August 18, 2026 - Volunteer Email
Aaniin/Hello, everyone,
We hope you and your loved ones are well. Miigwetch to those who have been actively patrolling parks, releasing hatchlings from Scales, supporting other animal kin, and more!
My apologies for the delay in sending this email. I was out last week due to an unexpected housing situation. I am now in the process of moving; therefore, my focus is not on Turtle Protectors. So I am doing my best to juggle TP responsibilities along with my personal ones.
VOLUNTEER CENTRAL PASSWORD CHANGE:
The new password for the volunteer portal is turtles
Please do not share this password with anyone
ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS:
Please begin signing up for weekly shifts, if you haven't already.
Both Signal and the email list has been updated to show only active volunteers.
Anyone who completed fewer than ten shifts since March 29th has been informed and removed from our active list and Signal unless they informed us about any health needs. They are welcome to reapply next year.
HIGH PARK MURAL:
Over the past month Canada Summer Jobs staff Macie and Claudia have been working on the mural displayed on the storage shed next to Grenadier Pond.
Both are artists and have created a beautiful piece of work. We are so grateful to them! We have noticed many park-goers stopping by to admire the art. We invite you to stop by to see it. We will have a public event sometime after September 10th to officially launch the mural. Stay tuned.
COMMUNICATION WITH PUBLIC AND VOLUNTEERS:
We often receive a lot of positive feedback about volunteers from park-goers and other volunteers. There is so much appreciation for all of the protection work happening in the parks and beyond! We are so grateful as you all represent Turtle Protectors. Miigwetch for all of your support!
We know this work can elicit strong emotions due to the passion of protecting turtles. But as mentioned in the trainings, if someone isn't able to communicate in a good way, refrain from communicating with anyone. Being Indigenous-led, we have a responsibility for our words and actions.
Unfortunately, we have received numerous complaints about volunteer communication and behaviour with other volunteers and with park-goers, especially regarding those with dogs off-leash or fishing. This behavior is very concerning and will not be tolerated.
No TP volunteer has the authority to tell anyone what they can or can't do in the park. We don't have permission to do so.
During all trainings, we have always communicated that volunteers could ask people to leash their dogs, not tell them to.
Therefore, volunteers are not to communicate with the public about any of these issues. You may contact 311 via phone or online.
We will reach out to volunteers regarding this feedback to give them an opportunity to change their behavior/communication.
Unfortunately, if we continue to receive multiple complaints about a volunteer's behaviour and communication, that volunteer will no longer be able to volunteer in a public-facing capacity. We wish we didn't have to reprimand volunteers because we want this work to be filled with joy and appreciation. We appreciate everyone's time and commitment to this work. But we want to ensure other volunteers and park-goers feel comfortable when engaging with all volunteers. As we grow, monitoring everyone's behavior becomes challenging.
Being Indigenous-led, we already face challenges. We also want to ensure any public member who has had a negative experience doesn't take it out on turtles.
This will be emphasized during the hatchling training.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email us.
HATCHLING TRAININGS:
We are approaching hatchling season. We have scheduled trainings next week to prepare everyone for the season. We are asking ALL volunteers to complete this training. If you haven't completed a hatchling training this year, you must complete it to stay up-to-date with any changes. REGISTER HERE
HATCHLINGS FROM SCALES:
Hatchlings have been released in the Humber, Smythe and Brickworks from Scales this past week. These hatchlings hatched while they were being incubated. Their nests were high risk. Due to our permit with Scales, only volunteers who are permit holders can handle and release these hatchlings: Pravar, Darci, Leah, Jenny R, Suzanne, Megan, Derek, Anna Camille, Jenny and myself
These permit holders will inform park chats about any future releases.
Photos taken during any of these releases cannot be posted on social media. Jenny and I need permission from Scales about any social media posts related to these releases. Therefore, if you are present, you may take photos but not post them.
PROTECTED NESTS:
Beginning next week we will return to the same schedule as nesting season.
Any nests that are at risk (HP, near roads or parking lots, or hatchlings need to travel significant distance to water) can be fully blocked as of next week as long as those nests can be checked four times a day. If that isn't possible, nests can have two exits blocked to encourage hatchlings to go in the direction of the water.
VOLUNTEERING DURING HATCHLING SEASON:
We require a three-hour-a-week commitment beginning next week until the end of October. If you are not able to fulfill this commitment, unfortunately, people will not be able to continue volunteering. Those with health (physical, mental) challenges are exempt. Those away for less than two weeks are exempt.
We need to ensure our roster truly reflects the number of active volunteers.
Active volunteering ensures retention of training knowledge.
Miigwetch for carefully reading this email. We appreciate you and wish you a lovely week.
Carolynne and Jenny
