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.
Partner and co-founder of COLAB
Sophia Horwitz is a community builder, and sustainability practitioner and facilitator, who is passionate about increasing the capacity of individuals, communities and organizations to contribute to a flourishing future. Sophia has 14 years of experience leading civic and social innovation initiatives and transformative collaborative processes in Canada, Cuba, Honduras, Japan, Denmark, and Sweden. Her international background and experience help bring a global perspective and best practices to granular issues.
She is a partner and co-founder of Halifax-based COLAB, where she has helped launch programs, projects and organizations such as Mainstreets, Art of Social Innovation, Participatory Budgeting, Placemaking Halifax and cross Canada Placemaking research and network development. Her wide-ranging roles have included acting as Sustainability Officer in Honduras to ambassador of North America in Japan’s rebuilding efforts post-2011 tsunami. Her recent work includes bringing the Participatory City initiative from the UK to a number of cities in Canada. In her free time, you can find Sophia swimming at a lake, walking in the forest, chasing her toddler through streams, or dancing with her movement troupe.