By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Thanks to a recent provincial boost in funding, a Conservation Halton Foundation program that launched in 2024 is expanding opportunities for seniors in Halton Region to connect with nature through native gardens, workshops, and guided walks. The Nature Stewards program was designed to support seniors living in long-term care homes and retirement residences by reducing isolation and encouraging wellness through outdoor engagement.
The program recently received a $25,000 investment from the Ontario government to help expand its reach in 2025 and 2026. “Protecting, restoring, and managing natural resources is imperative not just for Milton, but across our province,” said Milton MPP Zee Hamid. “I am proud that Conservation Halton is the recipient of this $25,000 investment into its Nature Stewards program so that our seniors can look after, as well as enjoy, this beautiful area. Investing more time in nature is truly beneficial to all of us.”
For seniors, the impact is immediate and deeply felt. Residents have shared how the program gives them something meaningful to care for and look forward to each day.
“I love plants and look forward to watering and caring for them. It brings people together,” said one participant. Another described it as a “wonderful afternoon for all,” while others expressed pride in building and tending to the new raised garden beds in their courtyards, noting that the gardens remain a source of conversation with visiting family and friends.
Garner Beckett, executive director of the Conservation Halton Foundation, explained how the program grew from a pilot project into a successful community initiative.
“We started Nature Stewards to provide hands-on opportunities for seniors to connect with nature,” Beckett said. “Our team goes into residences to build and plant native pollinator gardens, which attract monarchs and bees, and we also take seniors to our parks for guided tours. It’s about learning, connecting, and reducing isolation. In our first year, we reached 600 seniors, and with this new support, we’re looking forward to expanding into even more communities.”
Beckett emphasized that the program has two pressing needs: more community partners in seniors’ residences to expand into new communities, and sustainable long-term funding to ensure the initiative continues to grow. “We’ve secured support from the Ontario government to carry us into the spring,” he added. “Now we’re focused on building lasting partnerships and ensuring this program can thrive for years to come.”
Nature Stewards has proven to be more than just a gardening project — it is an opportunity for seniors to experience connection, joy, and community, all while contributing to the health of local ecosystems. As one resident put it, “It’s been lovely having the two new raised garden beds in our courtyard. For the residents who assisted with the building and planting of them, they are a source of pride.”
The Conservation Halton Foundation is a registered charitable organization that works to protect our natural areas, connect our community with nature, and inspire individuals and groups to create meaningful change. To learn more about their recent impacts, download the 2024 Donor Impact Report or review the 2024 Audited Financial Statement. For more information about supporting the Foundation, contact 905-336-1158 (extension 2256) or email foundation@hrca.on.ca.
