The North Bay Heritage Gardeners are a local, non-profit organization with over 250 volunteer gardeners who maintain and enhance ornamental gardens along the Lake Nipissing waterfront. No gardening experience required! Free education sessions are offered to help grow your gardening knowledge.
The gardening season runs from May to October each year, kicking off with a spring community cleanup in May and finishing by planting bulbs in October. Volunteers are placed in teams along the waterfront and garden under the guidance of a Team Leader. Teams typically spend 1-2 hours per week maintaining their garden bed.
Volunteerism is a cornerstone in the success of the Heritage Gardeners. It is only through the active engagement of a substantial group of volunteers that the Heritage Gardeners can accomplish its plans and make significant progress towards fulfilling its mission. Therefore, as a progressive non-profit organization, our commitment is to a volunteer service which ensures a satisfying experience. Our Volunteer Appreciation Symposium is held each year in April to thank volunteers from the previous year.
There are many ways to get involved with the Heritage Gardeners beyond gardening. Interested volunteers are asked to contact the Heritage Gardener Office Administrator and Volunteer Coordinator via email to inquire about other opportunities.
BECOME A HERITAGE GARDENER IN TWO STEPS:
1. Complete our Volunteer Registration and Agreement Form
2. Review our Supporting Documents
A signed Volunteer Registration Form is required EVERY YEAR by each gardener. In order for the City’s insurance to cover all volunteers, each volunteer must re-register.
Hard copies are available for pickup and drop-off at the Heritage Gardeners office and Discovery North Bay Museum, during regular business hours. If you require a PDF version to print and deliver to us, please click below to be taken to it.
North Bay Heritage Gardeners Volunteer Registration Form – PDF
Forms
VOLUNTEER GARDENING OPPORTUNITIES
- Recreational Gardener
- Team Leader
- Executive Committee member
- Guest Gardener
Recreational Gardeners are essential team members who actively participate in the care and maintenance of our garden beds, contributing to planting, cultivating, and sustaining the gardens throughout the season. While they work under the guidance of team leaders, their hands-on involvement is crucial to the success of the organization’s garden management efforts.
Team Leaders help with the design, planting and maintenance of the waterfront garden beds and coordinate their team’s gardening activities. The Team Leader attends the annual spring meeting and maintains communication with team members.
Executive Committee Members are the leaders responsible for guiding the strategic direction, decision-making, and overall policies of our organization. Committee members attend monthly meetings, coordinate the execution of the gardening season, and are responsible for planning our many events, including our annual Volunteer Appreciation Symposium.
Guest Gardeners are individuals who contribute to the upkeep of our garden beds on a more occasional or flexible basis, participating in gardening activities as a onetime volunteer or on a limited schedule, such as once a month. While they do not garden consistently, their contributions support the overall maintenance and success of the gardens.
LOOKING FOR NEW GARDEN TEAMS
We have several garden beds in need of dedicated teams and team leaders. Some of these beds are currently unmanaged, while others have teams that have retired. These beds vary in size and requirements, offering opportunities for different levels of involvement. If you’re passionate about gardening or have a group of people interested in leading or helping, we encourage you to reach out and join us in keeping our gardens thriving!
If you’re interested in volunteering or starting a volunteer team, please reach out to us by emailing: heritage.gardeners@heritagenorthbay.com
BEYOND GARDENING
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The North Bay Heritage Gardeners are committed to fostering growth and innovation through the dedication and passion of our volunteers. Our Executive Committee is always seeking new members to contribute their expertise and help shape our future initiatives. Whether you’re interested in advising on strategic decisions, or taking an active role in one of our specialized committees—such as Education, Design, and more—there’s a place for you to make a meaningful impact. If you’re passionate about our mission and want to collaborate with like-minded individuals, we invite you to contact us to get involved.
North Bay Heritage Gardeners 