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?
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.
Finding volunteers doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. Here are some of his top tips to create an engaged, connected, and joyful volunteer team.
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.
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Organic Farmer, Herbalist, and Director, Apothecary’s Garden and Teaching Gardens at Churchill Park
Julia Hitchcock’s ancestors are from Latvia and England and she was born in Hamilton. Julia has been an organic vegetable farmer since 2001 – beginning at Plan B organic farm and, since 2012, urban farming with Backyard Harvest. Early on a curiosity about the field weeds led to the study of herbalism.
In 2015 herbalist Dan Riegler passed leadership of the Apothecary’s Garden to Julia. Located at the edge of forest, over the hill from the marshy tip of Lake Ontario, participants learn about medicinal plants, gather seeds, share herbal medicine recipes, enjoy wild foods and more. Julia is a mother of two teenagers and helps run a nature connection program at Planting Seeds of Hope, a Children’s Lands project close to Six Nations.