Restoring the Forest, One Pull at a Time in Burnaby, BC

On May 30th, the Volunteer Wave community joined forces with two Community Partners, Web of Life and Wildscaping Our Neighbourhood Society (WONS), for a joint forest clean-up and invasive species removal event along the Trans-Canada Trail in the Burnaby Heights neighbourhood. Twenty-five volunteers showed up ready to work, ranging from high school students to those in their 70s, and representing a wonderfully eclectic mix of backgrounds including recycling operators, nurses, musicians, and even a hopeful political candidate. Each person chose the activity that called to them, and the group split into two teams to tackle the day from two different angles.

The clean-up team, led by Carl from Web of Life, headed to specific spots along the Trans-Canada Trail where it connects with North Gilmore Avenue. Among the more memorable finds were a heavy tub-like vessel, an old empty safe, and a stainless steel filing cabinet, alongside the more commonly encountered illegally dumped furniture, carpets, and tires. Volunteers worked together to pick, lift, pull, and drag everything out to a spot accessible for a City of Burnaby pickup. The majority of the project in this area has now been completed. The team will likely return in a few months to check that the cleaned areas have remained clear.

Meanwhile, the invasive species removal team, led by Prentice, the founder and retiree behind WONS, got to work on three of the most persistent offenders in the area: Himalayan Blackberry, English Ivy, and Buttercups. WONS was born out of Prentice's dedication to his own neighbourhood, and the organization's mission is to protect and promote biodiversity for the health of the natural environment. True to that mission, Prentice kept the work both purposeful and joyful, dividing volunteers into spirited sub-groups with names like the Blackberry Battalion and the Buttercup Brigade. The nicknames sparked laughter and friendly banter throughout the afternoon.

Armed with clippers, shears, shovels, and gloved hands, volunteers snipped, pulled, and hauled invasive growth away from the trail. A select few focused on planting native species and trail-making to protect the spaces being restored. There is something quietly powerful about stepping back after two hours of work to see the native plants against the dark soil beneath again; a sight that we could not see when it blended in with all the other greenery from the invasive species. It is a simple but immediate reminder that restoration is possible; it just takes time, patience, and people who care.

And patience will be needed! Invasive species removal along the Trans-Canada Trail and the surrounding parks could take up to 20 years to complete. That's not a discouraging number; it's a call to keep showing up. Native woodlands and the biodiversity they support are worth protecting for the communities, wildlife, and future generations who depend on them. The Volunteer Wave community is proud to be part of this long-term mission alongside Prentice and the team at WONS, and we look forward to returning every month to continue the work!

Thank you to everyone who came out and gave their time and energy to this project. Every pull, every snip, and every bag of garbage hauled out of the forest makes a difference. We hope to see you at the next one!