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Here’s the latest news from our Instagram account.

EARTH DAY CLEAN UP -2025 RECAP Thank you to you. To the families, to the passionate ones, to the those who love the planet, to those who love their neighbours and neighbourhoods, to the dog walkers, the trail runners, the mountain bikers, to those who love the small things and believe in big things, we thank you all. Over 180 people of our community came out today and cleaned a huge area of E. T. Seton Park and beyond. There were volunteers on the hills, in the ravines, out on Don Mills and all over the place showing how much they care. 160 bags of trash, mostly plastics, and over 3200 pounds of garbage is no longer in the Don Valley. Don't Mess with the Don has been advocating and working on prevention and reducing source trash since our inception. On this, our 8th Earth day clean up we announce that we are formally creating a task force to tackle the trash from buildings with overflowing and improperly maintained dumpsters that are responsible for over 50% of the trash picked up today. We want to thank the groups and companies and employees of those companies that were with us today - @patagoniatoronto, @fjallravenofficial , @starbuckscanada, @salomonrunning, Toronto Police Services @tps53div, @torontonaturestewards, @rotarytorontoeglinton, @torontotrailrunners, @the.trail.collective and others. Thank you to Rob Oliphant MP (@rob_oliphant) and Dr. Adil Shamji MPP (@shamjiadil)for being with us again, yes again. Thank you to our photographers, Rica who is responsible for about 75% of all the amazing photos you see on DWMTD social media and guest photographers Kent Keeler and Madeline Prendergast. Thank you to @cbctoronto who came out to document and report on the efforts of all these wonderful folks. Year to date 2025 Clean up # 9 663 bags of trash 13,390 pounds of trash including an electric guitar, an ATM, 10 bikes, 3 mattresses and more disposable wipes than we could carry Thank you ❤️ DMWTD - A Registered Canadian Charity
7 spots left for Wreath Making with @evergreen_brick_works for Earth Month. We supply all the materials and you supply, well, you! You must register. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/phBLoxFZBCFLF1XX6 We wreath-y look forward to seeing you and your creativity! #artsandcrafts #buckthornfinallyhasause #dontmesswiththedon #evergreenbrickworks #naturelovers #wreathpartridge #wreathrichards #wreathersutherland
🏃 Youth Trail Running - Season 6 starts May 13th 🏃🏼‍♀️ DMWTD returns to the Single Track Trails with our Youth Trail Running clinics every Tuesday and Thursday evening at 5 pm for youth 10 to 15. We have great instructors ready to lead the four weeks of clinics. Youth get shoes to take home with them courtesy of our amazing partner Salomon (@salomontoronto) as well an original DMWTD trail shirt. Youth will get the chance to explore many of the amazing trails in the Don Valley as well learn about its history and wildlife. 🦝 There are 15 spots per day and as usual participants can switch between days as needed. All DMWTD programs are free to everyone all the time. Please email us at info@dontmesswiththedon.ca if you have any questions. These groups fill ups very quick so get on this fast (like a trail runner) https://forms.gle/WESAqmdw8vja5zyp7 #donvalley #dontmesswiththedon #runningtheravines #salomon #salomontoronto #trailrunning #youthtrailrunning
Season 4 of Project Buckthorn starts April 28th at 4:30 pm. Rumour has it this year there may be t-shirts!! Come out and help remove invasive Buckthorn with DMWTD and TNS (@torontonaturestewards). Each year we have a great group of folks helping to restore a large area in Sunnybrook Park. We will be removing Buckthorn and also DSV, Honeysuckle etc. No need to register. #amazingvolunteers #cityoftoronto #communityengagement #communityimpact #crickethatesinvasives #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #environmentclimateandforestry #invasivesbegone #makeadifference #naturelovers #projectbuckthorn #toronto #torontonaturestewards#volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
☀️ It’s a beautiful day ☀️ 75 beautiful people on a beautiful sunny day cleaned over 2400 pounds of trash from the Don Valley and that is …… well beautiful. Thank you to everyone who came out today. Thank you to those who came out for the first time, for the 10th time and those who come out every time. Every cup, bottle, candy wrapper and piece plastic dropped or thrown carelessly has to be picked up. If not, it spoils the only planet we have. These folks are on their hands and knees grabbing that cup, 120 bags of trash that must be carried and kids asking why people litter as they fill a bag of that plastic? Thank you to our partner in today‘s clean up, @evergreen_brick_works and thank you Councillor @joshmatlow for your support. Our next clean up is our big Earth Day Cleanup in E.T. Seton Park next Saturday at 10 am. This is followed by our Earth Day Stewardship Event at our container hub on April 26th at 10 am. Year to date 2025 Clean up # 8 503 bags of trash 10,190 pounds of trash including an electric guitar, an ATM, 6 bikes, 2 mattresses and more disposable wipes than we could carry Thank you ❤️ DMWTD - A Registered Canadian Charity #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #evergreenbrickworks #garbagecleanup #joshmatlow #makeadifference #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
ET Seton Park is full of plastics and on 🌎 Earth Day 🌎, April 19th at 10am, we are going to change that. We did our scout of the clean up area in ET Seton Park yesterday and it's pretty rough. So many plastics from overflowing dumpsters. DMWTD is hosting our 8th Earth Day clean up and we estimate more than 50 % of the more than 100,000 pounds of trash picked up in these events is trash from garbage coming out of dumpsters lids left open, blown open or overstuffed. On Earth Day 2019, over 700 DMWTD volunteers clean 30,000 pounds of trash in one morning. For Earth Day 2025 we have some great partners coming out - Starbucks (@starbuckscanada), Fjallraven (@fjallravenofficial), Patagonia (@patagoniatoronto), Salomon (@salomontoronto), Rotary (@rotarytoronto) who are all supporting this effort and we are hoping you are coming out too. 10am at the Thorncliffe Entrance in ET Seton Park at the bottom of the hill. Look for the DMWTD signs. We have everything you need plus snacks and drinks. Many thanks ❤️ DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #earthday #earthdaytoronto #fjallraven #fjallravencanada #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #naturelovers #patagonia #patagoniatoronto #patagoniacanada #rotaryclub #rotaryclubtoronto #salomon #salomontoronto #starbucks #starbuckscanada#toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
DMWTD had a pizza🍕party with 25 of our closest friends down on Cherry St. last night. We talked, we laughed and we cleaned 1300 pounds of trash. It's like a games night or trivia but you get to help save the world from plastics. Thank you so much to all our great volunteers and thank you so much to Nicole from our WhatsApp event group for suggesting an evening clean up. Under the Gardiner and parts of the Lakeshore and Portlands look so much better. Upcoming events include our April 13th clean up at the Brick Works, our Huge Earth 🌎 Day clean up in E.T. Seton Park on April 19th and our Earth Day stewardship event on April 26th at our container hub at the Loblaws Trailhead & Sun Valley. If you are have a group please contact us at info@dontmesswiththedon.ca to be part of any of these events or if you want to create your own cool pizza party clean up. Year to date 2025: Clean up # 7 381 bags of trash 7750 pounds of trash including an electric guitar, an 🏧, 6 bikes, 2 mattresses and more disposable wipes than we could carry Thank you ❤️ DMWTD - A Registered Canadian Charity #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #cricketlikespizza #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #makelawrencwdopushups #naturelovers #pizzaandpickup #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
DMWTD had the best time today at @havergalcollege TC- 9 Knowledge Fair. We had the opportunity to connect with the students on the work we do and how seven years ago three trail runners decided to do a clean up on the Ridge Trail in the Don Valley and that became DMWTD. The students asked about climate change, microplastics, invasive species and many other critical issues but most often they asked about how did DMWTD happen. The passion those three trail runners had in 2018 found compassion and community in so many other wonderful volunteers who cared about the Don Valley and the life within it. Clean ups begat Stewardship and then Environmental Arts and then Youth Trail Running and then Mountain Biking and Kayaking and most recently a kid's summer camp. Small actions by ordinary passionate people sparking change. One bag of garbage, a small patch of DSV removed, a connection with another volunteer or a paddle to the islands and taking one tire out of the lake. That's how we got here and that's how we are going to make this better. Thanks so much to all the great students and staff at @havergalcollege for having us out today. We admire your spirit, knowledge and desire to make the world a better place. DMWTD #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #havergalcollege #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
Lead Volunteers needed for Earth Day 🌎 Earth Day with DMWTD is always a great event and volunteers remove tens of thousands of pounds of plastics and trash from our ravines. Some of you might have been there in 2019 when some 700 DMWTD folks cleaned over 30,000 pounds of trash in one morning and many have come out every year. We need about 12 people able to help leading groups to clean up areas and provide support during the clean up. 9 am arrival and the event concludes around 1 pm. Enthusiasm is the only requirement for this opportunity. The clean up, as always, is in E.T. Seton Park at the bottom of the Thorncliffe entrance on April 19th. Here is the link to signup and support this 7th annual clean up gala. https://forms.gle/BbDHcoE1DcRrynNA6 Many thanks and check out all our Earth Day/Week events ❤️ DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #getyourvolunteerhoursin #helpwanted #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
DMWTD is trying something new in clean ups, which doesn't seem possible after over 400 clean ups but it is. We will be hosting our first Pick Up (clean up but pick up sounds better) and Pizza evening this Thursday. We will be meeting at 5:30 pm at the Dark Horse Espresso Bar in the Distillery District (map in photos). We have had a lot, ok some, enquiries about a clean up on Lakeshore Blvd and environs under the Gardiner Expressway. With all the wet weekend weather we have had we are going to mix it up a bit with our first ever weekday evening clean up. Thursday does show it will be much warmer with a chance of rain in the morning but we are going to give it a try. So come out for the first ever Pick Up and Pizza. Let's tidy up the waterfront and afterwards enjoy pizza slices and beverages. See you at the coffee shop ☕️ DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #cricketlikespizza #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #naturelovers #pickupandpizza #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
Joy cometh in the morn. It the joy of seeing old friends and new volunteers. The joy of community and being part of a caring city. To find such joy on a cold and wet morning is a treasure. To be able to help our city and planet by removing more than 1000 pounds of plastics from one of Toronto’s great beaches 🏖️ and the Portlands is joyful. Thank you to the 25 hardy souls who came out and kept tens of thousands of pieces of trash from ending up in our harbour and in the precious local ecosystem we love. Astounding to see so much trash from a certain coffee and donut shop, we will be getting back to that in the near future and continuing our TH project. In case you’re wondering we didn’t buy anything from Tim’s, it is all stuff we picked up lol. Year to date 2025: Clean up # 5 312 bags of trash 6350 pounds of trash including an electric guitar, an ATM, 6 bikes, 2 mattresses and more disposable wipes than we could carry Thank you ❤️ DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
‼️CLEAN UP SATURDAY‼️ The Portlands are awesome but sadly there is a tonne of trash everywhere. Before all this trash ends up in the water let's get it gone. We will be meeting at the Cherry Beach Lifeguard Station at 10 am to do a big clean. We have everything you need and the weather looks swell. Our friends at Humber River Pals also have a clean up this Saturday so if you are out in the west end please help them with cleaning the Humber. Details in photos or visit (and follow!) their Instagram, @humberriverpals. Save the planet, save ourselves 🌎 DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #humberriverpals #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
DMWTD had a different kind of day on Sunday. We were up at @parcdownsviewpark working with our partners in the greenhouse on our giant native plant project. @parcdownsviewpark volunteers, @projectswallowtail.ca and DMWTD worked hard building plant tables to get ready for the thousands of native plants that this project will be growing for green spaces all over Toronto. This is an exciting undertaking that hopefully yields an abundance of life for our ecosystems and improves biodiversity in our amazing ravines, parks and wild areas. Thanks so much to everyone who helped out. DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontmesswiththedon #downsviewpark #makeadifference #nativeplants #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #projectswallowtail #toronto #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
DMWTD - a 1000 pounds soaking wet! ☔️ 20 really kinda amazing souls braved a downpour and more to clean 1000 pounds of trash from Lower Bayview. There is an old DMWTD saying - “We stood shoulder to shoulder in the pouring rain cleaning up garbage - I love you” Thank you to all. Not one of you left or asked to leave. Not one person complained or was grouchy. You all laughed in the rain. Year to date 2025: Clean up # 4 260 bags of trash 5300 pounds of trash including an electric guitar, an ATM, 6 bikes, 2 mattresses and more disposable wipes than we could carry Thank you, DMWTD And thank you @michael_barker_photo for taking on photo duty! #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
Spring is popping and trash has no place in our valley so this Saturday at 10am we will celebrate the warm weather with a pop up clean-up. We will meet at the top of the Riverdale West hill beside Riverdale farm. Everything you need will be there, gloves, bags, treats and some of the best people in the city. No need to register See you Saturday, DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
DMWTD would like to take a moment to say thank you to our Stewardship Group. All through the winter and for more than 4 years this incredible group of stewards have been out every week, and often multiple times a week, removing invasive species and restoring our precious Don Valley. This winter was blustery, snowy and quite cold at times but these 20 or so folks came out nearly every week to work for hours to improve the ecological health of the valley. This is tough work and these are amazing folks. We are in awe of your commitment to community. The millions of living beings that call the Don Valley home, Owls, Chipmunks, Insects, Coyotes, Birches, Beavers, Red Tails, Monarchs, Oaks and all precious life in the Don Valley say thank you. We thank you as well, you are part of the web of life that lives in the Don. Many thanks and we love you ❤️ Don't Mess with the Don #communityengagement #communityimpact #crickethelpedtoo #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #icetomeetyou #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
Spring Cleaning has begun! Yesterday was a beautiful day for a walk in the woods, a run in the sun and for one of our volunteers a chance to get out and start the spring clean. With all the snow we have had this winter we haven't been able to get out and clean up for a couple months so there is lots to do. Pottery Road hill is a bit cleaner thanks to one of our volunteers and over the next few weeks we hope to be hosting clean ups all over the valley. Watch our Instagram, Facebook and our events WhatsApp group (link found on DontMessWithTheDon.ca) for all the upcoming clean ups and events. See you soon ◡̈ DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
🌍 🌳 EARTH DAY with DMWTD 🌳 🌎 Here is an early look at all our Earth Day events!! No need to register for any of the clean ups or stewardship events. We will be posting a sign up for the very popular Wreath making from Invasives Species Workshop we are doing with Evergreen Brick Works ♥️ DMWTD #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontlitter #dontmesswiththedon #garbagecleanup #makeadifference #nativeplants #nature #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto
STEWARDSHIP IS BEING RESCHEDULED. Due to weather conditions we will now be meeting tomorrow at the DMWTD Containers at 11 Redway Road at 4pm (not am, or you will be waiting there for a while). See you tomorrow!
Tonight Don't Mess with the Don was awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for Community Service and Philanthropy at a ceremony held at Todmorden Mills. This medal represents the hard work of every single one of you that has volunteered with Don't Mess with the Don. Every piece of garbage picked up. Every native plant reintroduced back into the Don Valley. Every buckthorn and dog strangling vine removed. Every single smile as we form a bond as a community to explore and take care of the ravines and nature that we all love so much. Thank you 🥈 #amazingvolunteers #communityengagement #communityimpact #dontmesswiththedon #donvalley #donvalleytrails #keeptorontoclean #kingcharlesIIIcoronationmedal #makeadifference #natureinthecity #naturelovers #toronto #torontoravines #torontotrails #trashcleanup #volunteering #volunteeringintoronto