News Release
For immediate release                                                                       

Saanich, BC – Dozens of native trees and shrubs have been planted at Saanich’s Cuthbert Holmes Park thanks to the help of volunteers, District staff, and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation grant.

The funds received through the grant in 2025 went towards the District’s Pulling Together Program. The hands-on, ecological restoration program is a collaboration with the community to remove invasive plants, restore natural areas, and enhance local biodiversity.

With the funding, the Pulling Together program created volunteer opportunities for students from Colquitz Middle School and new residents through the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA). Through the program, participants exchanged knowledge from their unique backgrounds and lived experiences, learned about Indigenous cultural practices that shape and sustain ecosystems, planted native trees and shrubs, and removed invasive plants at Cuthbert Holmes Park.

“Providing community members of all backgrounds with a chance to care for nature where they live, through hands-on stewardship, was a tangible way to help people connect with the land and build a sense of empowerment and belonging,” says Renee Cenerini, Saanich Parks Environmental Education Coordinator. “I was struck by the gratitude that participants expressed and was deeply moved by the stories they shared about plants and gardening in their homelands. By planting trees and shrubs in their new, adopted home, participants strengthened their connection to the future well-being of the place they now call home.”

By the end of the sessions, more than 100 native trees and 60 native shrubs and ferns were planted in an area previously dominated by invasive plants.

"Our partnership with the District of Saanich at Cuthbert Holmes Park has been invaluable for ICA,” says Todd Kitzler, Associate Director of Adult Learning, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. “It provides our newcomers and refugee clients with hands-on opportunities to explore and connect with nature, which supports their learning, emotional and mental well-being, and helps them develop meaningful interactions with the larger community. This collaboration strengthens our programs and fosters a sense of belonging for our clients.”

About Pulling Together
Through Saanich’s Pulling Together Program, volunteers restore diverse habitats on high rocky outcrops, creek side forests, wetlands, wildflower meadows, and waterways. Volunteers can attend drop-in sessions, register to become an ongoing volunteer, or apply for a group volunteer opportunity. Check our website for more information on how to volunteer and upcoming opportunities.

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
Founded by TD Bank Group in 1990, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) is a national charity that funds environmental projects across Canada. The Foundation supports a wide range of environmental initiatives, with a primary funding focus on revitalizing, animating and stewarding public green spaces.

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Media contact:
Saanich Communications
media@saanich.ca