Park People’s Executive Director, Erika Nikolai, has been honoured with the Distinguished Individual Award from World Urban Parks—an international recognition that celebrates her leadership and the growing national movement Park People has helped build here in Canada.
Why are events in parks important? How do grants fit into Park People’s larger goals for creating change in city parks?
The emerging stream of the Park People Nature Connect Fund provides up to $5,000 to grassroots and registered organizations across Canada that connect people with nature, foster ecological stewardship, and restore urban parks and green spaces.
The scaling stream of the Park People Nature Connect Fund offers up to $20,000 to registered organizations across Canada that connect people with nature while fostering ecological stewardship and restoring urban parks.
Learn more about green social prescribing, an evolving practice that encourages individuals to reestablish connections with nature and one another to enhance their mental, physical, and social wellbeing.
A reflection on the BEING BLACK IN PUBLIC Survey Report, exploring how Black communities experience parks and public spaces, and what fosters joy and belonging.
How do we build a healthier, greener, more joyful Toronto? We start at the park. Discover how communities across the city have transformed their green spaces over the past fifteen years. Then roll up your sleeves and help shape what comes next.
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
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Founder and Executive Director at Free the Fern Stewardship Society
Grace Nombrado is founder and Executive Director of Free the Fern Stewardship Society, an environmental nonprofit based on the Champlain Heights Trails in South Vancouver. Since January 2021, she has helped run 117 events, including invasive removals, plantings, walks, art workshops, and festivals. Over the past 4 years, she has recruited 1,433 event volunteers. These volunteers have helped remove 246.3 m3 of invasive plants and replanted 4,503 native plants. Over the years, Grace has worked on a number of planting projects, including creating: the Douglas Fir Teaching Garden, a Community Food Forest, and a Pollinator Garden along the trail. Grace is dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion within her organization, and believes strongly that nature is for everyone! In addition to working for Free the Fern, Grace is also Communication Coordinator for the Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver, educating the public about invasive species. Outside of work, Grace enjoys nature photography, thrift shopping, and weaving baskets out of invasive ivy.