People around the world celebrate Earth Day on April 22 — and TD colleagues are no exception.
On this day and all year long, TD is proud to support many organizations and initiatives whose mandates are focused on helping make our planet a healthier place. Through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank’s corporate citizenship platform, TD aims to support organizations that work to revitalize green spaces and increase access to them to help better the quality of the environment across Canada.
“At TD, one of the ways we are delivering on our purpose to help enrich the lives of people in our communities is by supporting community focused organizations working to revitalize, animate, and steward public green spaces," said Alicia Rose, Associate Vice President, Social Impact, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship at TD.
"Through the TD Ready Commitment and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF), we aim to help communities to activate and improve their green spaces, restore and protect habitats, and explore ways to improve biodiversity. In doing so, we hope to help build stronger communities and contribute to a more vibrant planet.”
If you're looking to get involved, but are not sure where to start, you can read more about what these TD-supported organizations are doing, in their own words, and what they have to offer this April and beyond.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada
The Nature Conservancy of Canada, or NCC, is a conservation organization that aims to protect land across the country. As a private, non-profit organization, the NCC works with individuals, corporations, foundations, Indigenous communities, other non-profits and governments at all levels to protect the natural areas that sustain plants and wildlife.
To learn more about the NCC and volunteering, donating, or attending a local event, visit the organization’s website.
Evergreen Brick Works
For people living in or visiting Toronto, the city’s Evergreen Brick Works — a reimagined brick factory that is home to hiking trails, a garden market, educational workshops, and more — offers free immersive self-guided tours.
These tours “aim to reveal the hidden ways that ecosystems and people co-exist and co-create our most beloved urban places.” The guided audio tours focus on four experiences, including:
- Urban ecosystems and the roles visitors play as stewards of the land and water
- The hidden sustainable innovation at Evergreen Brick Works
- Mindful exploration of the relationship with the natural world, ourselves, and each other
- Podcast-style tapestry of community stories at the Brick Works
For more information on family friendly workshops and activities, visit the Evergreen Brick Works’ website.
Meewasin
Meewasin is a non-profit organization that “exists to ensure a healthy and vibrant river valley, with a balance between human use and conservation, for the benefit of present and future generations” in Saskatoon and its surrounding area.
This year, Meewasin will be hosting volunteer and community events to help attendees learn more about conservation and how to better support the environments we live and work in. Those based in Saskatchewan can check out the volunteer schedule. For more information about what the organization is doing, visit Meewasin’s website.
Ecosource
Ecosource is an Ontario-based organization that aims to inspire communities to become more environmentally responsible through creative public education.
For those based in Ontario, Ecosource runs a volunteer program from late April to October to grow food for local food banks. Each session includes seasonal garden tasks such as seeding, transplanting, harvesting, watering, and moving compost. You can find out how to get involved in these sessions and more by visiting Ecosource’s website.
You can also browse and download free research papers and publications prepared by Ecosource and its partners that are intended to deepen readers’ understanding of key environmental issues in Ontario.
10,000 Trees for the Rouge
10,000 Trees for the Rouge is a volunteer, non-profit group in Ontario dedicated to restoring natural habitat within the Rouge Valley, which is in the Greater Toronto Area.
For people in Ontario, 10,000 Trees for Rouge hosts several planting events each year. However, the organization’s signature Earth Week planting event takes place on April 27 and April 28. The non-profit says its annual event typically attracts more than 2,000 volunteers with a goal of planting 5,000 trees and shrubs at Bruce's Mill Conservation Park. You can learn more on 10,000 Trees for Rouge’s website.
And, if you’d like to learn more about planting, 10,000 Trees has information on how to plant trees and wildflowers.
Looking for more ways to get involved? Stay tuned for TD Tree Days — TD Friends of the Environment’s flagship volunteer and urban greening program coming this Fall. Through TD Tree Days events, the Bank works with local not-for-profits, municipalities, conservation authorities, and Indigenous communities, to help build healthier communities by planting trees and shrubs within the TD North American footprint.
To learn more about the TD Ready Commitment, visit: https://www.td.com/ca/en/about-td/ready-commitment/vibrant-planet.