News — Don't Mess with the Don!

Clean Up and Clean Up more DMWTD has had a couple pretty awesome clean ups in past week or so. On November 3rd, Hundreds upon hundreds of wipes were removed from the riverbank of the Don by our volunteers and a pretty great Leaside hockey team. Plastics and so much else no longer poison our river. Then 15 folks came out this past Sunday and removed more than a thousand pounds of trash that had been dumped by the old railway not far from our lovely home at the Loblaws trailhead. So much was removed that the City had to bring a truck onsite. We haven't totalled the amount we have removed this year for a while so we will have to get out the calculator and do some serious math. Stats will be coming soon. Thank so much to all who give so much and so often. You are stewards and kind souls. DMWTD

Some photos from our Dirty Little Secret Race we held a couple of weeks ago 🏃‍♂️

At last Sunday’s paddle we were honoured to be joined by special guest @mayoroliviachow! We spent 2.5 hours cleaning the shorelines around Toronto Island, removing tires, plastic bags, bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers and much more. We all enjoyed the last warm rays of sunshine while we chatted about little stuff and big stuff. Thank you so much Olivia for coming out with us, for listening to our story and supporting our work to help make the city of Toronto a greener and healthier place. And many thanks to the super volunteers who paddled & towed the kayaks all the way from Cherry Beach to Ward Island and back, who made this special outing possible! #torontoisland #islandcleanup #dmwtd #oliviachow #torontomayor #the6ix #cleanup #kayaking

Please note our SATC Halloween Special program has been moved to October 26. We have 20 pumpkins fresh from the pumpkin patch to carve! We also will be creating beautiful fall wreaths again with brilliant leaves, bark, pine cones, acorns and other found items. 20 spots only and register on Eventbrite. One pumpkin per family please. If you are registering for a spot please only take one ticket even if you are bringing 2+ people. We can do unlimited wreaths. All DMWTD programs are free to everyone. Oct 26th, 10 am, 11 Redway Rd. DMWTD https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/pumpkin-carving-and-fall-wreath-making-tickets-1051273285697

50 bags of garbage and a shopping cart were removed from in and around the Highland Creek river this Saturday, as neighbours and community members came together: Curran Hall Community Centre, @scarb.env.asc , @scarboroughzerowaste, @litterridder, @torontonaturestewards and DMWTD. We were blessed with a beautiful sunny morning, and many of us had never seen this beautiful natural treasure that’s in the heart of Scarborough. This is the power of the community coming together as we share the same goal: to enjoy and take care of the beautiful nature around us. Let us be thankful for that, and give back to the gift that keeps giving. #happythanksgivng #thanksgiving #cleanup #scarborough #zerowaste #highlandcreek #dmwtd

The salmon in Highland Creek are swimming between the rocks and…. our garbage. Come out next Saturday to clean up the river and its banks, and marvel at the many salmon that make their way up stream! Meet us at 9:45am Oct 12 at Curran Hall Community Centre. Details in link in bio! 🐟

We’re looking for a dedicated, proactive Treasurer to join our leadership team! Are you passionate about making an impact and ensuring financial sustainability? Help Don’t Mess with the Don’s mission to restore and protect Toronto’s natural spaces, by taking care of our charity’s finances! For details on the job, check link in bio. To apply, send an email to info@dontmesswiththedon.ca #volunteer #treasurer #toronto

‼️Our next clean up is happening Saturday Oct 12 in Highland Creek, Scarborough! Give thanks to Mother Nature this Thanksgiving and help clean her waters! Our partners for this event are @scarboroughzerowaste Curran Hall Community Association, @torontonaturestewards, @scarb.env.asc and @litterridder Registration starts at 9:45am at the Curran Hall Community Centre, 227 Orton Park Rd. Clean up will run until 1pm. More info follow link in bio! #cleanup #scarborough #zerowaste #highlandcreek #thanksgiving

Come join DMWTD this Saturday October 5th for a wonderful fall nature walk. We have amazing guest speaker Sayeh Dastgheib-Beheshti of Project Swallowtail and Underhill Seedsitters who will lead you through Sun Valley and Crothers Woods. Come experience start of the fall colours in the Don Valley. No registration required. #fall #fallnaturewalk #naturewalk #TOravines #donvalley