By Veronica Panama | November 13, 2025
For over 25 years, the District of Saanich has connected residents through hands-on care for local parks and ecosystems. What began as community-driven efforts to enhance biodiversity and urban forests grew into the Pulling Together program, officially launched in 2007. Since then, this award-winning initiative has engaged hundreds of volunteers working alongside Saanich Park staff in dozens of parks, creating lasting benefits for nature and the community.
Pulling Together Has Big Goals
Over 200 volunteers have now cared for over 45 parks across Saanich, including Rithet’s Bog, Falaise Park, Playfair Park, Mount Douglas Park and many more. Volunteers help protect biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience, and foster community well-being. Together they:
- Educate visitors about parks, wildlife, and habitats
- Plant and maintain native species
- Restore rare and sensitive ecosystems
- Monitor restoration progress
- Remove invasive species
Invasive species removal is one of the program’s key goals. Volunteers focus on species such as Scotch broom, Himalayan blackberry, Daphne (Spurge-Laurel), and English ivy. Volunteers consistently exceed expectations, contributing over 10,000 hours annually to this work!
Restoring the Gems of Garry Oak Meadows
Pulling Together has also supported the restoration of Garry oak meadows, some of the rarest ecosystems in the province. In southwestern B.C., these sensitive landscapes are among the most endangered and face ongoing threats from invasive species like Scotch broom, which spreads quickly, crowds out native species, changes soil conditions, and ultimately transforms the ecosystem.
Community volunteers are helping reverse these impacts. At Playfair Park, longtime volunteer Colleen O’Brien became a local champion. Colleen spearheaded efforts to restore and maintain the habitats that make the park a hidden gem. Her work has inspired countless initiatives across other parks in Saanich.
Bringing the Mission Across the District
Pulling Together volunteers are making a difference across Saanich.
- Cedar Hill Park: The Friends of Cedar Hill Park run quarterly bird surveys. In 2021, they worked with Pulling Together volunteers and staff to install 16 nesting boxes for swallows, chickadees, and wrens, helping deter invasive house sparrows. That year, the team recorded 38 bird species and nearly 1,000 birds!
- Browning Park: Volunteers Glenn Bartley and Ronna Woudstra lead restoration work parties along Bowker Creek. “For me, it’s mostly about trying to make positive contributions to our local environment,” Glenn explains. “If we can create habitat for a few butterflies, birds, and bees, it is all worth it!”
- Falaise Park: In 2022, under the leadership of Stuart Macpherson, volunteers tackled invasive orchard grass to protect camas and other native wildflowers. This work also encouraged nearby residents to address invasive grasses in their gardens.
- South Valley Park: Longtime volunteer Sharon Stangeland earned the Individual Environmental Achievement Award from the Saanich Environment and Natural Areas Advisory Committee for over a decade of weekly stewardship efforts. This included community engagement, invasive species removal, and native planting, which has transformed the park’s ecosystems.
This is just a small sample of the many projects within Saanich that have featured community members and Saanich Parks staff collaborating to care for the lands and waters that make Saanich such a special place.
Pull with Pulling Together
Want to get involved? If you enjoy working outdoors and love your local parks, contact the District of Saanich at parks@saanich.ca or visit their website to learn more about volunteering with Pulling Together.
Invasive species management is a year-round effort. As winter approaches, encourage friends and family to report invasive species and follow best practices like PlayCleanGo when visiting parks.
Explore our interactive map to learn more about invasive species in your region. Together we can restore nature, protect biodiversity, and keep parks thriving!
Veronica is an Invasive Species Coordinator at ISCBC. She values working in an inclusive and diverse environment that allows her to connect with people across Canada to discuss conservation initiatives, social resilience, and restoration topics. In her spare time, Veronica enjoys spending time in the forest, identifying species she encounters or at the beach with a book in her hand. You can reach Veronica at vpanama@bcinvasives.ca
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