This year again, local leaders gathered their neighbours, built connections, and restored nature in projects big and small. The movement continues to expand, and we're pleased to share just some of these impacts in our 2025 Impact Report.
Ready to rally your crew and make a visible difference in your local park? This guide walks you through everything you need to host a successful community clean-up in Toronto
Discover ways to help you host events in your local parks during extreme heat events.
Explore key findings from five years of the Canadian City Parks Report, highlighting significant trends, issues, and practices shaping urban parks across the country.
A guidance and resources to measure the impact of your park work on community health and wellbeing, integrating a social equity lens.
The 6th Montreal Park People Forum is back on September 17 under the theme “Remembering, Looking Forward, and Taking Action for Urban Parks".
By donating to Park People, you’ll support vibrant parks for everyone.
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 2026, 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.
Toronto Nature Stewards – Flemingdon Site in the Lower Don TrailColour in MindHumber River PalsFlemingdon Community Support Services / FCSSHLY Senior Health ClubHeart ComonosScarborough Village Community GardenFriends of Tom Riley ParkCommunity Climate CouncilDallington Pollinators Community GardenThorncliffe Park Women’s CommitteeWillow Park Ecology CentreFriends of Swan Lake
ComeUnity Roots Garden
food uniting neighbours / f.u.n.West Village Community Development Co-operativeThe Guelph Outdoor School
EcoSuperior Environmental Programs
Bells Corners Community Garden / BCCGPlant Pool Recreation AssociationCreate Change CollectiveFriends of Macdonald Gardens Park
Sanuk DeeCityHiveLet’s Talk Women of ColourAfghan Women Senior GroupHealth TogetherRiley Park Learning GardenYarrow Intergenerational Society for JusticeThe Sustainable GameHogan’s Alley SocietyVan Care CollectiveKenyan Community in British Columbia Society / KENBCHaro Park Senior’s indoor gardenActive Run Club
Kelowna Tree Protectors
Biquette-ÉcopâturageAssociation récréative Milton-ParcLe Vent et la TortueAmiEs du parc des gorillesNew Hope Senior Citizen’s Centre and the NDG Art HiveBasic Income Youth CollectiveParcours ÂMELa Planète s’invite à LongueuilJardins pour TousCollectif citoyen NDV au CarréOrganisme RespireSauvons la Falaise
Groupe d’éducation et d’écosurveillance de l’eauParc des Pékans
Pollinate / Polliniser AylmerEnviro Éduc-Action
EmberwoodIranian-Canadian Muslim Active Women / ICMAWSinkunia Community Development OrganizationLendrum Community League
Art and Creative Skills CollectiveDiverse Roots FoundationPamir Canadian Multiculturalism CouncilDroppin In YYC
West Central Women’s Resource CentreTrees Winnipeg / Coalition to Save the Elms Inc.Seeds of Life AllianceSave Our Seine River Environment Inc. / SOSBike Week Winnipeg
The Monthly Cycle HalifaxThe Villains Theatre AssociationZuppaHike Nova Scotia Society
Fredericton Active Transportation Coalition Inc.
“North of Euston” Neighbourhood Engagement ProjectEllen’s Creek Watershed Group / Charlottetown Area Watershed Association / CAWA
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 20 or more InTO the Ravines Champions, working in pairs, with training and support to help them host their own events in Toronto’s ravines.
Meet the 2026 Champions, and hear why they love and care about the ravines, and what the program means for them.
“We get to take time to commune together and frolic to the sounds of birds and running water and rustling leaves, with our friends, family and neighbours—there’s nothing better than that!”
“We believe that our future is deeply rooted in how we honor and listen to Mother Nature today. Becoming InTO the Ravines Champions is our way of creating a sanctuary of connection where people can pause, breathe, and remember their sacred bond with the wild earth. By fostering this deep intimacy with Toronto’s ravine systems, we aim to plant the seeds of collective care, breathing life into a more conscious, connected community that treasures the land as our ultimate home.”
“Nature is healing and the ravines help us to connect with nature in the city. Ravines remind us of the stretch and reach of water. A reminder that this land is truly all connected. A ravine is like a little escape that does not require a long car ride or a huge amount of planning. Once I am in the ravine, the calm and the quiet gives me space to think and enjoy a little bit of nature within the city.
I also love to see that the ravine is used by everyone…kids, families, pets, friends and solo visitors. It feels like community. Interacting with it ties us to the land as part of nature’s story.”
“Being an InTO the Ravines champion is important to me because I get the opportunity to learn more about our beautiful Ravines and then pass on said knowledge while sharing my love for nature. Knowledge Is Power so this will positively impact my community members who are not aware how our daily habits can harm our Ravines & nature on a whole. Seeing it firsthand through our nature related activity will also enhance the effect of what is verbally said to my community members.” Rasheida
“Nature, history and meditation – I would like to have an event where we talk about how the Ravines add to the ecological stability of the City, and why it is important for us to protect the Ravines” -Shanta
“As InTO the Ravines Champions, we are able to host events in the Ravine parks introducing the public to astronomy citizen science and stargazing from within the city. This also gives a chance for astronomy hobbyist in Scarborough that may not be able to make it to other stargazing events a chance to attend one.”
“We are excited to become InTO the Ravines Champions because it gives us the opportunity to connect with nature, learn more about Toronto’s ravines, and encourage others in our community to enjoy these beautiful spaces. We believe this program will benefit our community by promoting outdoor activity, environmental awareness, social connections, and greater access to natural spaces for people of all ages.”
“We’re excited to become InTO the Ravines Champions because we want to invite people to connect with others they might not normally cross paths with, and explore local green spaces they may not have spent time in before. We see ravines as places where both of those things can happen at once, helping strengthen people’s sense of connection with their neighbours, their community, and the public green spaces around them.”
Learn more about InTO the Ravines Champions 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.
Finding volunteers doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle. With a little intention and care, your group can create a welcoming volunteer experience that keeps people coming back.
Doug Bennet from Friends of Sorauren Park has spent years supporting and growing the park group’s base of active volunteers. Here are some of his top tips to create an engaged, connected, and joyful volunteer team.
Early on in their work together, Doug and the Friends of Sorauren Park realized that volunteer outreach kept falling to the bottom of their agenda. To change that, they began dedicating entire meetings to honing their recruitment and volunteer engagement strategies.This intentional focus helped them to build and maintain a strong and diverse core team that’s now large enough to pull off big park events without tiring out their members.Here are some prompting questions to help kick off your volunteer recruitment strategy meeting:
Who are we looking to reach? Who are our ideal volunteers? What skills, interests, or lived experiences would be valuable? Are there people in our neighbourhood or network who might love to help but haven’t been asked? Are there barriers that might be preventing people from getting involved (childcare, accessibility, communication style)? If so, how could we reduce these barriers? What’s the time commitment we require, and how can we also include people with busier schedules?
How will we find them? Where do potential volunteers spend their time (either online or in-person)? How can we show up there? What stories, images, or messages might catch someone’s attention and inspire them to get involved?
How will we make volunteering feel welcoming and worthwhile? How will we make it clear what volunteers can expect and how they can help? What would help people feel confident and connected right away? How will we ask volunteers for feedback and ideas to improve their experience?
Now that you know who you’re looking for, and what they’ll be doing, you’re ready to plan your outreach activities.
Think about the places your neighbours already spend time (such as community bulletin boards, local social media groups, farmers’ markets, libraries, or park events) and share a friendly, specific invitation to join your group. Use photos and stories that show what volunteering looks like, so people can picture themselves getting involved. Includes clear next steps like signing up for a newsletter or attending an upcoming event. The goal is to create lots of easy entry points for people to connect with your group.
You may want to test out a couple of approaches depending on your community, your capacity, and the technology you have available. For example, Friends of Sorauren Park first created a message board for volunteers, but found that they weren’t getting much traction. They swapped the message board for a simple sign-up form and noticed an increase in volunteer interest.
First impressions go a long way. A warm in-person introduction, a simple orientation email, or an invite to a casual planning meeting can all help set the tone for why someone would want to volunteer with you. Giving people a sense of what to expect also makes it easier for them to step in and feel like part of the team.To make sure everyone feels properly welcomed, consider starting a Volunteer Ambassadors Program. Doug’s group has seen the value of experienced volunteers stepping up to welcome and mentor new folks. Ambassadors can help answer questions, share their knowledge, and create a positive first experience for newcomers.
Over time, Doug noticed that volunteers who felt socially connected to the group were more likely to stay involved. Creating opportunities for people to get to know each other helps turn volunteering into something more meaningful than just a task. This could look like hosting a potluck, organizing a group photo at an event, or setting up a casual chat thread where people can share ideas and stay in touch.
As your group grows, some volunteers will naturally want to take on bigger roles. It helps to plan for this and encourage their development by creating opportunities to build their skills and confidence over time. Workshops, training sessions, or even informal mentoring can help volunteers feel valued and supported.
Doug saw this in action at Friends of Sorauren Park. When he stepped down as Chair, long-time volunteer Joël Campbell was ready to step into the role. Joël had already led the group’s Adopt-A-Park-Tree program for several years, which gave him experience and built trust with the group. Because of this, the transition into leadership felt smooth and natural for Joël and for the whole team.It’s great practice to continually consider who might take over when current leaders step away from the group, and then make sure they have the tools to do so with confidence.
You really can’t thank volunteers enough. Doug and the Friends of Sorauren Park make a point of highlighting volunteers in their communications, and they’ve also partnered with a local sponsor to host volunteer appreciation events.Depending on the size of your group recognition might look different. If you’re not able to coordinate an event, consider posting photos on social media, sharing quotes from volunteers in a newsletter, or creating a simple infographic to show the impact of their work.Recognition helps volunteers feel seen and reminds everyone that their time and efforts matter.
Thanks to Doug at Friends of Sorauren Park for the great insights that come from years of successful work with volunteers!
Fundraising is a great way to build the capacity of your community park group. Below are some key national grants that could help fund your next awesome park project.
At the bottom of the resource are options for more specific provincial and municipal grants.
Catherine Donnelly FoundationFunds projects that increase public support for fast and deep-reaching climate change solutions. Learn more
Climate Action and Awareness FundSupports Canadian-made projects that help to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more
Community Tree Grants CanadaOffers grants and technical support to community greening initiatives on publicly-accessible properties. Learn more
TD Park People GrantsSupports local leaders organize events focused on environmental education, sustainability, or stewardship. Learn more
EcoAction Community Funding ProgramProvides financial support to non-profit and non-government organizations for Canadian communities to take on local action-based projects that produce measurable, positive effects on the environment and to build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities in the future. Learn more
Patagonia Corporate GrantsSupports local groups that work to preserve the environment and protect local habitats and frontline communities. Learn more
Richardson FoundationOffers to fund charitable organizations that support youth initiatives and environmental issues. Learn more
Scotts Canada Gro For Good GrantsSupports community groups to develop sustainable gardens and green spaces in their communities. Learn more
TD Friends of the Environment FoundationFunds community work and park improvement projects through operating and capital grants. Learn more
Honda Canada Foundation (HCF)Funds educational institutions, charitable non-profit organizations or any national institution in the fields of family, environment, engineering and education. Learn more
Meridian Good Neighbour ProgramForges partnerships with local charities, not-for-profits, and public organizations so they can work together to meet each community’s needs. Learn more
TakingItGlobal Rising YouthSupports youth to participate in and becoming key stakeholders in strengthening global and local social movements. Learn more
Telus Community GrantFunds initiatives from Canadian registered charities that focus on local, grassroots community-based health and education programs that help youth reach their full potential. Learn more
Canadian Arts CouncilSupports professional art groups and non-profit organizations working in community parks and public spaces. Learn moreHeritage Canada – Local Festivals – Building Communities Through Arts and HeritageFunds local groups for recurring festivals that present the work of local artists, artisans or heritage performers. This includes the celebration of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural celebrations. Learn more
Richardson FoundationFunds registered Canadian charitable organizations that support visual and performing arts, education, youth initiatives. Learn more
Canada Post Community FoundationSupports organizations and groups in delivering and expanding child and youth programming, including sports and healthy living initiatives. Learn more
Canadian Tire Jumpstart/Bon départ Community Development GrantThe operational stream assists organizations with operational and administrative costs. The programming stream helps organizations develop or sustain sports and recreational programming for kids in financial need and youth with disabilities. Learn more
ParticipACTION Community Better ChallengeEncourages Canadians to get active in search of Canada’s Most Active Community. Learn more
Medavie Active Living GrantEncourages access to physical activity with a focus on supporting increased participation across a population. Learn more
Indigenous Youth Roots Creation Grants Supports youth-led projects seeking to create impactful community change and increase the wellness, resiliency and engagement of Indigenous youth. Learn more
CRRF’s National Anti-Racism Fund
Strengthens the capacity of racialized communities, religious minority groups and Indigenous people to carry out their own work to combat racism and create opportunities for meaningful dialogue, learning and sharing with the broader public. Learn more
Heritage Canada – Community Support, Multiculturalism, and Anti-Racism Initiatives ProgramProvides funding to community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community’s history and culture such as heritage months recognized by Parliament. Learn more
Hydro Flask Parks for AllSupports nonprofit organizations focused on building, maintaining, restoring, and providing more equitable access to parks. Learn more
National Healing Forest Initiative
Supports groups or organizations to develop a healing forest in their community – a dedicated forest, garden, or green space – as a place for healing, learning, sharing, and reflection about Canada’s history and the legacy of Indian residential schools. Learn more
Enabling Accessibility Fund
Provides funding to eligible capital projects that creates opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community activities or access employment opportunities. Learn more
Communities For Gender Equality
Supports women, girl, gender-diverse and Two-Spirit-led and serving organizations to advance gender equality across the country. Learn more
Community Foundation FundsInvests in local initiatives that help to make Canadian communities better places to live, work and play. Click here to find your local Foundation.
British Columbia Grants & FundingExplore the different grants and funding dedicated to groups and organizations located in B.C. Learn more
Ontario Grants & FundingExplore the different grants and funding available for groups and organizations located in Ontario. Learn more
Grants & Funding in other ProvincesAlberta:
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Atlantic Canada:
This case study is part of the 2023 Canadian City Parks Report, showcasing Inspiring projects, people, and policies from across Canada that offer tangible solutions to the most pressing challenges facing city parks.
Canadian municipalities are feeling squeezed on parks. Years of tight operating budgets require parks departments to stretch already thin dollars further as pressures grow from higher use, while land has become much more expensive to acquire—if you can even find a suitable parcel anymore.
One tempting tool in the face of these challenges is privately-owned public spaces, more commonly known as POPS. These spaces are built through private development and remain privately owned and maintained—seemingly a win-win for cities finding it difficult to provide public space and pay for upkeep.
For years there has been pressure by developers for municipalities to accept POPS as satisfying parkland dedication requirements required for new developments—a policy that some municipalities have resisted.
One park planning manager pointed out that while POPS have their role in providing open space, they are not equivalent to public parkland and it’s important for cities to push developers for the conveyance of land for public parks.
To better guide the role of POPS, Toronto mapped over 170 locations and created POPS design guidelines and a signage strategy to ensure spaces were inviting and clearly labeled as public. Vancouver also mapped POPS locations in relation to downtown parks and public plazas as part of their Downtown Public Space Strategy. The Strategy contains actions including developing a policy framework for acquiring new POPS and ensuring spaces “are designed and programmed to be publicly-accessible and welcoming to all users.”
Some cities like Newmarket, Brampton and Vaughan allow for some level of credit for POPS towards parkland dedication. Vaughan, which recently concluded a study exploring parkland dedication policies, ultimately approved a by-law change to allow for 100% credit for POPS, subject to council approval.
Park managers are, however, cautious regarding POPS. If public space is about the creation of accessible, democratic and open spaces, one park manager argued, then privatizing space seems to be contradictory as it comes with “tangible or intangible restrictions” such as limitations on uses, active surveillance, and likely commercial intentions. Where they can be helpful and critical, he said, is in the creation of pedestrian connectivity through private developments or supporting, but not replacing, a publicly owned open space network.
In Brampton, the city allows a 50% credit for POPS.
“In dense areas, you’re not going to get a community or neighbourhood park, so you need a more collaborative approach with the owners of the land and the city.”
Jaskiran Kaur Bajwa, Brampton Park Planning Supervisor
But the city is still cautious about their use and is working on POPS guidelines. “POPS need to contribute to the community,” Brampton’s former Manager of Park Planning and Development Werner Kuemmling said.
They can’t just be an open space or thoroughfare. They have to be functionally used.” Some developers propose POPS as the leftover sites in their developments “and that’s not okay.
Werner Kuemmling, Brampton’s former Manager of Park Planning and Development