We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from the global stage! On October 10, 2025, during the World Urban Parks Symposium in Istanbul, Türkiye, Park People’s Executive Director Erika Nikolai received the Distinguished Individual Award from World Urban Parks (WUP).

This award is one of the highest international recognitions in the parks and public space sector, and it shines a spotlight not just on Erika’s leadership, but on the power of the national movement Park People has helped build here in Canada.

A National Movement for City Parks

Since 2011, Park People has grown from its Toronto roots into a national, bilingual organization supporting thousands of park leaders, non-profits, municipal staff, and community groups. Our vision is simple but powerful: a Canada where everyone has access to a vibrant park where people and the rest of nature thrive.

We do this by providing capacity building, funding, research, and training, to help communities across the country strengthen connections to each other and to nature. Guided by principles of reciprocity, social equity, and ecological integrity, Park People helps to create vibrant, inclusive, and resilient city parks across Canada.

As Erika shared at the ceremony:

Celebrating Our Network Parks

We’re also incredibly proud to celebrate two Canadian parks within our network that were recognized internationally at the WUP@10 Awards:

• Meewasin Valley Regional Park (Saskatoon, SK) – Winner of the Large Urban Park Award, recognized for its leadership in stewardship, conservation, and connecting people to the natural environment.
  
• R.V. Burgess Park (Toronto, ON) – Winner of the Neighborhood Park Award, celebrated for its grassroots community programming and welcoming, inclusive approach to urban green space.
  

These awards show the strength and diversity of the Park People Network. From large regional landscapes to small but mighty community parks, they all play a vital role in building more connected, healthier, and more resilient cities.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the City of Toronto for the Biidaasige Park being recognized with the award of Outstanding New Park Project. 

Why It Matters

Awards like these remind us that the work happening in parks—whether on the ground in neighbourhoods or across city systems—is being recognized at a global level. They also highlight the importance of collaboration: we achieve more when we work together.

At Park People, we’re honoured to be part of this international recognition and inspired to keep pushing forward. We’ll continue to support the incredible park leaders and communities across Canada who are transforming our shared green spaces every day.