(ON) Intro to Conservation – Aug 16 2025

Event Details

The Speed River flows through the traditional lands of the Attawandaron and Haudenosaunee peoples and the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

Due to limited spots, we ask our allies to please let Black, Indigenous and People of Colour register for this event first. If you have an ally family member or friend that you would like to join you and can offer carpool, please ask them to fill in the form.

On August 16th we will be hosting our first conservation activity in Ontario! Registration deadline is August 13th.

We’re excited to be working in partnership with Freshwater Conservation Canada to bring our community outdoors and learn more about the conservation efforts of FCC and how it helps restore and rehabilitate the watershed in Ontario.

This is an amazing opportunity to engage with Conservationists, learn about their efforts, and how to be a part of the change. If you’re interested in learning more about conservation efforts and spending a day on the field doing hands-on restorative work with the Colour the Trails community, then this event is for you!

We believe in giving back, learning, connecting, and exploring opportunities in outdoor and conservation areas. While this event entails physical work, it is important to see what effort goes into maintaining natural areas. We have done trail work in the past in BC, and it is fulfilling to see positive impact of your work.

Info on the activity:

The City of Guelph was founded in 1827, and the Speed River powered many of the first industries. By the 1960s, the lower reach of the Speed was essentially dead – pollution and wastewater treatment practices of the day led to low oxygen levels and algal blooms that made the river inhospitable to aquatic life. Restoration efforts began in the 1970s and continue to this day. Now the Speed River hosts over 28 species of fish and its naturalized riparian buffer features significant plant and animal species. Your efforts with Freshwater Conservation Canada’s 2 Rivers Conservation Corridor program will help to continue this restoration effort to improve the health of the river and build climate resilience for wildlife and our communities.

Several activities will be run to showcase the ecological and human connections between land & water:

1. River Clean-up – participants will wear waders to walk the Speed River and remove garbage
2. Plant water-loving plants on the riverbank & learn about their roles in the ecosystem
3. Distribute seed balls to support riparian bird populations
4. Enjoy an interpretive walk discussing some of the history of the river and the importance of rehabilitating riparian areas for both wildlife and human communities.

Itinerary

• 10:00 AM: Meet at trailhead
• 10:10 AM: Walk to Restoration Area 1
• 10:25: Orientation, Colour the Trails Discussion, & Safety Talk
• 10:45: Activity 1 (River Clean-up)
• 11:45: Break
• 12:00: Activity 2 (Planting)
• 12:30: Meal Break
• 1:00: Activity 3 & 4 (Seed Ball distribution & interpretive walk, including decolonizing conservation)
• 1:30: Gathering and closing discussion
• 2:00: Depart site

Equipment:

Participants: Dress for the weather (hat, sunscreen, extra pair of socks); wear hiking shoes or boots, water bottle, personal snacks

Freshwater Conservation Canada typically provides vegetarian samosas and pakoras for volunteers (https://www.kirtidakitchen.com/).

Transportation

We will be organizing a carpool and will need folks who can drive others to join.

Location: Meet at Guelph to Cambridge Trail trailhead: 4783 Wellington Rd 32, Puslinch, ON N1H 6J4; Parking on the wide shoulder on west side of road, just past the bridge – look for signage)

Cost

There is no charge for joining the event. We will ask you to share driving expenses (carpool).

Community Guidelines:

Inclusion Policy: 

At Colour the Trails, we are dedicated to fostering an environment that champions inclusivity, respect, and equality. We want to make it clear that we will not tolerate any form of anti-Blackness, anti-Indigenous attitudes, racism, homophobia, ableism or transphobia within our organization or community. We firmly stand against discrimination and prejudice, and we are committed to creating a safe and affirming space for individuals of all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, abilities, and gender identities. Together, we strive to promote unity, understanding, and support for all trail enthusiasts, regardless of their background or identity. As a Black owned and Black led business, we recognize the greater prevalence of anti-Blackness and anti-Indigeneity and will always prioritize support and protection for Black and Indigenous communities.

Photo & Video Release Consent:

By purchasing a ticket you grant permission for Colour the Trails and sponsors to use any portion of the photos or videos from this event that have been taken by Colour the Trails videographers and photographers for the purpose of sharing experiences with the community and encouraging future participation in events which can include but is not limited to, print or digital versions, social media and websites without any more compensation or recognition given. Colour the Trails will not use the photographs in a manner that would exploit or cause malicious representation toward you.

Please contact info@colourthetrails.com BEFORE the event if you do not want to be photographed or on video during an event.

Cancellation Policy

Participants are encouraged to communicate any cancellations or changes to their event attendance at the earliest convenience. This helps us manage our resources effectively and gives us the opportunity to offer the spot to other interested participants on the waitlist. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and understanding of our cancellation policy. By adhering to these guidelines, we can continue to provide high-quality events and opportunities for all participants that is a fair and equitable system for event sign-ups.

Regular One Day Events Cancellation Policy

This policy applies to smaller one-day events. We would like to emphasize that even when the participation fee is low ($10-100) it is important to show up as last moment cancellations make us look bad as a group in front of partners that help us to create affordable events.

1. Cancellation At Least 7 Days In Advance: For cancellations made at least 7 days in advance of the scheduled event, no penalties will be incurred. Participants can request a full refund. In some cases when we pre-pay for spots with our hosts, we might need to fill in the spot in order to issue a refund.
2. Cancellation Within 7 Days: In the unfortunate event that a cancellation is requested less than 7 days before the scheduled event, or no shows the following policy will apply:

• Refund: Cancellations made less than 7 days of the event will not be eligible for a refund.
• Penalty: A three months ineligibility to attend future events. We leave a right to cancel any registration of the person under penalty in this time frame. After the three-month ineligibility period has elapsed, participants can once again sign up for future events without any restrictions.

Content Creation Statement

We ask to respect our work and not create content to promote any other brands or organizations during our events. Our team is putting a lot of energy and time into creating community spaces with little support and unrelated organizations should not benefit from our hard labour. You are encouraged to share about Colour the Trails work as it shows the welcoming and safe space we are creating and word of mouth helps our community to grow!

Please refer to our community guidelines for a full description of our policies and standards for community engagement.