You're invited to join the community in celebrating Earth Day by appreciating nature at Willow Park Ecology Centre. Give back to our life-sustaining planet through activities such as gardens clean-up, trails renewal and habitat care.
AND this year we'll launch our Spring Plant Swap and new Outdoor "Little Library"! The Seed Library offered by the Halton Hills Public Library will be on-site with a variety of free garden seeds.

Refreshments and gardening gloves provided (or bring your own). Everyone is welcome to join this free event by registering here. You’ll leave feeling connected and grounded! May be used toward student volunteer hours.

Halton Hills Lecture Series - The Golden Spike: Crawford Lake from Archaeology to Anthropocene

At over 10,000 years old, the lake has unique properties that allow it to preserve a fascinating record of natural and human induced environmental change in its sediment. Conservation, science, and Indigenous knowledge have come together to tell a compelling story of the land and our impact upon it over the past 1000 years. From the discovery of corn pollen that led to reconstruction of a 15th century longhouse village to the designation of the lake as the host of the Golden Spike for the proposed Anthropocene Epoch, this presentation will explore all the secrets of Crawford Lake!

About the Presenter:
Brenna Bartley is the Education & Outreach Manager for Conservation Halton. She has 27 years of experience in the field of outdoor education and is privileged to lead a team of passionate educators helping build ecological literacy across the Halton watershed. Brenna and her team seek to light people up with wonder at the natural world. In her spare time, she enjoys going on long walks with a good camera and recently completed a Master’s degree in Climate Change at the University of Waterloo.

Celebrate Nature’s Renewal at Willow Park

Come join-in to welcome the wonderful energy of the new season around a warming fire. Connect to Mother Earth’s gifts in reflection and music by Maha Kali Jaya ( www.goldenagewayshower.com). Celebrate life’s sustaining earth, while connecting to others. FREE event, accepting donations. Willow Park Ecology Centre access and parking: Hwy 7 at Mary St, Norval (just east of Georgetown). Let us know you’re coming: signup through this portal and choose the donate $10 or the zero cost tab. Donations support resources for our children's programs and events.

Spring is around the corner!

Get into the gardening spirit with Seedy Saturday at the Halton Hills Public Library Acton Branch.

Join us for a fun-filled day of activities for all ages:

10am: Family Storytime
11am: Gardening & Landscaping Advice Panel (registration required)
1pm: Family Drop-in – Fold a bookmark, plant a seed, solve our garden scavenger hunt
2pm: Film Screening of In My Backyard: Follow director Jamie Day Fleck as she transforms her Toronto backyard into a kitchen garden. 

Full program details

Presented by Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest

Water is Love

Water is Love follows a group of young people grappling with the climate crisis while we journey around the world to share inspiring stories of regenerative ecosystem design to create water retention in communities, villages, and regions .

How Water makes Climate is an original 12-minute animation, portraying the crucial connection between water cycles and the climate.

Doors open at 6:30pm, come early to connect with local eco-groups.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Watch the trailer.

Presented by Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest

The Need to GROW

The Need To GROW is a deeply moving 90-minute documentary — the kind that gives you chills, opens your heart, and leaves you informed about some of the most critical issues of our times. Earth Conscious Life have created an inspiring, award-winning film about the solutions Earth so desperately needs! It created a buzz at film festivals around the world, won several accolades for Best Documentary. The focus of this film is on soil, food, and the future of our species — told through the lens of three extraordinary and very likeable characters and their journeys as solutionaries. It’s narrated by top-notch celebrity activist Rosario Dawson.

Directors: Rob Herring, Stars: Vandana Shiva.

Doors open at 6:30pm, come early to connect with local eco-groups.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Watch the trailer.

Learn Practical Tools for Managing Your Property with Credit Valley Conservation.

Drought. Storms. Invasive species. Managing a rural property is challenging. Join us for a free webinar to learn how to manage your:

• Woodlots

• Meadows

• Ponds and streams

• Water and wastewater

Learn from land care experts how to assess your property, manage risks, make improvements and keep your property healthy.

Our in-house experts will be available to answer your questions.

Event Notes

This event is subject to change or cancellation. To stay current on event changes or cancellations, visit this page. We will make efforts to contact registrants via email if the status of this event changes or is cancelled.

Learn about Birds Interactive Presentation

Do you want to learn more about birds and what we can do to support their health? Bring your own binocular, chair, and coffee, and join us on the deck at the Halton Hills Public Library (Acton Branch). This free event is in support of World Migratory Bird Day, Bird Friendly Halton Hills, and advancing the Town’s bird friendly designation. 

Please register by emailing me jennifers@haltonhills.ca

Raindrops and Rooftops: Discover Rain Gardens and Blue Roofs With Credit Valley Conservation

Help us Build a Resilient Community, Prepared for Intense Rainfall

Join us for a presentation by CVC’s Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) team and learn how you can prepare your homes, schools and communities for intense rainfall. The presentation will be held at George Kennedy Public School. Following the presentation, the IWM team will lead a tour of George Kennedy Public School's newly installed rain garden. 

Presentation topics include:

• CVC’s Smart Blue Roof, a system that reuses rainwater, reduces runoff and helps prevent flooding by using the rainwater for toilet flushing in the office or slowly releasing it  into the stormwater system

• The importance of rainwater management in preparing for climate change and helping to reduce the impacts of flooding in your community

• Our newest school-based rain garden at George Kennedy Public School

This event is part of the Hungry Hollow Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP).

Location:

George Kennedy Public School (gymnasium), 75 Weber Drive, Georgetown

What to Wear:

• This event will be indoors and outdoors and will be rain-or-shine. Please dress for the weather.

What to Bring:

• Light refreshments will be served. Please bring your own reusable water bottle and reusable container to help us reduce waste.

Additional Information:

• This is a free event

• Registration is recommended. Register for this event by October 23rd at noon.

• Washroom will available in the school.

• Stay home if you are feeling sick.

• For questions about this event, email us

• Participants under 18 please bring a signed copy of our event waiver

• Participants over 18 please read and acknowledge the event waiver

This event is subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather. To stay current on event changes or cancellations, visit this page. We will make efforts to contact registrants via email if the status of this event changes or is cancelled.

Presented by Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest

Regenerating Life

How to cool the planet, feed the world, and live happily ever after. Building on his ground-breaking SYMBIOTIC EARTH John Feldman’s new film, REGENERATING LIFE, takes an ecological approach to unraveling the climate crisis. It offers a deeper look at the underlying causes of global warming, going beyond carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels to humankind’s relentless destruction of nature in all corners of Earth. Because ultimately it is nature—the vast biodiversity that exists on our planet—that regulates and balances Earth’s climate.

Doors open at 6:30pm, come early to connect with local eco-groups.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Watch the trailer.

Enjoy an Interactive Guided Tour on a Wagon Ride

Explore the stunning fall forest at Terra Cotta Conservation Area by wagon ride! In this interactive guided tour, participants will experience the beauty of autumn and learn about the intriguing transformations that occur in nature.

What to Know

• Wagon rides are by group reservation only. You can include up to 20 people per reservation for your wagon ride.

• Regular admission applies at the gatehouse upon entry. Free admission to the park for Credit Valley Parks passholders.

• Dates and times available on weekends and holidays between October 5 and 20. Slots are available from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m.

Additional Information

Pets are not permitted on the wagon.

Participant cancellations 24 hours or more in advance will receive a full refund. This event is subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather. We will make efforts to contact registrants via email if the status of this event changes or is cancelled. If CVC cancels within the 24 hour window due to weather, guests will also receive a full refund.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Enjoy an Interactive Guided Tour on a Wagon Ride

Explore the stunning fall forest at Terra Cotta Conservation Area by wagon ride! In this interactive guided tour, participants will experience the beauty of autumn and learn about the intriguing transformations that occur in nature.

What to Know

• Wagon rides are by group reservation only. You can include up to 20 people per reservation for your wagon ride.

• Regular admission applies at the gatehouse upon entry. Free admission to the park for Credit Valley Parks passholders.

• Dates and times available on weekends and holidays between October 5 and 20. Slots are available from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m.

Additional Information

Pets are not permitted on the wagon.

Participant cancellations 24 hours or more in advance will receive a full refund. This event is subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather. We will make efforts to contact registrants via email if the status of this event changes or is cancelled. If CVC cancels within the 24 hour window due to weather, guests will also receive a full refund.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Help us Restore Native Habitat for Wildlife

Join Credit Valley Conservation and Trees for Halton Hills to help make the Hungry Hollow SNAP neighbourhood more sustainable and ready for a changing climate. This event is part of the Hungry Hollow Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP).

Help plant native trees and shrubs in ­­­­­the Hungry Hollow Ravine. Trees help fight climate change by storing carbon dioxide and providing natural cooling on hot summer days. They also create habitat for local wildlife and add beauty to your community.

Location: Meet us at the trail entrance off of Craig Crescent. Parking is available along Craig Crescent, please pay attention to street signs.

What to Wear:

• For your own safety, wear a hat, long pants, long socks (to tuck your pants into) and closed-toed shoes.

• This is a rain-or-shine event. Please dress for the weather.

What to Bring:

• Your own reusable water bottle (we have water to refill from).

• Sunscreen and bug spray.

Additional Information:

• Registration is recommended. Register for this event by October 18 at noon.

• Washroom amenities will not be available.

• Volunteers under 18 please bring a signed copy of our waiver, or bring your parent/guardian to sign you in at the event.

• Volunteers over 18 please read the event waiver. You will sign this at the event.

This event is subject to change or cancellation due to inclement weather. To stay current on event changes or cancellations, be sure to register to this event. We will make efforts to contact registrants via email if the status of this event changes or is cancelled.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Credit River Water Ceremony

All are welcome to participate in a monthly traditional Anishinaabe ceremony on the edge of the Credit River to honour the Spirit of Nibi (water). The ceremony will begin with a smudge; we will pray for the water, sing to the water, and feed the water.

Please visit the Credit River Waterwalk website for more information including protocol and directions.

Get Involved

Join the Credit Valley Conservation to help make the Hungry Hollow SNAP neighbourhood more sustainable and ready for a changing climate. This event is part of the Hungry Hollow Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Plan (SNAP).

Help control the spread of invasive species in the Hungry Hollow Ravine. Participants will remove invasive species that are impacting the survival of native plants and animals. These actions help restore habitat for our native wildlife to survive and allow a more diverse ecosystem to thrive.

Learn About the Trees in Your Neighbourhood

Join the Credit Valley Conservation for a free walking tour of the Tree Arboretum in Georgetown and browse the trees CVC will be planting this year as part of our neighbourhood tree giveaway.

Tree planting expert Sara Maedel will lead a walk through the tree gallery and introduce you to some of our favourite native trees. Design expert, Melanie Kramer, will help you uncover which trees will grow well in your yard.

Learn more about The Arboretum by Trees for Halton Hills at 65000trees.ca.

Get Involved

Join Credit Valley Conservation to plant native trees and shrubs in ­­­­­Tanners Woodlot. Trees help fight climate change by storing carbon dioxide and providing natural cooling on hot summer days. They also create habitat for local wildlife and add beauty to your community.

Fight Climate Change and Add Beauty to Your Community

Join Credit Valley Conservation to we plant native trees and shrubs in ­­­­­Glen Williams Park. Trees help fight climate change by storing carbon dioxide and providing natural cooling on hot summer days. They also create habitat for local wildlife and add beauty to your community.

Presented by Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest

Blueback

Mia Wasikowska, Radha Mitchell, and Eric Bana star in a story about an intimate mother–daughter relationship, forged by the women’s keen desire to protect the inhabitants of the pristine blue oceans on the Australian coast where they live.

With images of beautiful blue vistas demanding to be seen on the big screen, Robert Connolly (Balibo, TIFF ’09; Paper Planes, TIFF ’14) returns to the Festival with a story about a young woman’s connection to the ocean and an inherited mission of environmental advocacy.

While marine biologist Abby (Mia Wasikowska) is out on a boat examining the slow destruction of coral reefs, she’s called back home with the news that her mother has had a debilitating stroke, which has left her unable to speak. Abby begins reflecting on her childhood and the immense influence her mother, Dora (Radha Mitchell), had on her worldview. Through flashbacks, we meet the teenage Abby, played by newcomer Ilsa Fogg, who captures confidence and curiosity, taking a deep interest in protecting the bay where they live. In between amusing encounters with a local fisherman (Eric Bana), she maintains a bond with a groper fish affectionately named Blueback, who becomes a reminder of all the wonders the ocean has to offer and a path to healing a rift between Abby and her mother.

With this latest film, Connolly continues his pursuit of key human concerns by training his lens on issues of the environment. Blueback is acutely focused on the preservation of oceans and habitats that have become victim to encroaching land developers. Dora never lies to Abby about how difficult this battle is, but their story finds the mother–daughter team in a personal fight that acknowledges just how much power every one of us actually has.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students

Watch the trailer.

Webinar: Night Matters - Celebrating World Migratory Bird Day

Learn about the impact of light pollution on migratory birds with Kyle G. Horton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Colorado State University. Register to engage in the conversation.

Save insects, save birds.

Join us at Shelagh Law Parkette in Glen Williams to celebrate the awe-inspiring phenomenon of bird migration and the critical role insects play in the survival of these remarkable travelers.

• Explore the fascinating relationships between native plants, insects, and birds through guided bug crawls with Credit Valley Conservation Technician Natalie Rudkins.

• Learn how to use apps like iNaturalist and Seek to help identify plants, insects and birds, and contribute to community science projects.

• Connect with the Glen Williams Community Association and Bird Friendly Halton Hills to learn about plantings in the parkette and how you can make your yard more bird friendly.

• Pick up your pre-ordered native shrubs and window marking kits.

This is a drop in event. We hope to see you there!

Big thanks to the Glen Williams Community Association for co-hosting this event with us.

Credit River Water Ceremony

All are welcome to participate in a monthly traditional Anishinaabe ceremony on the edge of the Credit River to honour the Spirit of Nibi (water). The ceremony will begin with a smudge; we will pray for the water, sing to the water, and feed the water.

Please visit the Credit River Waterwalk website for more information including protocol and directions.

Get All Abuzz about Beneficial Insects

Get beneficial insects, or what we affectionally refer to as bennies, working for you to control pests and pollinate your vegetables and flowers. 

Join the Credit Valley Conservation for a free workshop to learn about the benefits of bennies and how to attract them to your rural property. Discover funding programs to help you get started.

This workshop is intended for rural landowners in the Credit River Watershed. Search for your address on our Watershed Look-up Map tool to determine if your property is in the watershed.

Halton Hills Bike It - Annual Bike Swap

This is a great recycling initiative that gets used bikes and trikes into the hands of those who need them while also raising cash for our local food banks. Donated bikes, trikes and cycling equipment will be accepted by volunteers April 24, 25, and 26, 5 - 7 p.m. at the Robert C. Austin Operations Centre parking lot. Donations also accepted the morning of the sale (April 27, 8 - 11 a.m.).

Prices

• Kids bikes: $10 and up

• Youth bikes: $20 and up

• Premium youth bikes and adult bikes priced individually

All bikes sold as is. Proceeds from all sales will be donated to local food banks.

Halton Hills Bird Friendly Symposium

Fly into action this Earth Week with Bird Friendly Halton Hills. Connect with local bird lovers, learn about our Nature Canada certification, and help make our community more bird friendly.

Presented by Halton Hills EcoFilm Fest

Common Ground - saving the planet one acre at a time.

From the filmmakers of ‘Kiss the Ground’ (Netflix) comes the follow-up documentary ‘Common Ground’, winner of the Tribeca Film Festival. Common Ground is an important new documentary film featuring Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, Donald Glover, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hyman, Gabe Brown, and many others. Directed by Josh and Rebecca Tickell, Common Ground provides hope for future generations with concrete ways to fix a broken planetary system. The film explores how regenerative agriculture can help heal the soil, our health and the planet.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students

Watch the trailer.

World Migratory Bird Day 2024 Lecture: Tackling the Problem of Agricultural Pesticide Use to Protect Bugs and Birds

Presented by Nature Canada.

You are invited to join Nature Canada and Dr. Christy Morrisey to discuss the impact of pesticide use on birds and insects across agricultural landscapes. This year’s 2024 World Migratory Bird Day Conservation Theme aims to bring awareness to the negative consequences of widespread pesticide use on bird and insect populations. Protecting insects will help protect birds by increasing the available food sources they have access to along their amazing migratory journeys. This Zoom webinar is free and everyone is welcome! We can’t wait to see you there!

About our Guest Speaker:
Dr. Christy Morrissey, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan. Her research focuses on the effects of environmental contamination on birds, insects, rivers and wetlands. Christy has over 23 years of experience working on issues related to agricultural pesticides and other chemicals and the use of birds as indicators of environmental health. She is working on the Living Lab and related projects to implement nature-based solutions to improve sustainable agricultural production in the Prairies. Dr. Morrissey has published over 90 highly cited journal articles and book chapters and in 2020 was named to the Royal Society College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists. Her work has also been featured broadly in the national and international media and documentaries (CBC, National Geographic, Nature of Things, The Messenger etc).

Town of Halton Hills 22-Minute Makeover

On Monday, April 22, schools and businesses are encouraged to head outside to clean up where you spend your day. Register by emailing Clean up the Town, to arrange for free bags and gloves. Thank you Superior Glove Works located in Acton for donating the clean-up gloves!

Willow Park Earth Day Celebration

Presented by Willow Park Ecology Centre.

You're invited to join the community in celebrating Earth Day by appreciating nature and the environment at Willow Park Ecology Centre.

Spend Earth Day giving back to the planet through activities such as gardening and trails renewal, park clean-up and habitat care plus a nature-themed scavenger hunt! Refreshments and gardening gloves provided (or bring yours). You’ll leave feeling connected and grounded!

Suitable for student volunteer hours. Everyone is welcome to join this free event by registering through their website.

Tree Planting Event

On Sunday, April 21, 9:30 a.m. to noon, join Credit Valley Conservation for a community tree planting event in Hungry Hollow, access through Craig Crescent entrance. For more information and to register, visit Credit Valley Conservation's events page.