ERVCC is now a Cornerstone Park

Park People have supported ERVCC in the past as a multi-year grantee. Now Park People are supporting us both financially and through their national network via their Cornerstone Parks program. Cornerstone Parks is the only national network dedicated to maximizing the impact and influence of Canada’s large urban parks. Large urban parks are critical spaces for city residents to build meaningful connections to nature and each other, and give cities a head start when mitigating climate change impacts. The Cornerstone network brings together NGOs working in large urban parks across Canada, recognizing and supporting their need for operations, maintenance, and programming resources. 

Park People activate the power of parks to improve the quality of life in cities across Canada. Like ERVCC, Park People believes that parks are an essential part of the transition to equitable cities where people and the rest of nature thrive.

Being a cornerstone park allows us more opportunities for practicing Reciprocity

“ Restoration is imperative for healing the earth, but reciprocity is imperative for long-lasting, successful restoration. Like other mindful practices, ecological restoration can be viewed as an act of reciprocity in which humans exercise their caregiving responsibility for the ecosystems that sustain them. We restore the land, and the land restores us.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

Collectively we can maintain the health of our river valley by staying on designated trails, and respecting wildlife habitats as well as through cultural practices of reciprocity. Gratitude and reciprocity are part of the cultural shift we need to sustain our river valley and its gifts.

We need to restore a baseline that has shifted.

Fragmentation of our river valley is occurring and we are losing green space. Because we see the land suffering from degradation and because we see pinch points being created in our regionally significant wildlife corridor, ERVCC is committed to building a restoration culture. We are committed to widening the wildlife corridor and maximizing the ability of our river valley to function as a lifeline in times of biodiversity and climate crisis.

“If we are going to grow good citizens, then let us teach reciprocity. If what we aspire to is justice for all, then let it be justice for all of creation.”
― Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass

The Call Comes From Multiple Directions

In 2022 via the Kunming Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) we are all called to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Six targets from COP 15 are particularly relevant to cities.

• Target 2, which aims to ensure that by 2030 at least 30% of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems are under effective restoration; 

• Target 3, which aims to ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, is effectively conserved and managed; 

• Target 7, which is concerned with reducing pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services by 2030; and 

• Target 11, which seeks to restore, maintain and enhance nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services, such as the regulation of air, water and climate, soil health, pollination and reduction of disease risk, as well as protection from natural hazards and disasters, through nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches for the benefit of all people and nature.

• Target 12 urges for increasing the area, quality and connectivity, and improving access to and benefits from green and blue spaces in urban areas. This can be achieved by mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; ensuring biodiversity-inclusive urban planning; and enhancing ecological connectivity and integrity thereby improving human health and well-being and connection to nature, and contributing to inclusive and sustainable urbanization, and the provision of ecosystem functions and services. Referring to ‘within and across all levels of government’, 

• Target 14 aims specifically at addressing biodiversity mainstreaming by seeking to ensure that biodiversity issues are integrated into policies, regulations, planning and different strategies within and across all levels of government to make cities and regions more livable places.

2017

The comprehensive review of the state of Canadian biodiversity, conducted by the World Wildlife Fund-Canada concluded that of the 903 monitored vertebrate species, 451 had declined during thereview period (1970–2014) by an average of 83%. The biggest threat to biodiversity loss habitat loss.

Highlights of past ERVCC stewardship initiatives

ERVCC has witnessed people giving back to our river valley in thanks for countless moments of solace and land connection. We’ve seen walkers collecting trash and volunteers with city staff planting trees. ERVCC also contributes by organizing stewardship events (see list below).

We have partnered with Great Shoreline Clean Up, Soroptomists, Waste Free Edmonton, Swim Drink Fish and others. We typically host one or two clean ups per season. Here is a partial list of activities we have organized and need help expanding in the future. If you want to partner on a clean up, restoration, or educational initiative please contact us.

• Over six years, we worked with the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, Swim Drink Fish and others to clean up 93 bags of trash from the river valley. Also, over five years, we cleaned up 18,000 plastic blue bristles, and over two years, we cleaned up 25,000 cigarette butts –all of which would have ended up in the storm sewers and then the river.

• Successfully advocated for a public tree bylaw (now advocating for a private tree bylaw). Planted and saved trees with Root for Trees. Also see our Tree Equity Page.

• Have held three+ annual events to share knowledge of the ecological/cultural riches of the river valley.

• Lobbied council to pass funding for Nature Based Solutions.

• Successfully advocated for multiple wildlife passages (Riverside golf

  course).

• Advocated for a Trails Strategy to reduce rogue trails in the valley, a strategy for Mountain Bikers and all other users.

• Wrote grants to hire Boyle Street Ventures (social enterprise) for river valley clean-ups.

• Encouraged pilot camp initiative to uphold dignity of people living in the river valley.

• Worked with Nait students and the City to explore alternative snowclearing methods (including natural-fibre bristles).

• Lobbied with Butt Blitz to get manufacturers to consider biodegradable filters.

Scroll above

And send your ideas for joining together to take on stronger stewardship work. ERVCC posts new stewardship opportunities on our events page.