Colwood's Volunteer Coordinator brought Community Groups together for the latest in a series of 'Conversation Cafe' gatherings on Saturday November 15, 2025 at Colwood City Hall.
The energy generated when all these incredible community leaders get together is contagious! Ideas are flying, success stories shared, challenges explored, and collaborations forged.
The 17 attendees represented 12 Colwood Volunteer Groups. The groups continue to host events and activities that advance our community's goals related to parks stewardship, arts & culture, environment and sustainability, emergency preparedness, youth engagement, and social connection.
Conversation at the meet-up focused on four key areas:
- Volunteer recruitment and awareness
- Communication, promotion, and celebrating success
- Engaging youth in community groups
- Volunteer skill building, experience, and retention
Supporting volunteers with new skills
On October 20, 2025, Colwood's Volunteer Coordinator was invited to present at the Tamarack Institute's conference on Asset Based Community Development hosted by the City of Victoria.
Not only did she present at the conference, she brought Colwood community group leaders with her as a way to share the learning and further strengthen our community connections.
In simplified terms, Asset Based Community Development is about acknowledging, supporting, and harnessing the strengths of individuals who are proactively contributing to positive change within their communities. It's exactly what Colwood is working to achieve.
Get involved in Colwood Community Groups
There are so many incredible community-led initiatves happening in Colwood right now and the leaders are keen to get the word out to Colwood residents about how to get involved.
- Arts & Culture Colwood Society
Arts and culture leadership to enrich cultural policies and arts programming in Colwood. - Citizens Environment Network in Colwood (CENiC)
Encouraging and supporting measurable progress on climate action in Colwood. - Colwood Garden Society
A group of passionate gardeners whose happy place is in a garden. We grow food! - Emergency Support Services (ESS)
Providing assistance to evacuees in the event of emergency. - Friends of Colwood Parks
Tackling invasive species in Colwood parks and public spaces, and supporting individuals and teams to adopt and steward their local park, trail or public space. - Friends of Havenwood Park
Helping to preserve the natural environment of the park through restoration event, park walks, and activities that connect people with nature. - Juan de Fuca Performing Arts Centre Society
Working to build a community arts and culture centre in the West Shore. - Latoria Creek Preservation Group
Bringing people together to preserve and celebrate this beautiful natural setting. Contact adedrick@colwood.ca for information. - PICK Colwood - Promoting Involvement for Community Kleanup
The PICK Colwood group is spearheading some great litter reduction initiatives in Colwood. Arrange your own litter pick or join a PICK Colwood event using the litter pick form. - ReImagine West Shore
Organizing conversations, events and initiatives that embrace change creatively and support a shift to affordable and sustainable choices.
Learn more and get connected now at www.colwood.ca/Volunteers
Media Contact
Sandra Russell, Communications Manager
srussell@colwood.ca
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