Director of Treaty Lands and Resources Development said that a lot of the Nation’s territory falls into parkland “so it’s been something that historically has isolated us and disconnected us from our land. I think the importance of trying to engage and have partnerships…is an important way for us to exert our rights.”
Mike Redpath, Director of Parks for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks said that Metro Vancouver Regional Parks began working with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in 2017 on developing a “Cultural Planning and Cooperation Agreement,” which was signed in 2020. The agreement outlines a shared vision, guiding principles, and governance for the park. These include, among others, protection of natural resources, promotion of the site for recreational use, and increased public awareness of Tsleil-Waututh Nation cultural history.
“There’s a strong acknowledgement within the agreement and the relationship that it is public land; however, there was a traditional use of the site and the agreement strives to find a balance between the two,” Redpath said.
Good governance is a cornerstone of a successful partnership. The cooperation agreement contains two mechanisms for joint-governance: a Leadership Committee and a Technical Committee, which include both members from the Nation and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks.
Projects are prioritized in an annual work plan by the Technical Committee, which is then approved by the Leadership Committee and submitted during an annual budget process. Each individual project includes an “engagement agreement,” which outlines deliverables and ensures both partners understand roles and responsibilities.
The agreement also includes economic development policies, such using Tsleil-Waututh approved contractors in the park to support local entrepreneurs.
“We had an economy in place that was basically stripped from us,” George said. “We had currencies older than paper. We had systems of trade. So we lost that.” He noted that his people used to harvest clams for thousands of years, but then had to “sneak around at night…because they weren’t allowed.” so seeking out these economic opportunities is “our inherent right.”
Although the cooperation agreement was signed just four years ago, there have been several significant projects that have been implemented since then, with more on the way.
The first was a park renaming in 2021, which changed the park’s name to təmtəmíxʷtən/Belcarra Regional Park. Prior to this, Metro Vancouver Regional Parks had not engaged in any renaming of the regional park system to traditional place names with First Nations communities.
For George, the term “renaming” doesn’t quite fit, however. “It’s more than that,” he said.
“It’s recognizing the real name of that place. It’s important because we need to be represented. We need to be seen. We need to be heard on our own territory.”
Gabriel George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation member and Nation’s Director of Treaty Lands and Resources Development
Redpath also said it provided Metro Vancouver Parks with a naming precedent that could be used in other places. Indeed, another regional park has just had its name changed from Colony Farm Regional Park to ƛ̓éxətəm (tla-hut-um) Regional Park–a name gifted by the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation that translates to “we welcome you.”
Another joint project was the just completed installation of a welcome pole in the area of the Nation’s traditional village site. Other projects have included environmental restoration work, interpretive programming, and the development of a Cultural Heritage Study that will better understand the depth of cultural history of the park.
While it took time to implement the agreement, Redpath said it provides many benefits. Staff are “able to pick up the phone and talk to someone at the Nation who’s a familiar face. It helps advance projects together and sometimes faster as well.”
The willingness to try doing things differently is key to success. “It’s a change process,” Redpath said, adding that it’s a different way of doing business in many ways. He stressed that early and ongoing communication is key for the trust-building necessary for a strong partnership.
“The agreement is a piece of paper, but the relationships and the conversations are really what make it successful.”
Mike Redpath, Director of Parks for Metro Vancouver Regional Parks
George echoed these sentiments. “It can be so easy to not change things,” he said, but it’s important to push outside of comfort zones and do things differently. “You can’t fix all the issues, but when you approach the work, think about what kind of legacy you can create.”
“I think for Indigenous Nations, parks can be important places to occupy and to reclaim,” he said, adding that they’ve seen big successes in some of their relationships to their parks. “This is our home. We think of it as an extension of our community.”
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Below are some key provincial and municipal grants that could help fund your next awesome park project.
Offers bus grants, awards and funds for legacy and environmental stewardship programs that nurture nature and connect people to nature in Metro Vancouver’s Regional Parks. Learn more
Invests in community groups and environmental organizations that support conservation efforts and address environmental risks of the port-related activity. Learn more
Supports lighter living initiatives that encourage communities to live lighter and gain more of what matters – more time for ourselves and for connecting with others and our natural world, quality long-lasting goods, affordable lives, service to our communities, health, security and wellbeing. Learn more
Provides support for community groups to build community and neighbourhood connections while enhancing parks or other public spaces. Learn more
Offers Metro Vancouver seniors training and support to organize fun park activities, fostering social connections and physical activity among elders in their local parks and green spaces. Learn more
Offers grants to not-for-profit organizations throughout BC., to support their delivery of ongoing programs and services that meet the needs of their communities. Learn more
Provides $2500 grants to support creatives bring their ideas to life and enhance Downtown Vancouver’s public spaces. Proposals can include anything including art installations, fitness classes, dance performances, educational experiences, beautification projects, and craft markets. Learn more
Helps residents of any age, experience, or background take part in building a community. Learn more
Supports communities as they take multi-sectoral action to explore, learn, and innovate, enhancing community cohesion and sense of belonging. Learn more
Funds opportunities to support local organizations, programs, and initiatives in our neighbouring communities that enrich the lives of the people who live and work there. Learn more
Allocates funds to local non-profits, in collaboration with community volunteers across different sectors. Learn more
Supports emerging artists across all artistic and cultural disciplines living in the City of Vancouver who have an interest in building their careers and working with young people in an arts or culture-based capacity. Learn more
Provides a list of organizations that gift funding to a project and/or individual related to arts and culture. There are several different levels of public funding available to artists and arts, culture and heritage organizations, as well as a wide range of private funding avenues. Learn more
Aims to celebrate, elevate, and support the range of creative people, projects, and organizations who contribute to Vancouver’s diverse creative stories. Learn more
Provides grants to arts and culture organizations for projects that benefit residents of the region. They can be applied to the many steps in the process including creation, production, dissemination, and audience development. Learn more
Makes grants for cultural, educational and charitable purposes within the Province of British Columbia. Learn more
Welcomes applications for grant funding from community-led organizations that are dedicated to helping people in Vancouver’s inner city improve their lives. They fund innovative solutions to issues such as homelessness and a lack of affordable housing, poverty, food security and access to nutritious food, mental and physical health challenges, addiction and more. Learn more
Offers grants for community projects that help build healthy, engaged, accessible, and sustainable communities across the City of Vancouver. They support essentially organizations that serve the needs of children or vulnerable communities. Learn more
Supports non-profit organizations working to advance sustainable, equitable, and socially just land use and real estate practices in British Columbia. Learn more
Community Foundations invest in local initiatives that help to make Canadian communities better places to live, work and play.
Click here to find your local Foundation.
Marie-Pierre is a visionary and advocate for creating green oases in the heart of concrete jungles. Her passion is understanding the challenges and the important role of accessible green spaces. These spaces foster community connections, a sense of place, and an appreciation for histories and practices woven from the land. This vision led to the inception of the Vancouver Urban Food Forest (VUFFF).
Formed amid the pandemic, VUFFF addressed the challenges of isolation and food accessibility in a community of 34,000. Recognizing the need, and with support from Park People, VUFF envisioned a food forest as a haven for urban indigenous communities and low-income residents, championing the belief that access to green spaces and the right to cultivate food are fundamental human rights.
They established Vancouver’s first Indigenous food forest, Chén̓chenstway Healing Garden, in Oxford Park, Vancouver. VUFFF’s ongoing efforts at the Burrard Park View Field House are a testament to their resilience.
With the support of Park People, VUFFF has been able to host community herbal garden workshops and other events to support, connect, and empower their community. Those once disconnected or hesitant about gardening have discovered a nurturing community, valuing their stories and experiences. Through herbal gardens, arts and crafts, and open dialogue, VUFFF has ignited a wave of positive change across the community.
In the concrete jungles of modern cities, Park People supports VUFFF to plant seeds of connection, empowerment, and transformation, reminding us that parks are more than mere spaces – they are the heart of community growth, healing, and prosperity.
As we dream of vibrant cities, we at Park People acknowledge and support the crucial role of community organizations like VUFFF. They are not just sowing seeds of change but nurturing the bonds connecting us to nature and each other.
Read other community leaders’ stories with Nawal from Toronto and Geneviève from Montreal. Their stories feature the incredible work being done to foster social connection and community resilience in parks and green spaces across Canada.
The social benefits of parks are especially important for seniors. A study from CARP found that living near a park helps seniors avoid loneliness at a rate that’s four times greater than that of having children. Yet seniors represent just 4% of park users, despite being 20% of the population.
Park People’s Senior Champions in Vancouver address this gap by supporting seniors in leading free activities in their urban parks, providing eight seniors annually with hands-on training and access to mentorship from previous leaders. Past events have included park-based art classes, knitting groups, bird watching, Indigenous plant identification walks, Tai Chi, and gardening — to name just a few!
Each Champion receive:
0+
seniors engaged in greenspaces
0
senior champions running community programming
0%
of participants feel better connected to their community
The application for the Vancouver Senior Champions is closed.
May 13, 2024
Applications open
May 13 – June 26, 2024
Phone or Online Interviews
June 17, 2024
Applications Close
June 30, 2024
Notification to successful champions
July and August 2024
Mandatory Training sessions
July 22, 2024 – Jan 31, 2025
Park activites
Feb 14, 2025
Post-event evaluations
People aged 60 and above living in Metro Vancouver are eligible. We prioritize seniors from historically marginalized communities, especially racialized, newcomers, living with disabilities, and/or LGBTQ2S+ seniors. Through community outreach with our local partners, we’re seeking to ensure that 100% of senior activity leaders and 75% of participants identify as belonging to one of these equity-deserving groups.
No, you don’t need to have any prior experience in organizing events to apply. Our program is designed specifically to train and equip seniors with the necessary knowledge and tips to lead their events in parks successfully.
You can apply individually or as a group of two. Both would lead the activities (co-champions) if applied as a pair.
Successful applicants must participate in all three training sessions.
These sessions will provide essential information regarding event planning, community outreach, effective communication and accessibility. During these training sessions, you will also have the opportunity to engage with mentors who are former champions.
For people living in cities, public parks are vital sites of connection. They’re spaces for meeting our neighbours, engaging with nature, and mitigating the harmful impacts of climate change. But large urban parks also face unique challenges, often requiring more resources for maintenance, operations, and programming.
Park People created the Cornerstone Parks program to support and connect the organizations working in large urban parks across Canada. We’re the only national network dedicated to ensuring that these park leaders can access resources, learn from one another, and maximize the impact and influence of their important work.
Here’s what we’re up to:
volunteers engaged in stewardship restoration
of participants say their mental health is improved from stewardship activities
m2 of invasive species removed
Stanley Park in Vancouver
High Park in Toronto
Mount Royal Park in Montreal
Champlain Heights Trail system in Vancouver
Everett Crowley Park in Vancouver
Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes, Sandy Lake, Backlands / Williams Lake in Halifax
Darlington Ecological Corridor in Montreal
South Saskatchewan River Valley in Saskatoon
North Saskatchewan River Valley in Edmonton
Edwards Gardens and Botanical Garden in Toronto
Park People and our Cornerstone partners are seeking to better understand the link between parks and health. Our groundbreaking research shows that park stewardship has tremendous benefits for our mental and physical health, for our sense of social connection, and for our overall well-being.
Helping build vital connections between people and parks
TD Park People Grants are available for almost any community event in a publicly accessible green space — whether in a city park, social housing property, or schoolyard — that fosters ongoing care and protection of these spaces.
From Indigenous plant medicine workshops to nature walks, we help local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship that bring people together.
Each year, we support over 70 community groups across 21 urban areas in Canada to host two in-person and virtual events.
You could receive $2,000 to support your vision to connect people to their local parks and green spaces!
grants awarded every year
community events organized every year
people connected yearly
The application for the TD Park People Grants is closed.
Jan 15 2025
Feb 24 2025
Applications close
End of April 2025
Notification to grants recipients
End of May 2025
Distribution of funds
April 22 to Dec 31, 2025
Park events period
Oct 2025
Project report due
Equity-deserving and equity-denied groups will be prioritized in the application process. A minimum of 50% of all microgrants will be provided to those identifying as such, ensuring their involvement in shaping the natural spaces that matter to them.
Please check your group’s eligibility below before submitting your application. If you are not eligible for the TD Park People Grant, your application will not be reviewed.
We request applicants to create an account and submit their application on the Survey Monkey Apply platform.
The application form should take about 2 hours to complete once you know what your events will look like. You can request a sample PDF of the form by email to help you prepare the application.
For an overview of the application questions and more information on how to create an account, please refer to the FAQ section below.
Need help with your TD Park People Grant application?
Our team is here to support you! You can reach out in the following ways:
Park People is committed to supporting people with disabilities during the application process. If you encounter any barriers while completing your application form or would like to request any access needs, please contact us.
Decisions will be made by a team of reviewers composed of Park People staff in consultation with TD. Application selection will be based on the following criteria:
The application form should take about 2 hours to complete once you’ve planned your events. Here is a preview of the questions:
Your group can link to an environmental focus in many ways, whether through environmental education, a commitment to sustainability practices, or stewardship activities:
We encourage you to get creative and think outside the box!
Hosting a free and open-to-the-public event is not enough to ensure that it is inclusive and accessible. Your event will be more accessible if you contemplate the diverse range of disabilities among potential attendees and anticipate the challenges they might encounter upon arrival to answer their access needs.
Here are some measures past grant recipients have adopted to make their park events inclusive:
We also suggest to include an accessibility section in your event page, that provides information regarding the location, transportation, food, sensory experiences, and interactions one might expect. It will help people determine if they can/want to participate and plan accordingly.
For further reading, see our resource on Events Accessibility.
If successful, your group will receive a total of $2000 to be spread across both events. Once you have received the funds for your grant, you are free to use them however you’d like for your events. This could include providing transportation to the event with bus tickets. You may also combine the money received from this grant with other sources of funding.
We define equity-deserving and equity-denied communities as those that, because of systemic discrimination, face barriers that prevent them from having the same access to the resources and opportunities available to other members of society. These may include but are not limited to Black, Indigenous and people of colour communities, disabled persons or people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+, newcomers, women and non-binary people, and low-income people. We prioritize equity-deserving groups in our granting to address the inequitable distribution of resources within the parks sector. Some cities have specific geographic areas indicated, including Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas or Montreal’s Integrated Urban Revitalization zones*.
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Discover the inspiring community groups that received TD Park People Grants in 2024.