April 7, 2026 - Volunteer Weekly Email
Aaniin/Hello Everyone,
We hope you all are having a good start to your week! Temperatures have been fluctuating drastically fluctuating these past days. Hopefully you are staying warm today.
Please read the email carefully; it contains a significant amount of information. We want to ensure everyone is informed about upcoming events, trainings, and turtle activity.
HATCHLINGS:
Hatchlings have continued to emerge from their nests over the past week during warmer temperatures
Hatchlings from Sam Smith and High Park were transported to Toronto Wildlife Centre due to continuously fluctuating temperatures or difficulty flipping themselves over
These hatchlings will be released into their home ponds sometime in late May
Miigwetch to all of the volunteers who supported these wee ones!
Reminder: Call our Hotline (647-491-4057) whenever you see a Hatchling on land
ADULT TURTLES:
Adult turtles have been seen basking in the sun in city parks on warmer days
Unfortunately, several Red-Eared Sliders, a non-native relative, were found deceased in Brickworks and High Park. We suspect the cold winter temperatures caused this, as they are southern beings who have been released into ponds after being animal companions
Reminder: If you see an adult turtle in distress, or one that hasn't moved on a cold day or after 24 hours on a very warm day, please call our Hotline
NEW VOLUNTEERS:
Welcome new volunteers! We are so excited to expand this community.
We have closed our Volunteer Interest Form online. We hosted three one hour online information sessions for potential volunteers to learn about volunteering with us
We hope to set new dates for Information Sessions before the nesting season to recruit additional volunteers. If you know someone interested in volunteering with us, they can email us to join our waitlist.
If you haven't yet, please send your $25 for the cost of the t-shirt, if this applies to you
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS:
Welcome back returning volunteers! We are so excited to be with you on this journey for another year!
We highly recommend returning volunteers attend a Hatchling Training as a refresher. We changed one of our release protocols.
We are planning an online meeting to review new operational protocols. This meeting is mandatory.
The meeting will be on a weekday evening for 60 to 90 mins on Zoom: Register Here
Schedule spreadsheet for signing up to check nests: CLICK HERE
VOLUNTEER MENTORS:
We are so grateful for all of the support from Volunteer Mentors last year. Mentors supported volunteer trainings, oriented new volunteers in parks, staffed the Hotline, and handled other behind-the-scenes tasks.
This year we will create opportunities for returning volunteers who have the knowledge and skills to become a Mentor.
All current Mentors please complete the form as we review our Mentor list and seek new Mentors
CANADA SUMMER JOBS:
We hope to learn very soon if our application for Summer Jobs has been approved
Stay tuned!
COMMUNICATION APP:
We have decided to try the Signal app this year. Concerns arose regarding WhatsApp's privacy laws, including phone numbers were visible
We ask that all Turtle Protectors communications happen on this App. Please do not add anyone to the App. We are trying to tighten our organizational procedures as we continue to grow
Moving to Signal will happen by the end of April. In the meantime you can continue to communicate via WhatsApp. All new volunteers have agreed to join the app which will improve our group communications.
There will be a Hotline Check In/Out group like WhatsApp, a group chat for each park, and possibly other specific groups
UPCOMING TRAININGS:
Please note a date change for Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Hatchling Training: PLEASE MARK THESE DATES ON YOUR CALENDAR
We have scheduled three Hatchling trainings. You only need to attend one of these dates. This training is mandatory for new volunteers or returning volunteerswho haven't been with Hatchlings. Returning volunteers are encouraged to attend for a refresher. We will look into additional dates.
If you can't find us, please call the Hotline at 647-491-4057. Vehicles are prohibited in High Park on weekends.
April 11th - 9:00 am to 10:30 am - High Park (Meet in front of Grenadier Cafe)
April 12th - 2pm to 3:30pm - Brickworks (Meet in front of the Cafe)
April 19th - 9:30am to 11am - High Park. (Meet in front of Grenadier Cafe)
April 21st - 6:30pm to 8pm - High Park. (Meet in front of Grenadier Cafe)
Please register here: CLICK HERE
Indigenous Ways of Knowing Training scheduled for April 18th has been cancelled due to a scheduling conflict. Please complete the form again if you selected April 18th
This training is mandatory before a new volunteer's first shift. You only need to attend one of these dates. Returning volunteers, this training will differ from previous years. We want to ensure all volunteers understand how we discuss our relations, protocols for interacting with Indigenous Elders and community members, and why our organization is Indigenous-led. This training will be either outdoors or online. If the weather isn't ideal for outdoor activities, the training will move online. Please dress for the weather!
April 14th: 7pm to 9pm - Online (Zoom)
April 20th: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
April 26th: 10am to 12pm in High Park (weather dependent)
Please register here: CLICK HERE
T-SHIRTS AND TANK TOPS:
T-shirts and tank tops have been ordered and will begin distribution this weekend at Hatchling Trainings and onward.
Unfortunately the sand colour wasn't available in the tank top style. Therefore those tops will be a grey colour. They will have the word Volunteer on the back
Returning volunteers who want a second shirt should email us.
UPCOMING PUBLIC EVENTS:
Save the Dates!
We have a few events scheduled leading up to our annual Turtles on the Move Parade. They are open to the public and we welcome volunteers to join us. Please save these dates if you are interested in attending. More details will follow in the coming weeks.
Wednesday, April 8th, 7pm to 8pm:
Turtles 101 - Webinar (highly recommend attending especially for new volunteers)
on Zoom
This is an info session for the public and volunteers to learn more about Turtles in the city
Saturday April 11, 2:00 - 3:30 pm:
Meet Your More-than-human Neighbours
High Park - Meet in front of Grenadier Cafe
Join Turtle Protectors to start the Grenadier Pond Turtle Population Survey in a good way. This gathering will feature opening words from Grandmother Vivian Recollet, singing and drumming with Nicole Joy-Fraser and York University PhD Candidate Ethan Owen will share a little about the care and attention to ensure the turtle is honoured throughout the survey. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the study, view the nets, ask questions and more
Vehicle access is prohibited in the park on weekends. Free parking is available on side streets, or you can use the paid parking on Bloor St.
Sunday, April 12th, 10am to 10:45am - BMO Atrium
Turtles 101: Show and Shell event at Evergreen Brickworks
Sunday, April 12, 11am to 12:30pm - Two-eyed seeing wetland walk
Grandmother Vivian will be present at this event
Sunday, April 19th 1pm to 2pm - Wetland Walk
Sunday, April 19th 2pm to 5pm - drop in craft making for our Turtles on the Move Parade with Clay and Paper Theatre
Colborne Lodge in High Park
Saturday April 25, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
3rd Annual Turtles on the Move Parade with ASL interpretation
High Park. (see attached poster)
Saturday, April 25th, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Volunteer Pizza Party in High Park to celebrate after the parade
We want to celebrate after the parade! Thanks to Volunteer Toronto we won a free pizza party from Panago Pizza. If you plan to join the parade please stick around for the celebration! CLICK HERE
The next weekly email will be sent on April 13th. Please do not forward this email to anyone.
Miigwetch everyone! We are looking forward to another season! I hope you all have a lovely rest of the week!
Carolynne and Jenny
