Community Events

Join us at the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust’s Starcliff Nature Reserve where we’re stewarding the property’s natural habitat. For this event, we’ll first continue our efforts at controlling the spread of the aggressively invasive garlic mustard plant; and then in a combined effort to (1) maintain the walking trail and (2) restore the areas where garlic mustard is being removed, we’ll transplant plants (shrub and tree seedlings, herbaceous species) to the weeded sections.

• All tools and equipment will be provided;
• Please wear closed-toe shoes or hiking boots and dress appropriately for the weather (unless thunder and lightning is forecasted within 2 hours of the event, we volunteer rain or shine!);
• Water and a snack will be available; and
• For complete details, including directions, please RSVP by sending an email to ontario@arocha.ca.

This free and open opportunity is for anyone who is interested in helping with our yearly beach survey, looking at intertidal creatures and their habitats at the mouth of the Little Campbell River. There is also opportunity to help out at other beach sites around Semiahmoo Bay.

Where? Meet at West Beach Boat Ramp, 14500 Blk., Marine Drive, White Rock

Great opportunity for school groups!

May 5 to September 6 – Milne Hollow – Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Join us as we partner weekly with the City of Toronto’s Natural Environment and Community Programs section in leading the Community Stewardship Program’s Milne Hollow Team. Milne Hollow is a Toronto wetland adjacent to one of Canada’s most congested expressways: the Don Valley Parkway; and much needed in one one of the nation’s most ecologically degraded waterways. We’ll be planting herbaceous plants, woody ones (shrubs and trees), controlling the spread of invasive species, maintaining recently planted areas, monitoring water chemistry, pollinators and the success of previous plantings, and… witnessing a lot of wildlife in this recently created “natural” refuge.
• All tools and equipment will be provided.
• Please bring water, wear boots or closed-toe shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
• If you haven’t participated in a previous orientation to the City’s Community Stewardship Program, please plan to join us at Riverdale Farm during the evening of Tuesday, May 3.
• Volunteering weekly through the season is ideal but if you can only participate once or twice, you’re more than welcome!
• You may also be interested in bringing a group, such as from a church, campus club, or high school or postsecondary class. InterVarsity Christian Fellowship blessed us last year with 24 very appreciated volunteers!
• Please RSVP by sending an email to paul.abell@arocha.ca. You can also call him at 647-969-0259.

A Rocha is participating in the Surrey’s Great Salmon Run – a way to raise awareness and resources for conservation work in Surrey.

We are encouraging friends of A Rocha to run for the cause of conservation in Surrey. You can even get pledges for your run and the money goes directly to A Rocha. You can register & pledge below.

The goals of the “Great Salmon Run” are to increase community awareness, participation and support in Surrey’s volunteer organizations and to spark an interest in the general public to interact with and care for the watersheds that they reside within. “Surrey’s Great Salmon Run will bring the community together in Tynehead Regional Park to celebrate our freshwater fish habitat and our volunteer supporters that we’re so fortunate to have in our city,” says Mayor Dianne Watts.

How you can help:

• register to run and gather pledges for your run
• recruit others to participate
• make a pledge to support A Rocha
• cheer on the runners the day of the event
• bring visitors by A Rocha’s booth on location at Tynehead Regional Park

Support Your Salmon Stewards – Register Today!

For more information on the run and the Salmon Stewardship Groups it supports, please visit www.surrey.ca/greatsalmonrun

Event Day Schedule

9:15am – Shuttle service from North Surrey Secondary starts**
9:30am – Package Pickup / Late Registration Open
10:30am – 5km / 8km events start
11:30am – Kids’ Dash ‘n Splash starts
11:00am – BBQ starts
10:00am-3:00pm – Activities for runners and public
3:30pm – Shuttle service back to North Surrey Secondary ends**

**North Surrey Secondary is located at 96 Ave and 160 St

All event info located on the City of Surrey’s website (Click here).

Register Here. Pledge Support for a Runner.

Use code rocha-5off for $5 off!

Are you interested in hopeful earthkeeping in a world of ecological wounds?

Come to BCIT to hear Rick Faw, A Rocha Canada’s Education Director address this topic.

Speaker Bio:
A Rocha Canada’s Education Director, Rick Faw, combines academic backgrounds in science and theology with a love for the outdoors. He wants people to integrate Christian discipleship and the created world in tangible, substantive, hopeful ways. He works alongside schools, theological colleges, churches, and community groups to coordinate adult education in a variety of forms including lectures, classes, conferences, and outdoor excursions. He lives in Surrey, BC with his wife, Crista, and their two children.

Where? BCIT

Come visit our ACC Club and the A Rocha
(Christian Environmental Group) displays in the
south side in the Great Hall SE2 10:30am-2:30pm

Presented by your BCITSA Campus Christian Ministries Club (CCM) www.bcitccm.net.ms

Come visit the A Rocha booth at MissionsFest or even help us host at the booth. Email Ontario@arocha.ca for more information.

This is the largest missions conference in central Canada serving the GTA, Ontario and beyond. It’s goal is for equipping you with the truth of what God is doing right here and around the world. MissionFest has programming for all ages –Children, Youth, Men, Women and Singles, as well as free seminars and workshops. Be encouraged to pursue and engage in God’s call for your life!

A Rocha will be hosting a clean up of Buck Creek in Houston, B.C. as part of Pitch-in and Earth Week. Meet at 6:00 p.m. behind the mall (by the post office entrance) with gloves. Garbage bags will be supplied. Everyone welcome. For more information contact Cindy Verbeek at 250-845-2222 or cindy.verbeek@arocha.ca

Warden Woods – 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Celebrate the launch of Good Seed Sunday one day early by joining GTA A Rocha, Hope Community Church and Church of the Resurrection as we partner with the Taylor Massey Project and friends to once again clean up Warden Woods.
• Gloves, waste bags, snacks–and hand sanitizer!–will be provided.
• Please dress appropriately for the weather as we’ll be cleaning the ravine rain or shine.
• Meet in the parking lot off the Pharmacy Road entrance.
• If you need further details or if you plan to bring a group, please RSVP by sending an email to ontario@arocha.ca.

Good Seed Sunday is a National Celebration for Churches and Community Groups to engage their members with the inspirational vision of creation care.

A Rocha has developed a number of resources for pastors, Sunday school teachers, community outreach coordinators and more. The goal is for you use our resources and have a Sunday in April, or beyond, dedicated to sharing God’s love for caring for his creation.

Learn more by clicking here.

Please let us know if you plan on participating by emailing goodseed@arocha.ca

Join GTA A Rocha at the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust’s StarCliff Nature Reserve in King Township as we work to maintain and restore this remnant natural habitat of the ecologically and provincially unique Oak Ridges Moraine. As part of our environmental stewardship efforts at the nature reserve we have been working to help control the spread of garlic mustard; an exotic, invasive Eurasian plant. Since it has no predators, native or exotic, but it is highly edible, we’ll be harvesting it and making garlic mustard pesto from it. We’ll then sample the delicious concoction with tortillas and Ontario grape juice.

Please note: although we will be eating this invasive plant, it is highly invasive and improper harvesting could add to its spread and the significant ecological damage it causes. Until you have been educated in proper harvesting techniques, please do not harvest garlic mustard on your own.
• All equipment and tools will be provided. Please dress appropriately for rain or shine.
• To become a much needed garlic mustard predator with us, please RSVP by sending an email to ontario@arocha.ca. We will then send you directions and other details, and answer any questions you may have.
• If you’re interested in getting a group involved on a weekday, please don’t hesitate to inquire.