“From the pressures of urban sprawl, invasive species, and climate change, it is clear that the federal protection of Rouge National Urban Park is necessary. As more of Ontario’s green spaces and farmland disappear under asphalt and concrete, Rouge National Urban Park is a public reminder of what we are losing. If our society is to adapt to this changing world, people must understand what it takes to produce their food, why we need a healthy environment, and who lived here before us.“

“Environmental stewardship requires a foundation of community and the collaboration of diverse perspectives. For this reason, being an environmental steward means being an active member in the community that uplifts others and displays a positive example for our future environmental stewards.”

“The creation of a park that encourages togetherness and acceptance and has never been more important than it is today, as the problems we face as a global population can encourage divisiveness and conflict, we seek solace in the peaceful swaying of grasses, the lively movement of water through stream beds and the melodies of birds singing from the tree canopies.”

“The moment of visual realization that the work I do makes a difference was when I saw the newly transformed area of the Northern Welcome Centre in Rouge National Urban Park.  In 2017, pre-restoration, the area was a vast low land of never-ending reeds and grasses tall enough to get lost in. Revisiting that same site the following summer, post-restoration. I saw newly planted trees and shrubs, an extensive variety of aquatic and riparian plants, pockets of serene ponds, and gently flowing channels connecting them.”

“One of the greatest challenges – and strengths – of working in RNUP is that the park is porous. It doesn’t have hard boundaries like most national parks. Instead, it weaves through neighbourhoods, farms, highways, and city infrastructure, welcoming millions of visitors from all walks of life. This accessibility is beautiful, but it also makes the park vulnerable to the spread of invasive species. I’ve seen firsthand how quickly something like dog-strangling vine or Hemlock woolly adelgid can gain a foothold.

That’s why outreach and education are key parts of my work. Whether it’s chatting with a hiker about the importance of staying on marked trails or helping identify invasive plants near public areas, every small interaction becomes part of a larger defence against ecological degradation. In RNUP, conservation is not a solitary act – it’s a conversation, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

“Depending on the way the wind is blowing, each plant, perhaps unbeknownst to them, sways between different states of protection. These edges and boundaries that exist within and around this park are what define: where the forest meets farmland, where beaver dam meets the flowing river, where the exposed ankle of a hiker meets a patch of poison ivy poised at the trail edge, where the yearly government budget meets thousands of years of indigenous knowledge. These meetings make the park more than just a place where conservation occurs. Here, work on recreation, research and Indigenous reconciliation can coexist with the aims of conservation in a single space.”

“Rouge National Urban Park’s commitment to protecting all three elements resonates with a vision of a sustainable and inclusive future. By safeguarding agriculture, we celebrate the profound connection between food production, cultural identity, and environmental preservation. The symbiotic relationship between agriculture and nature fosters biodiversity, safeguards ecosystem services, and nurtures the resilience of both natural and human systems. This interconnectedness creates a dynamic and vibrant environment where nature thrives, cultural traditions are celebrated, and sustainable farming nourishes the community.“