Green Canadians, Green Volunteers

New Canadians from Somalia, ready for a planting in Etobicoke's Alex Marchetti Park.

Restoring wildlife habitat, cleaning up river valleys, teaching children and adults how to reduce their impact on the environment: there’s no limit to worthwhile environmental work….

But who does it? Overwhelmingly, volunteers do. Now, through the efforts of the Environmental Volunteer Network, new Canadians are gaining job skills through volunteering while also contributing to a greener Ontario.

The Environmental Volunteer Network is an innovative partnership between the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA). The program matches area residents with volunteer opportunities in the environmental sector.

“Through the Environmental Volunteer Network and our partnership with OCASI, we are better able to encourage stewardship initiatives among all residents, and particularly among the new Canadian population,” said TRCA Chair Dick O’Brien.

With the support of a $124,300 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, the Network is providing training, resource materials, and volunteer placements for newcomers to York, Peel, Durham, and the GTA. The program aims to assist them in building sector-specific knowledge and transferable workplace skills to help them gain paid employment.

The Environmental Volunteer Network has built a successful model that brings energetic and enthusiastic new Canadians together with resources and expertise from the environmental sector, for the benefit of all Ontarians.