Discover the list of parks supported by Turtle Protectors, dedicated to help our Turtle relatives and promoting conservation efforts for future generations.
Supported Parks
High Park
We began our work in High Park in the spring of 2022. High Park is home to many animal relatives such as Snapping Turtles and Midland Painted Turtles. Turtle Protector officially started to protect Turtles in Spring of 2022. We place Turtle nest protectors during the nesting season to protect their nests from predation; escort Turtles when returning to water and crossing roads and assist hatchlings to reach water safely. In spring of 2024 we organized a campaign to raise awareness about hatchlings coming out in the spring at the same time as the Cherry blossoms. They are only the size of a loonie or the size of a cherry blossom flower. Unfortunately we have found many stepped on and deceased as tens of thousands of park goers are unaware of them beneath their feet. In April 2024 we organized our first Turtles on the Move Parade to create an awareness that turtles leave their wetlands to mate and migrate to their spring/summer wetlands.
1873 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6R 2Z3
King's Mill Park and Etienne Brulé Park
105 Riverwood Pkwy, Etobicoke, ON M8Y 4E4 and 10 Catherine St, York, ON M6S
Turtle Protectors expanded into King’s Mill and Etienne Brulé Park in the summer of 2023. Concerned park goers contacted our hotline about a nesting Mama Snapping Turtle even though we weren’t operating along the Humber. We were able to expand into the Humber because of these park goers who have since become Turtle Protector volunteers. It was the beginning of Carolynne’ s dream to be able to help in other parks in Toronto. We are in need for more volunteers in this park. Our volunteer application will open in January 2025.
Smythe Park
61 Black Creek Blvd, York, ON M6N 2K6
Smythe Park officially joined Turtle Protectors in Spring of 2024. A small group of volunteers connected to Friends of Smythe Park were inspired by Turtle Protectors and started protecting Turtles in 2023. We are in need for more volunteers in this park. Our volunteer application will open in January 2025.
Photo by Maggie Dunlop.
Rennie Park
Toronto, ON M6S 2X2
Rennie Park joined Turtle Protectors in Spring 2023 after we received calls from concerned park goers about a nesting Mama turtle. Due to the close proximity to High Park we were able to easily expand to this area. We have engaged students and teachers at a local school to assist us with spotting nesting Mamas and hatchlings. We are in need for more volunteers in this park. Our volunteer application will open in January 2025.
Colonel Samuel Smith Park
3145 Lake Shore Blvd W, Etobicoke, ON M8V 4B6
Colonel Samuel Smith Park joined Turtle Protectors in Spring of 2024. Friends of Sam Smith were also inspired by our work to protect turtles. They began protecting a few nests in the summer of 2023. We trained community members as Turtle Protectors volunteers in the spring of 2024. They are a small group of volunteers who are deeply committed to protecting turtle relatives. We are in need for more volunteers in this park. Our volunteer application will open in January 2025.
Don Valley Brick Works Park
550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4W 3X8
Don Valley Brick Works Park joined Turtle Protectors in Spring of 2024. Jenny, Co-founder of Turtle Protectors, worked on contract at the Evergreen Brickworks and saw the need for Turtle Protectors to expand into the Brickworks. We trained Evergreen staff and Nature Stewards in the spring of 2024 and recruited community members to become Turtle Protector volunteers. We are in need for more volunteers in this park. Our volunteer application will open in January 2025.