Who We Are

I have a lifetime of wandering the Don Valley. My childhood was made up of bike rides through the forest, splashing through the streams, and finding adventure in Toronto’s largest green space. My adult life is pretty much the same. Trail running, dog walking, and finding community there with DMWTD. I believe in the power of small acts and the barn-raising ability of people. We are active partners with our planet and city, protecting each other and offering help as needed.

Irene is a mother of two who spends a great deal of time in the outdoors, walking, trail running, and exploring with her kids. Having grown up in the Netherlands, she used to bike and ride horseback from a young age on endless forest trails. Since moving to Toronto’s East End in 2010, she finds her sanctuary in the Don Valley, where she now takes her own two children exploring wildlife and helping out at clean-ups. Irene is a vocal advocate for the preservation of our natural spaces and has lobbied the city of Toronto on various occasions to act on the problems in our ravines. In her professional life as Digital Media Producer, Irene worked on many projects to create awareness around climate change including The Polar Sea 360 (TVO/ARTE), and Equator 360 (Discovery).

Since he was young, Sean has loved the Toronto trails, exploring, biking, running, and hiking the woods. A self-proclaimed naturalist, he loves to witness life ever-changing in the woods, from trees, plants, and animals right down to insects and fungi. He enjoys capturing the beauty he sees and is passionate about ensuring these shared spaces are taken care of, advocated for, and accessible to all.

Before moving to the City, Rayman (a public servant by day) spent many sunny days exploring the hiking trails around the GTA. Looking for local volunteering opportunities, he attended a clean-up and he found DMWTD to be a potent intersection between grassroots activism and fondness of the outdoors. Given the Valley's close proximity to the City center, he believes that safeguarding its health is crucial to guaranteeing meaningful access to green spaces for locals. As he grows older, Rayman finds himself more and more interested in learning about trees and birds.

I've been part of the DMWTD community since 2019 when I first got involved in one of the local cleanups as a volunteer (and I've been hooked ever since)! I grew up near the ravine system in midtown Toronto and loved playing in the Don Valley as a kid. As an adult (well, bigger kid), I've enjoyed mountain biking, hiking, and running all throughout the Valley. It's become clear to me that we live near an absolute natural gem that needs to be celebrated and protected. The ravine network is what makes Toronto a world class city.

Avrum is a mostly retired writer and producer of television series. He is in the Don Valley most days of the week, either walking our dog, running, or mountain-biking. It’s an amazing resource that improves his spirits immeasurably. Don’t Mess With The Don has made his connection to the Valley even stronger. He is delighted to be part of such a congenial, collaborative, and effective community.