We are looking for a Finance Coordinator to lead accounts payable and receivable, revenue reconciliation, budget tracking, and assist with financial insights that support organizational decision-making and fiscal sustainability.
In East Vancouver’s Champlain Heights, we sat down with two organizations leading a grassroots effort to restore native forests and build community.
Discover how Arts in the Parks is transforming Toronto’s green spaces into vibrant hubs of creativity—and how Park People helps make it all possible.
Pumpkin parades are a creative way to celebrate local creativity and give carved jack-o’-lanterns a second life. Here’s a step-by-step guide to make your pumpkin parade a smashing success.
Navigating grant applications can feel a little overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve assembled this guide to walk you through the steps, share helpful tips, and offer resources that can make the journey smoother.
The 5th Montreal Park People Forum is back on September 17 under the theme “Collaborating for Social Connection and Vibrant Parks.”
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
Every great community park project starts with a big idea—and often, a little extra funding to bring it to life.
If your park group has dreams of building a new pollinator garden, organizing a community arts festival, or even hiring a new staff person to keep everything organized, grants can be a powerful tool to achieve and sustain your vision. Navigating grant applications can feel a little overwhelming at first. That’s why we’ve assembled this guide to walk you through the steps, share helpful tips, and offer resources that can make the journey smoother.
Let’s get your park project the support it deserves!
There are several types of organizations that give money to grassroots parks groups:
To find the most relevant opportunities for your group:
Writing grant applications takes time and energy, so you’ll want to be strategic about which ones you apply for. Closely examine the criteria for each grant to make sure that your park group has a chance to be funded (or whether you’re even eligible to apply).
You’ll want to look for:
Every granting organization wants to know that you have a realistic, detailed budget for your project. Your budget should:
Many worthy organizations are vying for every grant that’s available. To stand out from the pack, you’ll want to tell your park group’s story in a compelling way that’s irresistible to funders. Here are our top tips for the writing to persuade:
So you’ve submitted your application and received the bad news—your project hasn’t been selected for a grant. It’s a disappointment for sure, but remember, “no” can often mean “not yet.” If you’re rejected, contact the funder to ask for any feedback they can share about their decision. Perhaps your work is better suited to a different grant they offer, or your application was missing something you can add for the next funding cycle.
Hurray, you’ve been approved! Okay, is it time to break out the bubbly? Not quite. First, you will want to do a few things:
Okay, now go celebrate!
Park events bring our communities to life. Not only do they build a great neighbourhood atmosphere and bring people together outdoors, park events also help people become more engaged and invested in their city parks.
This guide will help you take the necessary steps to host a fabulous event in the park.
When planning an event, it’s actually best to start at the end—ask yourself, what would a successful event achieve for our group? Would it attract new volunteers? Generate new donations for our work? Bring together new community members who haven’t accessed our park before?With a clear sense of your objectives, you’ll be able to choose an event format that meets your goals.For example, if attracting new neighbours is a goal, you may choose a free outdoor family night. If it’s recruiting new volunteers, a park clean-up activity may appeal to community-engaged candidates.Regardless of the theme and format you choose, you’ll want to ensure that your event is accessible to everyone and sustainable for the environment. Read our guides on planning an accessible event and ensuring your activities are zero-waste before diving in deeper.
Depending on the size of your event, it may be helpful to form a small working group. Together, you can determine your work plan and divide responsibilities.Consider how your working group can reflect multiple community interests. For larger events, you could invite local artists, staff from nearby nonprofits, or small business owners to contribute their perspectives and programming ideas. For smaller events, consider inviting your neighbours, local dog walkers, parents, youth, seniors and people who have the kind of skills you’ll need to make your event a success.You can encourage more people to get involved in the group by:
After each meeting, send members the notes and any assigned tasks, and be sure to thank volunteers as they are giving their time to make the park event a great success!
Want more guidance on attracting and retaining volunteers? Read our handy guide.
Municipalities’ rules around permitting vary. In some areas, if you’re bringing more than 25 people together, you’ll need a permit and insurance. Food and live amplified music often require more complex permitting.Consult with your local municipality to determine what permits and insurance you need, and what is and is not permitted in your park. Park permits can take 6 weeks to 4 months to secure, so be sure to plan ahead.
There are many potential costs associated with running an event:
When creating a promotional plan for your event, consider these questions:
Don’t forget about neighbourhood signage boards and the word-of-mouth opportunities they generate. You may want to make a map of the following high-traffic spots to display your posters:
The most successful events have a detailed run-of-show, including all the activities that will happen before, during, and after the event. You’ll want to consider the following:
Park events are a lot of work, but many hands make the difference. To keep your team excited and engaged, make volunteer appreciation a core part of your event plan. You may want to head to a restaurant, a community centre, or someone’s house after your event to thank volunteers and members of the organizing committee.
Acknowledging and celebrating volunteers’ help will ensure that they sign on again in coming years. And besides, everyone needs to decompress—it’s time to trade stories about everything that happened!
A profound Indigenous saying here on Turtle Island is that Water is Life. Water is not only scientifically required for life to flourish, but it also connects people to new places; it brings people together. In Toronto, we are lucky to have many water sources – from rivers and lakes to ponds and ravines formed through thousands of years of geographical shifts.
Focusing on these waterways, the InTO the Ravines program, launched in 2020, has made quite a splash. First conceptualized on the heels of Toronto’s first-ever Ravine Strategy, the program’s multifaceted, support-focused and community-first approach has made soaring positive impacts. The InTO the Ravines program seeks to mitigate the impacts of climate change that continue to become more apparent everywhere, including in Toronto’s urban and natural spaces, while keeping communities at the centre.
As the program nears its 4-year mark, Park People has recently launched the Ravine Engagement Report, highlighting its tremendous impacts on the communities it serves across the city.
InTO the Ravines has sought to tackle the fact that despite many people living or working near them, Toronto’s ravines are often forgotten spaces in the city. InTO the Ravines consists of two main components.
First, a microgrant stream, where community-led groups are funded to host gathering and learning events in and around Toronto’s ravine system. Second, a champions training program, where pairs of community leaders are provided training, funding, and event planning support to host an event in their local ravines.
Equity-deserving community groups who face barriers, including uncertainty due to fear of getting lost or other feelings of lack of safety, in accessing ravine spaces are prioritized. As can be found throughout the Ravine Engagement Report, InTO the Ravines, through its very design, has been developed to work more closely and collaboratively with equity-deserving community members to support the Protect, Connect, and Celebrate tenets of the Ravine Strategy.
The multipronged nature of the program has had wide-reaching impacts: over 3,000 community members have actively engaged with their ravine spaces, with 50 champions receiving training and support over the course of the past three years.
Since the implementation of this unique and innovative program began three years ago, everyone involved in InTO the Ravines, whether they have played the role of champions, grantees, or program staff, has been able to experience Toronto’s ravine spaces in different, unique, and memorable ways. InTO the Ravines program also emphasizes continuing to develop relationships with the ravine spaces long after their involvement in the program ends.
InTO the Ravines centres around fostering connections between people and nature and nurturing spaces for self-connection or self-reflection.
As the program launched and the impacts of the pandemic became more pronounced, including greater feelings of isolation and sadness, the importance of these natural spaces became all the more crucial, especially for those in equity-deserving communities. As the program facilitates space for community gatherings in and around ravine spaces, community connection is a major element of this program. Over 100 events have been hosted by community members, and 15% of in-person event attendees said they had never visited a ravine before. Importantly, in a space where the impacts of climate change manifest, ravine spaces become critical to highlight the need to restore relationships and reconnect to nature.
The connection piece of InTO the Ravines is especially emphasized through the champion training program. Here, champions get to meet each other and learn from each other and speakers from the Toronto Region Conservation Authority and the City of Toronto, as well as build up their own skills in event planning and networking.
For me, it was knowing more about not just what is the Ravine Strategy, but what the city sort of looked to develop and how it grew. So meeting with park staff…that was pretty cool because I think on just our own– we had the documents, but just hearing it from the city and the work on that strategy was cool to get an inside look.
Program Participant
Park People ensures that champion alumni remain connected to the program by supporting them through various means, events and opportunities, networks, and funding to continue their activation of ravines in the years after they have completed training and that they are re-connected to other cohort members. 50% of past participants have continued to host events in their ravines after completing the program.
Finally, InTO the Ravines has also helped facilitate new connections to the land through Indigenous teachings as part of the various ravine events.
Events like this or talking to an elder, for me, was one of the first opportunities to learn about Indigenous history and parks. Otherwise, I don’t think I would have ever known where to even find information other than just reading up online.
Park and nature access are unequal across the city. For many of our programs, including InTO the Ravines, Park People prioritizes working with equity-deserving, resident-led groups who often live close to ravines but, for various reasons, both physical and sociological, do not access them.
As mentioned in our Ravine Engagement Report, several participants reported that they either didn’t know that ravines existed in their communities or that they were unaware of how to access them.
Our research found this was especially true in communities of colour.
Specifically, the Champions training program has focused on redressing some of this imbalance by working with residents from equity-deserving communities to provide them with training, funding, and support. One of InTO the Ravines’ core value is that community members are the experts on their local parks, neighbourhoods and ravines, and their nuanced and lived knowledge of their local community make them excellent leaders to take on this work.
A community member shares the impact of this focus in our Ravine Engagement Report,
In a dense city like Toronto, where few people have access to backyards or natural areas outside the city, InTO the ravines helped (me) see these spaces as shared places where (I) could get away from the daily life in the city.
Community member
Significantly, 70% of event attendees are more likely to bring friends and family to visit the ravines in the future.
Another cornerstone of the InTO the Ravines program is strong and collaborative partnerships. The InTO the Ravines Champions training program focuses on working together as a group and helps foster partnerships between sets of champions and inter-community partnerships across different city regions. As a testament to this, 125 park and ravine groups and 30 organizations worked together on the development and execution of InTO the Ravines.
Additionally, The City of Toronto and Park People developed this program collaboratively and continue to work jointly through the year to support each other’s strengths and to offer assistance or help fill in gaps. InTO the Ravines champions and microgrant recipients work collaboratively with Park People and the City through focus groups, feedback and evaluations to improve the program each year and are plugged into our wider Toronto Network. This year, Park People worked directly with past champions to provide partnership and support where groups requested it, continuing to prioritize working in trusting and collaborative relationships with community groups.
These themes also show up in a myriad of other ways through our Ravine Engagement Report.
Also, find the Ravine Strategy here to learn more about the important principles and how you can get involved.
If you are in Toronto between Saturday, September 30 and October 9, we highly encourage you to attend a Ravine Days event, including one that Park People and Evergreen are jointly supporting on Saturday, October 7, and one that STEPS Public Art is hosting with the support of Park People’s Cornerstone program.
Every summer, Toronto’s parks come alive with art, music, theatre, and dance through Arts in the Parks, a city-wide initiative that turns public green spaces into open-air stages.
Presented by the Toronto Arts Foundation in partnership with the Toronto Arts Council, the City of Toronto, and Park People, this unique program animates parks in every corner of the city, from concrete plazas to lush green spaces in Scarborough, Etobicoke, and North York.
Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than 700,000 people across the city have visited 78 parks for over 2,400 free arts events including Japanese Taiko drumming, collaborative mural painting, and African circus performances—to name just a few!
At Park People, our vision for Canada’s cities includes vibrant parks where people and the rest of nature thrive, and where everyone—regardless of income, identity, ability, or age—has equal access to the benefits of public green space.
However, 33 percent of Torontonians don’t live within walking distance of arts and cultural programming, and overwhelmingly, those people are Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and newcomer residents of the city’s inner suburbs.
To close this gap, Park People supports Arts in the Parks by selecting sites in areas where access to free cultural programming isn’t generally as accessible, and where new opportunities for creative park animations abound.
Park People also supports the Arts in the Parks program by drawing on our biggest skill: strengthening the relationships between neighbours and their local parks. To ensure that events are responsive to the needs and interests of their surrounding communities, we bring our relationships with park groups and local leaders into the process early on, helping to shape events that reflect the neighbourhood and invite people in.
“Our role is to connect. Before events are organized, we try to bring together artists and community groups, usually in the park where the event will happen. These early meetings create space for ideas to grow.”
Cindy Hashie, Senior Project Manager at Park People.
These meetings are a chance for everyone at the table to share stories, ask questions, and shape something new, together. Community groups bring valuable knowledge, like when the park is busiest or which language flyers should be printed in, while artists can share their creative visions and learn what matters most to the people who use the park every day.
“We help make the connection so everyone feels comfortable, heard, and respected.”
Ayesha Talreja, Project Manager at Park People.
For Ayesha, one of the most exciting parts of Arts in the Parks is seeing how it inspires event attendees to think about their own creative potential.
Ana Cuciureanu is just one great example: Ana first got involved in Arts in the Parks as the founder of the Friends of Parkway Forest Park, a group also supported through Park People’s Sparking Change program. After seeing how Arts in the Parks brought community-based art into her beloved local park, Ana decided to create her own event through her collective Splash on Earth, which brings together eco-artists, storytellers, and neighbours to make public art using eco-paint made from food waste. Ana’s team has hosted Arts in the Parks events for three years, and even formed a non-profit dedicated to creative climate action.
“Ana understands what it means to collaborate. She’s been on both sides as a community organizer and as an artist. That perspective helps create events that reflect the community.”
Ayesha
Others have followed similar paths, like Christine Malec, who started as a participant in Park People’s InTO the Ravines initiative and now leads accessibility-focused arts programming through Arts in the Park. Her project, Described Toronto, offers audio-based tours of the city for people with sight impairments which are often incorporated into a podcast with rich descriptions of Toronto, its flora and fauna, inhabitants and culture.
These stories remind us that public space and public art are powerfully connected. When people see themselves reflected in what happens in their park, they feel a deeper sense of responsibility to their community, and often, an expanded sense of creative possibility.
Arts in the Parks aims to offer something for everyone, whether it’s Asian drumming or Salsa dancing that invite people to move together, or quiet moments of storytelling under a shady tree. Some events are deeply rooted in local cultural traditions, while others introduce new and unexpected art forms to neighbourhoods that may not have seen them before. No matter the medium, the program’s strength is in how it brings people together, and how it inspires long-term creative partnerships between artists and residents.
“Artists who return to the program year after year often think deeply about how to engage the community. They find creative ways to hear from neighbours and make space for local input in how their work takes shape.”
Of course, there are always challenges: schedules shift, event permits take time, and not every collaboration unfolds exactly as planned. But there is care in the process. And if an event has to move, the program works to make sure the original park still gets something special. The intention is always to honour local relationships and keep the doors open for participation.
As we approach the tenth anniversary of the program, Arts in the Parks continues to grow in both its reach and impact.
Between supporting artists in building meaningful community ties and helping park groups explore their creative side, we’re proud to be part of an initiative that brings joy, connection, and possibility to neighbourhoods across Toronto.
To learn more about Arts in the Parks and find more events near you this summer, visit artsintheparksto.org.
Mark your calendars! Here are a few of Cindy and Ayesha’s recommendations for the 2025 Arts in the Parks season:
July 12 & 13, Aug 9, Sept 6 2025 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Rowntree Mills Park
Exploring the intersections of nature, community arts and wellness, this public art program will share crafting and movement sessions, led by STEPS Public Art alongside local and Indigenous creators, to reconnect with the land and the Humber River. Learn more
August 16 & 23, 2025, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | R.V. Burgess Park
Enjoy music from the Middle East, Mediterranean, South Asia, and more! Four different musical groups will perform modal music, a centuries-old system of music-making practiced by many cultures, with contemporary interpretations and new compositions. Learn more.
September 27, 2025, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | Lee Lifeson Art Park
Artists will tell original stories inspired by the land and public artwork of Lee Lifeson Art Park, using descriptive and inclusive language that is accessible to a Blind and partially sighted audience. Participants will also experience a touch tour of the public artworks and 3D tactile models of the park. The Story Hour will be recorded live and released on the Described Toronto podcast. Learn more.
In 2025, 72 community groups and organizations across the country are receiving TD Park People Grants. They’ll be bringing people together in parks and green spaces through creative, inclusive, and environmentally focused events.
Their initiatives highlight the many ways local leaders are building stronger connections to nature and community from coast to coast.
Operation Fruit Rescue Edmonton (OFRE)
Sinkunia Community Development Organisation
Strathearn Community League
Windsor Park Community League
Pamir Canadian Multiculturalism Council
Skatelife Calgary
Spectrum Promising Association
Springboard Performance Society
Birding Buddies
Briarpatch Community Garden
East Richmond Community Association
Everett Crowley Park Committee
Free the Fern Stewardship Society
La Boussole centre communautaire société
Ladybug Community Garden
Middle Eastern Support Women Group
Native Bee Society of British Columbia
Pollinating Butterflyway Urban Gardens
RedRoadRecovery
The Sustainable Act
WESN in the Park
Wild with Nature
Kelowna Chinese United Association
Accessible Nature Wellness Park Group
Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary
ArtBeat Studio Inc
Kapabamayak Achaak Healing Forest Winnipeg
Seniors for Climate Mb
Winnipeg Ta’alim Community
Gale Force Theatre
Healing Buddha Hermitage
North End Community Garden
The Monthly Cycle
Charlie’s Free Wheel
Children’s Creative Village
Friends of Marita Payne Park
Friends of Tom Riley Park
Georgina Island First Nation
Humber River Lodge Volunteer Group
Lovers of Planet Earth
Our Space
Queer Forest Club
Sweet Grass Roots Collective
The Forgiveness Project
Ysabel Project
Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group
Pamoja
Weaving Community Connections in Civic Centre Kitchener
Jane’s Walk Ottawa-Gatineau
Neighbours of Meadowvale Park
Ottawa Stewardship Council-KN Regens
Women of Colour Remake Wellness
Age BIG
Green Harmony Collective
MacGregor-Albert Community Association
Action-vert
Atelier Tlachiuak
Coalition des ami·es du parc Jarry (CAP Jarry)
Innovation Youth
La Grande Tablée de Terrasse-Vaudreuil
La Planète s’invite au Parlement
Mossy Society
Parc Nature MHM
Parcours Âme
Ruelle des Décou-verte
Ruelle Esperanza Verde
Westhaven Community Center
Chez les Simone, tiers-lieu
Horti-cité
Club L’Aval
R.A.F.A.L.: Ressources Actions Familles au Lac St-Charles
Saskatoon Climate Hub
Parks are not “nice to have,” they are critical social, health, and environmental infrastructure for Toronto. City parks are lifelines in extreme heat waves. Social connectors in an age of increasing polarization. Keepers of biodiversity despite ever fragmenting urban landscapes.
To meet the biggest challenges we face in Toronto—climate change, biodiversity loss, social polarization, rising inequality—we need whole new ways to plan, design, manage, program, and govern parks. This shift requires doing things differently. It requires ensuring proper funding, sharing decision-making power, addressing inequities head-on, and prioritizing action on truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
As Toronto faces the upcoming mayoral by-election in June, we urge candidates for Mayor to accelerate the transition to a more equitable, resilient future for city parks by working with us on the ideas presented in this platform.
All of the ideas in this platform require us to invest more time and money into city parks. In our 2022 survey of residents of Canadian cities, 87% said they support more investment in parks.
Responsible for 60% of Canada’s infrastructure, municipalities like Toronto receive only 10 cents on every tax dollar.
And, the provincial government’s drastic changes to park levies and planning rules under Bill 23 will further diminish park budgets and reduce the amount of parkland created to support new growth.
All three levels of government, each of which have responsibilities for our natural environment and human health, need to come to the table. This is easier said than done. The multiple benefits of parks—health, environmental, social, economic—actually make it harder to invest at the scale we need to. Why? Because the benefits of investing in parks are distributed across many different ministries and government departments, each of which are accountable for their own budgets and plans. That is why we need to support governments to pursue an ambitious, whole-of-government approach to investment in Toronto parks.
Investing more in city parks is not an imposition or an obligation. It is an opportunity to transform Toronto for the better.
People living in Toronto will need to adapt to hotter, wetter and more unpredictable climates. Climate change is here and is already impacting our city. With the right investment, parks can serve as climate infrastructure and provide people with critical places of refuge in hot, dense cities where a major health crisis is unfolding.
At the same time, people are seeking out nature more for its mental and physical health benefits. People want more places to experience nature close to home: 71% of survey respondents said they value visiting naturalized spaces within a 10-minute walk of home, such as a native plant garden or small meadow. In fact, 87% of respondents said they were in favour of more native plant species within parks—the second most requested amenity after public washrooms. Toronto’s Ravine Strategy offers a strong road-map for ensuring these vital, biodiverse natural habitats are safeguarded for the future and enjoyed by residents, but funding has remained limited.
Invest in the co-benefits of naturalized spaces as climate resilience infrastructure, urban biodiversity habitat and vital nature connections in Toronto.
There is a clear and growing disparity in who has access to quality green spaces in Toronto. As COVID laid bare, equity-deserving communities face complex, interrelated health crises. Toronto must recognize how race, income and the built environment conspire to make parks a pressing environmental justice issue in our city.
Usable parks are the bar for entry. Toronto’s parks maintenance and operating budget has not kept pace with use and demand. There’s an urgent need to increase park operating budgets to ensure basic amenities like bathrooms and water are standard in every single Toronto park.
Spending on park operating budgets must start to keep pace with demand. It is basic: amenities like bathrooms and water must be the standard in every single Toronto park, with a priority focus on equity-deserving and high-use parks. Investments in basic amenities that promote park use must include:
There is an urgent need for new models of Toronto Park governance rooted in shared decision-making power. We need a new way of managing city parks that are more inclusive, and community-focused, and respect the land rights of Indigenous peoples and the knowledge of communities.
Over the past several years, communities have been actively working to decentralize power in institutional spaces. It is time for Toronto to give communities more decision-making power on the park issues that affect them most, particularly in equity-deserving communities.
Residents of Canada should be prepared to feel the heat as our climate warms up at twice the global rate. Unfortunately, this means extreme heat events will become hotter, longer, and increasingly commonplace, which does not bode well for our cities. Because of urban heat island – a phenomenon where metropolitan areas experience higher temperatures than outlying areas due to factors like limited greenery and waste heat from densely-packed people –urbanites will feel the heat more than others.
At this time, we should be looking at our cities for solutions – specifically, our parks. Natural landscapes, like parks, mitigate urban heat islands by creating cooler microclimates, which help shield us from the sweltering heat.
In this resource, Park People will outline ways to help you host events in your local parks during extreme heat events.
Recent research shows that racialized and lower-income neighbourhoods in Canada often have less access to quality green spaces than wealthier, whiter areas—and are more exposed to urban heat islands. Even commuting to a park can involve unexpected barriers.
When access to parks is limited, staying cool in summer becomes a matter of health equity, one that puts already marginalized communities at greater risk.
Here are some general guidelines to remember when organizing your park event when it’s hot outside:
Providing refreshing food and drinks is a great way to ensure guests stay happy, healthy, and hydrated. When drafting your menu, here are some considerations to keep at the back of your mind:
Make sure meals and snacks are kept at the correct temperature to prevent food-borne illnesses and stop food from spoiling quickly in the heat. Check out Canada’s food safety website for ways to correctly and safely handle food stuffs.
With extreme heat events also comes heat-related illness – when the body becomes hotter faster than it can cool down. Luckily, heat-related illness is preventable, so it is essential that you take the time to understand and prepare for it.
Leading up to the event, consult local weather forecasts and advisories. It may also be a good idea to get a lay of the land and determine where amenities are in the park. Here are a few resources to help with planning:
Vancouver
Toronto
Montréal
National
When you think of a park, what do you see? Maybe it’s children chasing a soccer ball, picnics on sunny afternoons, or joggers winding down leafy trails. But at Park People, we know that the quietest stories can be the most powerful—and that parks hold untapped potential to change lives, especially for seniors.
It may surprise you to learn that seniors—who make up nearly 20% of Canada’s population—represent just 4% of park users. That’s a missed opportunity, because the benefits are profound. According to a study by CARP, living near a park reduces loneliness in seniors at a rate four times greater than even having children.
That’s where Park People’s Senior Park Champions program in Metro Vancouver comes in.
Every year, we support a group of inspiring older adults in Metro Vancouver to reclaim their place in nature by leading events in their local parks. With hands-on training, peer mentorship, and seed funding, each Senior Champion becomes a spark in their community—fostering belonging, joy, and wellness one gathering at a time.
Take Rita Wong, for example. When she joined the program, she wasn’t expecting just how deeply it would affect her. “It improved my physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being,” she said. “It was beyond words.” Through the program, Rita didn’t just find personal growth—she became a vibrant community leader, organizing park events.. Her efforts didn’t stop at the boundaries of a single program; they rippled outward, energizing her entire neighbourhood.
Then there’s C. Wong, whose first year as a Champion in 2023 offered a powerful window into the importance of intergenerational and cross-cultural connection. Hosting events that brought together Indigenous community members and local seniors in East Vancouver, C. Wong saw firsthand how nature could serve as a meeting ground for healing and unity—even through the rain. Inspired, they returned the following year as a mentor in 2024, championing inclusivity for differently abled individuals and those of non-normative gender identities.
“It deepened my understanding of the barriers people face, and strengthened my commitment to building truly inclusive communities.”
C. Wong, Park Senior Champions in 2023
One particularly heartwarming initiative emerged last year when a group of senior leaders asked a simple but powerful question: What about those who can’t come to the park? Their answer was beautifully creative. Using natural elements, sensory materials, calming sounds, and projected visuals, they brought nature indoors, creating immersive environments for individuals with disabilities who were unable to join outdoor activities. These gentle, multi-sensory experiences offered participants a chance to feel the forest floor, listen to birdsong, and gaze at blooming meadows—all from within the comfort of their own spaces.
These indoor sessions became some of the most popular events in the program, drawing up to 30 participants each time. Their success highlights not just a growing demand for accessible nature-based programming, but also the ingenuity of community-led solutions rooted in empathy. These Champions proved that you don’t have to be outside to feel connected to nature—you just have to be welcomed in.
To date, 30 Senior Champions have engaged 600+ seniors across Metro Vancouver in inclusive, meaningful ways. And this year, it could be your turn.
As a Senior Park Champion, you’ll receive:
You’ll have the freedom to create events that reflect your passions—be it Tai Chi under the trees, birdwatching mornings, knitting circles, Indigenous plant walks, art in the park, or cozy indoor nature retreats. Whatever your vision, we’re here to help you bring it to life.
Because the Senior Champion Program is more than events. It’s a movement of older adults reclaiming their place as leaders, connectors, and caretakers of community and nature.
Apply now to become a Senior Park Champion—and help make your neighbourhood a little more connected, inclusive, and vibrant.
“When we make space for seniors in our parks, we grow more than community—we grow care.”
Michelle Cutts, Director of Communications and Development
Each year, we support twenty Champions, working in pairs, with training and support to help them host their own events in Toronto’s ravines.
Meet the 2025 Champions, and hear why they love and care about the ravines.
“I love to leave the city behind when I enter the fresh air and cool embrace of the Humber River ravine around Lambton Woods, a sanctuary for birds, toads, insects and other wildlife with its rare natural forest cover and wetlands, and the ever-changing marvel of the river’s sparkling waters flowing from a vast, ancient, yet urbanized landscape toward our own water source at Lake Ontario. You might even see huge salmon or trout leaping nearby weirs, or a shy snowy egret fishing secret eddies. Much inspires my photo and painting attempts, and my restored resolve to share this precious delight with others, along with the need to address outdated storm water runoff and sewage pollution management and the serious threat of highway 413 paving over the heart of the river’s western headwaters.”
“My favorite ravine is the east side of the Humber River north of Eglinton. The area has naturally regenerated for 70 years and is a testament to the restorative powers of the land.”
“Ravines are the earth’s quiet sanctuary, where the rush of the world slows down, and the soul finds its rhythm in the stillness. In their embrace, the land heals, and so do we.”
“Amid the city’s restless hum, the Don River East Trail unfolds like a quiet sanctuary—where towering trees soften the skyline, the river whispers its timeless song, and nature reclaims its space, undisturbed yet ever-changing.”
“The Betty Sutherland Trail runs for 1.83 kilometers from Leslie Street and Sheppard Avenue to Duncan Mills Road and Don Mills Road. The park is named after a long-time city councilor who was active in supporting Toronto’s recreational areas and trails.”
“Within close proximity of residents throughout our great city, there’s a hidden gem—our amazing ravine system. Ravines are nature’s hidden masterpieces, carved by time and adorned with life.”
“What I love about my local ravine is accessibility and its expansiveness. I can enter and exit at so many points along the trails, which means I can travel from my home north of the city right down to Lake Ontario with only minor diversions (sometimes I have to cross a main street but the trail access is within close proximity). It’s quite amazing that, in Toronto, you can travel in all directions for many kilometres through the ravine system.”
“What I love about Bickford Park is meeting my neighbours for exercises; talking to people as I work in the pollinator garden; picnicking; and watching the lunar eclipse with everyone. I also love showing everyone the best indigenous murals in Toronto in the Bickford underpass”
“I am very impressed by the variety of experiences available in the Garrison ravine. The busy vigour of Christie Pits (swimming, softball, barbecue pits, and the like) contrasted with the serenity of Bickford Park with greenery, benches, and indigenous art.”
“I love the calmness and natural beauty of my local ravine. I enjoyed walking in the park. It gives me peace of mind.”
“My Ravine allows quiet reflection of space and time collapsed into a moment where you can see the birds in the tree ,while the squirrel runs by and the wind rustles the leaves and branches reminding us of our place as part of nature.”
“What I love about my local ravine is just the fact that It’s quiet and peaceful. I can just sit by the water and meditate with the sound of trickling water and birds chirping. It’s a place to hide from the scorching sun in the summer, crunch the leaves in the fall, look for the flower buds in the spring and just stay put in the winter.”
“Something I love about Birkdale Ravine is how it feels like a hidden gem tucked right in the middle of the city. It’s peaceful, full of life, and has this calming energy that makes it the perfect spot to reconnect with nature, slow down, and reflect. It’s also a place that brings people together, whether you’re out for a walk, snapping photos, or just enjoying the sound of the creek.”
“Birkdale Ravine is a beautiful place that evokes a sense of serenity for me. As an avid biker and stroller, it has always been my favorite go-to spot. This location is one of the perfect places to experience awe and relaxation. With its scenic trails, it’s ideal for reflecting on thoughts or sharing a moment with a loved one. I particularly enjoy the cozy atmosphere and beautiful scenery, surrounded by numerous trees and an elegant bridge!”
“I love how quiet and serene the ravine feels. When I walk through, there is always something new that comes to my attention”
“I love being able to feel my mind and body quiet and connect to the earth when I am in my local ravine.”
Learn more about the InTO the Ravines and InTO the Ravines Champions programs, and read about the City of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy.
A picture is truly worth a thousand words. Snapping shots of your park group’s activities can help you attract volunteers, build your social media profile, garner media attention, and make your posters really pop.
Not a pro photographer? Not to worry! Here are some easy tips to take great pictures with your smartphone.
Before you bring out the camera, ask yourself: what story are you trying to tell with your photo? Is it about the natural beauty of your park, the sense of community, or the fun atmosphere at an event?Thinking about your story will help you come up with a list of images you want to capture. For example, if your goal is to attract new volunteers for your park group, your photos should tell the story of the volunteer experience. Your shot list might include pictures showing current volunteers engaged in hands-on activities in the park, chatting with their neighbours, etc.While it’s important to stick to your shot list, you’ll also want to leave space for surprises. If your City Councillor shows up, it would be great to grab a snap for the local papers!
Before snapping photos that include people, especially if you plan to share them publicly, it’s important to get consent. A simple verbal ask is often enough: “Hey, is it okay if I take your photo for our park group’s social media?” For children, always ask a parent or guardian first, and avoid taking identifiable photos of kids without their clear permission.If you’re hosting an event, consider having a sign at the entrance letting people know photos will be taken, and offer a way for folks to opt out (like a sticker or wristband).
It’s just human nature: we’re naturally drawn towards pictures of people’s faces. Unless your only story goal is to highlight local wildlife, you’ll want to show how your park activities bring people together whenever possible.Photos where you can clearly see people’s eyes are most likely to attract attention, so seek to use them throughout your promotions (social media posts, posters, etc).
When people aren’t used to having their picture taken, being asked to pose for the camera can make them uncomfortable. Instead of just saying “Smile!”, try giving out unique prompts like “Smile like that dog we saw on the trail!” or “Think about your favourite fellow volunteer!” Unexpected directions can help bring out genuine expressions.Another great way to help people feel comfortable is to let them see a few shots as you go. If they like what they see, it builds confidence. If not, you can adjust together.
Posed shots can be a good way to ensure you get everyone in the photo doing exactly what you want, but they also run the risk of looking, well, staged. To really tell the story of your park group or event, you’ll want to add several candid shots to the mix so viewers feel like they’re part of the action.Aim to take photos of people while they’re focused on something else: like talking to one another, cleaning up the park, whatever!
Beginner photographers commonly place the subject smack in the middle of the photo. While this can be an interesting stylistic choice, we recommend you experiment with using the rule of thirds.To do so, place your subject (whether it’s a person, a bunch of wildflowers, an animal, whatever) in the right or left third of the frame. Likewise, instead of composing your photo with the land-sky horizon cutting straight through the middle, try giving the sky one-third of the picture.
Remember, your camera is your point of view. If you take a photo while standing normally with the camera near your face, the viewer of the resulting photos will have the same perspective—and it’s one they likely have all the time.To make things more interesting, try switching up your perspective. Crouch down low, get up on a rock or bench or take a few steps up a hill to get above your subject. These techniques can help create a sense of scale and reveal more of the background of your image.
The best photos use light strategically to brighten peoples’ faces and highlight their features. Use natural light when you can and always shoot with light behind you, not facing into the light.Sunshine is a great natural light source, but direct sunlights can also throw harsh light and shadows, particularly in the middle of the afternoon. If it’s a very sunny day, try taking photos in the shade to soften the shadows.One hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset is known as the “magic hour.” During these times the sun is low in the sky, which produces a beautiful soft light. One thing to keep in mind while shooting during “magic hour” is how fast the light changes. You definitely want to factor in any set-up time to ensure you take advantage of magic hour.
Took some great photos, but maybe the lighting was a little off? Not to worry, you don’t need fancy software to make your photos pop. Free tools like Canva make it easy to crop, brighten, and add text or filters right from your phone or computer.
After the event, choose a handful of your best shots and spend a few minutes adjusting the lighting, straightening the horizon, or adding your park group’s name and event title. It’s best to keep it simple: your goal is to enhance the photo, not overdo it.