We’re feeling energized,  inspired, and deeply grateful after Nature Canada’s 8thth annual Nature on the Hill!

Nature Network partners sent delegates from almost every province and territory to converge on Ottawa for this year’s Nature on the Hill.

When ordinary Canadians are excluded from the corridors of power, the decisions made there inevitably reflect not the will of the many, but the interests of the few. So instead, Nature on the Hill brings those voices together with parliamentarians of all political parties, to ensure that lawmakers feel Canadians’ passion for nature, and hear Canadians’ call to protect the natural world.

Over two whirlwind days, over 70 passionate advocates representing over 1 million Canadians stepped into the halls of Parliament. From land trusts and Indigenous communities to grassroots groups and national conservation organizations, delegates held over 50 face-to-face meetings with Members of Parliament, Senators, and federal ministers across all political parties, bringing real stories from their home communities directly to national decision-makers.

Celebrating Solidarity at the Closing Reception

Advocates, partners, and parliamentarians gathered to celebrate the week’s accomplishments and reflect on the enduring power of community organizing.

Nature Canada Organizing Director Hannah Dean opened the evening by acknowledging that the gathering took place on the traditional, unceded, and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg people, thanking them for their stewardship of these lands, waters, and species since time immemorial. We commended delegates for taking time away from their families and busy careers to speak up, emphasizing that nature is not an abstract policy matter, but the very essence of what makes Canada special.

Our Executive Director Emily McMillan celebrated the momentum of the week. She echoed reflections of one of Nature Canada’s board members, Lillian Trapper of the Moose Cree, from earlier in the week, and reminded the room that “we matter.”

Underneath all the technical discussions about mitigation hierarchies and regulatory frameworks, our core request is simple and fair:

• Everyone must play by the same rules, including the largest industrial players.
• Decisions must be guided by science, knowledge of the land, law, and evidence NOT political initiatives.
• Improving regulatory processes must never mean circumventing environmental protections.
• Nature must be valued not as an obstacle to growth, but as the foundation of our progress and long-term prosperity.

Voices of Leadership & Stewardship

The reception welcomed federal leaders and long-time movement champions who shared personal stories and renewed commitments to conservation:

Parliamentary Secretary Wade Grant (MP for Vancouver Quadra): As the first member of the Musqueam Indian Band elected to federal parliament, Wade shared childhood memories of catching fry along the Fraser River and Rideau Canal, emphasizing that Indigenous peoples have stewarded these lands and waters since time immemorial. Highlighting the federal Force of Nature strategy for urban parks and marine conservation partnerships with Coastal First Nations (Heiltsuk and Kitasoo Xai’xais), he underscored our responsibility to ensure future generations inherit a healthier, resilient planet.

Secretary of State for Nature Nathalie Provost: Reflecting on her roots playing along the backyard streams of Quebec and her perspective as an engineer, Madame Provost emphasized that true national strength requires safeguarding natural ecosystems alongside economic development. She highlighted the critical ongoing effort to reform finance and accounting frameworks so that investments in nature are accurately valued on the national balance sheet, while urging advocates to keep holding lawmakers accountable to science.

Stan Kozak (Chair, Gosling Foundation): In a moving address marking the 40-year legacy of the Gosling Foundation, Stan shared the founding story of intuitive community organizing that built the Bruce Trail on the Niagara Escarpment. Addressing today’s political and ecological climate, Stan warned against those who would “burn the furniture of nature to heat the economic house—because nature is the house.” Urging advocates to master community organizing and mobilize tens of thousands more voices across the country, he closed with Edward Abbey’s classic reminder to find joy and solace in the lands we fight to defend.

Special recognition was also given to the dozens of Ministers, Senators and MPs from all parties who took time to meet with delegates and champion ecological defense.

Thank You to Our Advocates, Members, and Supporters

To every advocate who walked the halls of Parliament Hill, every supporter who amplified the call by emailing their MP, and every member and donor whose generosity powers this work: thank you. Whether you traveled to Ottawa or took action from home, you are the heartbeat of this movement. When Canadians stand together across every corner of the country, lawmakers listen, policies shift, and our natural world is given the voice it deserves.