On Saturday, June 7, the scent of wild bergamot and wildfire smoke mingled in the air as Dufferin County’s Youth Climate Activation Circle gathered with community at The Door Youth Centre to install a native plant garden.   

The Youth Climate Activation Circle, a volunteer program hosted by the County of Dufferin, engages young people aged 16 to 25 in climate leadership. Throughout the program, participants receive climate change training, connect with local climate champions and organizations, and participate in a job shadowing program. The program culminates in a youth-led climate action project designed to bring tangible, local change to the community. 

This year, their project, “Planting Our Future”, invited youth, families, and neighbourhood residents to join and explore the connection between native plants and climate change through the planting of 240 native plant seedlings. More than just a beautification effort, the initiative sparked conversations about the benefits of native plants in creating climate resilient ecosystems locally. Part of the day included outreach at the Orangeville Farmer’s Market, where Ambassadors handed out educational materials and encouraged residents to join in the planting at The Door Youth Centre to get their hands in the soil to help transform an ordinary patch of lawn into a pollinator-friendly garden. 

Over the winter, Dufferin’s Youth Climate Ambassadors, with the support of Shaun Booth from In Our Nature Gardens, learned about native plants, their benefits, and how to design an effective garden. A mix of seasonal blooming plants, grasses, and edible species were selected for the garden to help reduce the need for watering and provide food and shelter for pollinators and other insects, essential for biodiverse and climate resilient ecosystems.  

“Native species are a vital part of climate action and resiliency,” says Youth Climate Ambassador Flora Dickison. “By supporting native fauna, enforcing and stabilizing ecosystems, aiding in mitigation of extreme weather and climate changes, as well as trapping carbon at a higher rate, native plants in Ontario are crucial to climate action”. 

The native plant garden is the first of many upgrades to the outdoor space at The Door Youth Centre, a drop-in centre that provides a safe and supportive environment for young people to connect and grow. The Door is developing an outdoor gathering space for youth and the wider community, including a revitalized greenspace and basketball court. The Door is currently seeking sponsors to bring this community space to life.  

“The garden is really just the beginning,” said Kerry Duffield, Community Director, Orangeville YFC. “We have a vision for beautifying and better utilizing our outdoor space that includes expanded green space, a new and improved basketball court, a gazebo to offer protection from the elements, and an overall bigger, better space for our youth to gather. That’s what we’re working on right now – really having a space that will benefit the youth of the community.” 

However, the day did not unfold without challenges. With Environment Canada forecasting “Very Unhealthy” air quality conditions, health effects were cautioned to be immediately felt by sensitive groups with even healthy individuals likely to experience difficult breathing and throat irritation.  

“A wildfire that occurred west of this province affected the air quality and caused changes to ‘Planting the Future’, which was held the following day,” said Youth Climate Ambassador, Adam Shane. “This occurrence indicates how climate change can directly affect initiatives designed for alleviating it.”

In response, the Youth Climate Ambassadors demonstrated adaptability, supplying N95 masks and adjusting the event schedule to limit time outdoors. Fortunately, overnight winds cleared the smoke just in time for the event to begin; however, this underscored the urgency of the Ambassadors’ message for climate action.  

As the seedlings transform into mature native plant garden, the garden will grow into a testament of the power of community partnerships and collaboration. The Youth Climate Activation Circle hopes that over time, the garden will not only support local climate resiliency, but continue to inspire learning for all who visit.  

In September, the County will welcome new volunteers to the program. Dufferin youth from 16 to 25 who are passionate about climate action and can commit 60 hours to program activities are encouraged to apply through Join in Dufferin by Friday August 11, 2025!