A record-setting 400 youth and families gathered at Andrew McCandless Park on Sunday, April 13, 2025, marking the largest turnout yet for Councillor Rowena Santos’ third annual Earth Month Clean-Up and Tree Planting event. Organized by Councillor Santos, her dedicated team, and the Santos Youth Council, the event launched Earth Month in Brampton with a powerful message of community, action, and environmental responsibility.
In just 45 minutes, volunteers collected 170 bags of litter, planted 150 native trees and shrubs, and diverted 500 lbs of electronic waste—demonstrating the power of collective action in protecting local green spaces.
“I am so proud of our youth who volunteered for our third annual clean-up event that keeps getting bigger and better every single year,” said Councillor Santos. “As part of the City’s Imagine Your Impact campaign, these incredible youth cleaned up the park, planted trees, and collected e-waste. Everyone had a great time afterward with a free community BBQ, and most importantly, they left with the lesson that small actions make a big difference when we all work together.”
The event brought together a wide range of local organizations, including City of Brampton Parks, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC), Human Nature Project (HNP), People Against Littering (PALs), Let’s Get Together, Com2, Plant Based Treaty, Concord in the City, and the Region of Peel / OCWA. Volunteers were also treated to refreshments from the Concord Coffee Truck and a BBQ prepared by Brampton’s Parks Department.
Councillor Santos opened the event with remarks recognizing the many partners and volunteers who made the day possible. Youth Council Co-Chairs also addressed the crowd, encouraging participants to remain active and engaged in future community and environmental initiatives. Safety briefings were led by the Human Nature Project and PALs before the cleanup began.
Youth Council members played a key role in organizing and promoting the event through social media reels, peer outreach, and school connections. “We’ve been working for months spreading the word,” said the Santos Youth Council Leadership Team. “It’s been such a wonderful experience to organize and promote Councillor Santos’ Earth Day event and watch hundreds of youth show up for the planet. We cannot wait for our next event!”
The event concluded with many participants signing the Litter Reduction Charter, committing to continue making environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives.