Our Impact Your Support  This year, we were thrilled to engage our community through a wide range of hands-on environmental programs. More than 1200 volunteers participated in stewardship activities, and 950 students joined us for Biodiversity Discovery Walks, Bring Monarchs Back and Maples and Oaks programs, as well as in various stewardship events, each one designed to spark curiosity, connection, and a deeper understanding of the natural world. Our Green Connections for Adults 55+ program also continued to flourish, welcoming over 400 participants to nature walks, forest bathing sessions, nature art workshops, and tree-planting experiences. These moments of learning, creativity, and reflection helped build a strong and supportive community of nature lovers. We hit a record high for tree planting this year, with community members helping to plant 3,034 native trees that support healthier ecosystems and greener neighbourhoods. Stewardship teams worked just as hard on the ground, removing 117 bags of invasive plants to make room for native species to thrive.

This fall, we were thrilled to complete another mini forest project in Oakville — this one in partnership with Halton Region. With the help of enthusiastic employee volunteers, we planted 357 native trees and shrubs at the Halton Regional Centre, transforming a simple turf area into a thriving pocket of biodiversity. What was once a grassy lawn is now the beginning of a vibrant mini forest designed to mimic the complexity of a natural ecosystem. Each tree and shrub plays a role — from providing food and shelter for birds and insects to improving soil health, capturing carbon, and cooling the surrounding area. This project also offered a wonderful opportunity to highlight the growing importance of green infrastructure in urban environments. Miyawaki forests — the model we follow for these plantings — are believed to grow up to 10 times faster, 30 times denser, and support significantly more biodiversity than conventional forests. Because they establish quickly and can be created even on small plots of land, they provide an inspiring solution for cities working to build climate resilience.