2025 Annual Report

Nothing

Artificial

Front cover: Program Director, Derek Stone, left, leads a tree identification walk at our 2025 Summer BioBlitz

Craving the authentic

It’s no secret that this is a time of relentless information. We can’t seem to go more than a few minutes without accessing the digital, whether it be the 24‑hour news cycle, artificial intelligence, or deceptive social media comparisons. As these forces weave themselves into our daily routines, they also remind us how essential it is to stay connected to what’s real.

Real life – the kind we experience with all of our senses – is what happens at The Riverwood Conservancy. Here you can pause to hear the birds chirping, see the Credit River flow, and smell flowers growing from the soil – an authentic experience, felt in real time.

Our mission is to protect the wonders of what’s real, for today and future generations. We stayed true to that purpose throughout 2025, connecting more than 16,000 people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to nature. But that’s only a number! What it really represents is schoolkids putting down their phones and heading off into the woodlands; families building bird boxes – and relationships – together; young people getting experience for green careers; and co-workers getting soil on their jeans as they plant a tree.

At Riverwood, we “touch grass” every day. However you are connected to us, thank you for stepping away from the artificial and choosing to be part of what’s real.

Sara Wilbur-Collins, MCL Executive Director

The Riverwood Conservancy would like to acknowledge that the land on which we operate is within the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the traditional land of the Wendat Nation and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This land is part of the Upper Canada Land Surrenders to the Crown. Today, the region surrounding Riverwood remains home to many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work here.

Peeter

Chair

Poldre

Clement Mbulu Vice-Chair

Heather

Shaw Past Chair

Elinor Laffey

Corporate Secretary

Tim Pickering

Treasurer

Imdad Hussain Junejo

Member-at-Large

Swaroop Dogra

Amy Tjen

Peter Newsome

Keeping it real

Jonathan Davis

Monica Jako

David Reid

Our city is changing quickly, and The Riverwood Conservancy is evolving right alongside it. As life becomes increasingly digital, the need for meaningful outdoor experiences has never been clearer. Riverwood offers something rare –a place to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy the simple, grounding beauty of the outdoors. In the years ahead, we know even more people will seek out this green sanctuary at the heart of our growing urban landscape.

Last year was one of renewal and forward momentum. We expanded our nature-based day camps and wellness programming, expanded our Membership offerings, and deepened our Indigenous allyship efforts. Alongside this program growth, we continued to strengthen our financial foundation. Our second Great Riverwood Hike was a tremendous success – be sure to mark your calendar for this year’s event on Sunday, October 4!

We were pleased to welcome David Reid to our Board of Directors in 2025. If you’ve participated in our programs, you may already know Dave – his enthusiasm for Riverwood is unmistakable. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Alan Lytle and Christina Woodward, who retired from their Board service in April 2025, for their thoughtful leadership and dedication.

This year, we also said goodbye to two cherished Riverwood champions, Shirley Daniels and Garry Watson. Both were instrumental in our early days as the Mississauga Garden Council, offering wisdom, commitment, and a steady belief in what Riverwood could become. As the gardens come alive this season, we hold their memory close.

Reflecting on the past year, I am filled with gratitude – for our volunteers, Members, donors, and staff. Riverwood is a community defined by care and connection, from the gardens to the boardroom. And that’s as real as it gets!

I invite you to read on and discover how the real comes to life at Riverwood.

Clement Mbulu Acting Chair

Andrew

Stanistreet and TRC conservation volunteers work inside the MacEwan Pond

“

I feel proud to volunteer and contribute to any of The Riverwood Conservancy’s projects as it gives me a sense of purpose and achievement in wanting to leave the world a better place than I found it.

Andrew

Stanistreet TRC Volunteer, Member, and Donor

A commitment

to conservation

Conservation is at the heart of everything we do, and that means not only working to protect our precious woodlands, wetlands, gardens, and waterways, but also bringing in the community to take part in that work.

Removing invasive species, planting trees and wildflowers, and cleaning up litter are year round efforts that we must undertake to keep Riverwood beautiful and safe for people, and ecologically healthy for the wide array of plants and wildlife that reside here.

To accomplish our work, we connect individual volunteers to our conservation program, and host group volunteer outings from local businesses in Conservation Crew experiences.

One standout bit of feedback we received from a Conservation Crew participant read, “It’s great to hear why we did the conservation activity. It’s also nice to revisit areas that we worked on in the past to see the impact we’re having. The TRC team always makes me feel appreciated!”

Our individual conservation volunteers are always ready to dig, and sometimes wade, into the work. One such volunteer is Andrew Stanistreet, who started volunteering with The Riverwood Conservancy because he wanted to do something meaningful with his spare time.

“I’ve volunteered with the bird feeding program, with event support for The Riverwood Indigenous Social, and assisted with invasive species clearance, tree planting, and bird box building,” says Andrew.

In addition to volunteering all around Riverwood, Andrew supports our work as a donor.

“I donate to support all the passionate individuals at The Riverwood Conservancy who understand the role nature plays in bringing a sense of calm to the world,” he says. “Riverwood makes me feel part of a community with a common goal. I also feel more connected to nature. It’s my happy place.”

11,019

Volunteer hours contributed across all of our program areas

956 Volunteers engaged in 2025

750 Trees planted through our conservation programs

988

Pounds of invasive garlic mustard removed from around Riverwood

Everyone’s to discover

201 Discovery programs delivered in 2025

5,540 Participants in our Discovery programs

16,654 Participants across all of our programming areas throughout 2025

Since there’s no single way to connect with nature, we strive to have our Discovery programs act as accessible routes to the natural world for everyone who comes to Riverwood.

In 2025, we created Discovery programs to appeal to birders, gardeners, stargazers, yogis, wildlife lovers, forest bathers, Tai Chi practitioners, and more! The varied nature of our Discovery programs means more members of our community can find connections to nature that speak to them.

Over 5,500 people across a range of ages, backgrounds, and abilities took advantage of those programs last year.

At the end of each program, we send participants a survey to share their thoughts on their experiences, and here’s one response that caught our attention.

“With my mum’s (sic) reduced mobility, the volunteers and staff kindly made a wheelchair accessible route for her as we realized her walker was not going to cut it on some of the paths/hills,” the anonymous program participant told us.

“The kindness of everyone made it really work for my mum, and she enjoyed it ‘more than if you made me walk that hill,’ she said. Ha!”

From plans, achievements

Goals from our 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

Protect and restore the diverse ecosystems, natural features, and wildlife populations of Riverwood and the surrounding area

Design and maintain diverse and engaging gardens, expressing a vision that connects Riverwood with the community

Continue the development of an integrated revenue strategy

Work with Indigenous communities to support their goals for wellbeing through programs and ceremonies at Riverwood

Spark wonder and delight by delivering high-quality outdoor education programming that engages children, youth, and their families

Support our mission and revenue goals with a comprehensive communications and marketing program

Enhance and expand fee-for-service offerings and donations

Achievements in 2025

Engaged in restoration projects across 75 acres of the Riverwood property, with 750 trees and 1,800 wildflowers planted

Completed significant upgrades to the Sensory Path to include new interpretive signage, tactile elements and an inviting wingspan board

Completed research and garnered community feedback on the creation of a hybrid donor-member model of membership which will be instituted in 2026

Hosted “Truth Before Reconciliation” presentation by Jason Johnson, Founder of Turtle Island Charity, took part in The Indigenous Network’s “Walking Together: A Journey for Reconciliation” event at Riverwood

Delivered Camp Riverwood programming for kids in Grades 1-6 on P.A. Days, during March Break, and for eight weeks during the summer

Increased total number of social followers (across Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn) by 7%

Engage people in volunteer roles that provide purpose, social connections, and physical activity

Achieved record annual revenue for Education Naturally field trips, raised $4,000 through hosting our first Native Plant Sale

Secured funding from an RBC Foundation grant of $50,000 over three years to expand group conservation volunteering by one-third by 2028

Education Naturally programs delivered (a new annual record)

6,782

Education Naturally participants (a new annual record)

Now entering

an AI-free zone

Extensive screen time on its own is potentially harmful for young children, but there’s a growing body of research that suggests when AI-generated videos that contain incorrect or nonsensical information – often referred to as AI slop – flood their devices, it can actually delay development and hinder their understanding of cause and effect.

Time spent away from screens is vital for developing minds. That’s a big reason why programs like our field trips, day camps, and therapeutic horticulture activities matter so much to parents, educators, and community group leaders, and of course, the kids themselves who take part in those programs.

Our Education Naturally field trips welcomed a record number of students to Riverwood in 2025, while also raising a record amount of revenue.

Camp Riverwood is no longer just a summer affair, with our nature-based day camps taking place on P.A. Days and March Break during the school year, in addition to eight weeks of programming in July and August.

And our therapeutic horticulture programs, offered to participants of all ages, continue to provide individuals with special needs experiential education in our gardens, in our classrooms, and on the trails.

“

I felt supported every step of the way in learning my role, and I really enjoyed seeing how the campers grew over the summer, how their comfort level increased interacting with each other socially, and interacting with nature!

Jahreleaseya Lehmann-Simpson 2025 Summer Camp Counsellor

Sadia Tahir is a Grade 5 Teacher at Ahmadiyya School Mississauga. After bringing her students to Riverwood for an Education Naturally field trip, she shared this lovely letter of thanks with us.

Our sincere thanks for the incredible and informative field trip you hosted for our students. The experience was truly engaging, educational, and memorable for everyone involved.

Your team did a fantastic job of creating a welcoming environment while delivering meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities. The students not only deepened their understanding of the natural environment but also developed a greater appreciation for conservation and sustainability. They especially enjoyed learning about navigation skills and exploring biodiversity, which sparked curiosity and encouraged them to think more critically about the ecosystems around them.

It was wonderful to see the students so engaged, enthusiastic, and actively participating throughout the day. We are especially grateful for the effort and care that went into planning and leading the activities. Your passion and knowledge made a lasting impression on both students and staff.

Thank you once again for such a well organized and inspiring experience. We hope to have the opportunity to visit again in the future.

169 Camp Riverwood participants across March Break, P.A. Days, and summer months

816

Therapeutic horticulture program participants

169

Therapeutic horticulture programs delivered

The Junior Naturalists Club and Mini Naturalists Club (photos 5-7) proved once again to be among our most popular offerings, with spaces for both programs filling up within minutes of registrations opening. We’re thrilled to see so many kids, and their parents, have a drive to explore and engage with nature!

The second edition of The Great Riverwood Hike (photos 1-4) smashed its fundraising goal! Through our caring community of hikers, donors, sponsors, volunteers, and supporters, the event raised an incredible $34,000 — through sponsorships and donations — for The Riverwood Conservancy! Because of everyone who took part in the Hike, we can continue to protect Riverwood’s green spaces, and give individuals, families, schools, and community groups the opportunity to connect with nature here.

“

We’d like to recognize the significant contributions The Riverwood Conservancy has made through restoring habitats, managing invasives, and educating visitors, leading watershed stewardship through ecological revitalization and inclusive community engagement. Your long-term vision ensures both environmental health and community connection to nature in the Credit River Watershed.

Michael Palleschi Credit Valley Conservation Chair

of Financial Position

As at December 31, 2025

Liabilities and net assets

Approved by the Board of Directors

Statement of Changes in Net Assets

For the year ended December 31, 2025

Operating Reserve

Capital Asset Reserve

Statement of Operations

the year ended December 31, 2025

Results reflect our planned multi year financial recovery. Some program fees, sponsorships and event revenue were budgeted as donations in 2025.

2025 Major Supporters

Guardians of Riverwood | $100,000+

City of Mississauga

Guardians of Riverwood | $25,000+

Hoffman La Roche Ltd.

Ontario Trillium Foundation

RBC Foundation

Anonymous (1)

Sunshine Circle | $10,000+

Armstrong Milling Co Ltd.

Employment and Social Development Canada

Gordon and Patricia Gray Animal

Welfare Foundation

Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)

Scotts Canada Ltd.

Sherilyn Ketchen RBC

Wealth Management

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

The Frank Fowler Foundation

Walker Industries Holdings Ltd.

Pollinators’ Circle | $5,000+

Archie D’Cruz Magic of Giving Fund

Capra’s Kitchen/Massimo Capra

Johansen Larsen Foundation

Stantec Consulting Ltd.

Anonymous (1)

Gardeners’ Circle | $1,000+

Alectra Utilities Corporation

Allegis Group Foundation

Ash Grove Cement

Axis Communications

Baxter Canada

Boston Scientific

Brian Deegan

Brian Packham

Canadian Turner Construction Company

Carolyn Parrish

Catherine Doehler

Chancery Mendez Holdings (Canada) Ltd.

Christina Woodward

CRB Canada

Ellen McGregor and Paul Prno

Gail Smith

Gillian Lien-Robinson

Glenn Graydon Wright/GGW

Technologies Services Inc.

Granite REIT Holdings

Limited Partnership

GSK - Canada

Habib Canadian Bank

Hancock Van Alstyne Family Fund

Heather and David Shaw

IMAX Corporation

Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals

Canada Inc.

Jim and Micheline Muscat

Joan Stibbard

John and Maire Percy

KMB Law

Laurie Pallett

Lorraine Crow and James Giles

Luke Gillin Fund at the Mississauga Foundation

Mabel Cheung

Marguerite Adamson

Meridian Credit Union

Michael Pau

Myrna Coleman

Patricia M. Kluge

Patricia Rusciolelli

Prophix Software Inc.

Puratos Canada

Raymond James

Canada Foundation

Reunion Coffee Roasters

Riverside Natural Foods

Sara Wilbur-Collins and Peter Collins

Springbank Greenhouses

Suzanne J. Roy

The Riverwood Conservancy Endowment Foundation Fund at the Mississauga Foundation

UTM Student Association for Geography and the Environment

Violet C. Bull

Anonymous (1)

Sapling Donors | $500+

Amy Tjen

Arthur and Carol MacDonald

Bruce Crockett

Carolyn Sherk

Credit Valley Horticultural Society

David Pavanel

Dean M. Sane

Douglas Markoff Riverwood Horticulture Fund at the Mississauga Foundation

Franca Vettese

Joe Horneck

Julia D’Costa

Marc and Reagan Johnson

Marcia Gifford

Medtronic

Michael Briem

Northside Contracting

Orlando Shkodra

Peeter Poldre

Penny Stanley

Rasheed Clarke

Rick Holden

Robin Haley-Gillin

Rotary Club of Mississauga

Sidrah Thakur

Steve Hoscheit

Timothy Pickering

Ulrich Krull

Urban Nature Store

Westburne Electrical Supply

Thank you to all of the individuals and organizations who contributed in 2025! For a list of additional donors, please visit theriverwoodconservancy.org/supporters

“

The stress of working in the health care field sometimes leaves one not only exhausted physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Taking a stroll through Riverwood after grueling shifts has been the mainstay of my personal therapy throughout the years and will continue to be a part of my routine. The park has been a godsend for my wellbeing and my spirit.

Imelda Chavez, Riverwood Regular

Many thanks to our Guardians of Riverwood and Sunshine Circle supporters

Sherilyn Ketchen RBC Wealth Management

You can bring our vision of a community that lives in harmony with nature to life. Make your gift today at theriverwoodconservancy.org/donate or email info@theriverwoodconservancy.org and let’s talk about your giving plans.