Daily Updates

Drumroll, please…

The results are in, and it’s official — our 2024 champions have done it again! Returning with passion, purpose, and an unstoppable drive, team Virgin River has reclaimed the 2025 REEL Earth Day Challenge trophy, raising an incredible $28,090!

Coming in strong and showing serious heart, Malcolm in the Middle secured second place with a remarkable $18,425, and The Chicken Sisters strutted their way into third with a solid $14,955!

To all the teams that took part: THANK YOU. Your energy, commitment, and creativity made this challenge bigger and better than ever. We’re also sending massive gratitude to our amazing sponsors whose support helped make this all possible.

This is another huge win for our parks and a powerful testament to the passion and dedication of the BC Film Industry. Together, we’ve raised a total of $81,430, fully funding 8 park projects across the region!

Happy Earth Day, everyone! We can’t wait to report back on the incredible impact you’ve made in Metro Vancouver’s regional parks.

Burnaby Lake Regional Park just got greener! 

Thanks to the incredible support of the BC film industry and the #REELEarthDayChallenge, we’ve raised another $10,000 to fully fund the Nature House Native Species Planting project at Burnaby Lake Regional Park! 

After years of battling invasive Himalayan blackberry, this project will restore the forest behind Burnaby Lake Nature House with native trees and shrubs, enhancing habitat for wildlife and boosting biodiversity. As a key site for public education, the Nature House will now showcase a living example of ecosystem restoration, demonstrating the vital role of native species in maintaining healthy forests. 

This project is all about long-term ecological resilience and inspiring visitors to protect and restore natural spaces. 

The BC film industry is just incredible. We’ve raised another $4,000 to fund Ecoblitz stewardship activities in various Regional Parks! 

Ecoblitz is an annual environmental stewardship event that helps restore, enhance, and protect our regional parks while engaging passionate volunteers. Last year, 590 volunteers joined 37 Ecoblitz events across 14 regional parks, contributing over 1,479 hours to plant more than 4,900 native trees and shrubs and remove over 4.5 tonnes of invasive plants!  

This event not only has a major environmental impact, but it also fosters a sense of community ownership and responsibility for preserving our natural spaces. 

We’ve raised an additional $2,000 to fully fund the Invasive Species & Local Food Education project in East Area Regional Parks! 

This project aims to raise awareness about the harmful impact of invasive species like ivy and canary grass on local food sources and ecosystems. Through informative displays and educational materials, we’ll highlight how these invasive plants threaten native species and disrupt local food systems.  

By educating the public on how to identify and address these species, we’re promoting sustainable land management practices and encouraging community involvement in invasive species control. 

We’re supporting local wildlife, one bat and owl box at a time! 

Thanks to your support, we’ve raised another $5,000 to fully fund the Bat & Owl Habitat Boxes project at Campbell Valley Regional Park! 

This project combines q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ cultural knowledge with wildlife conservation by designing and installing bat and owl boxes that honor Indigenous teachings and enhance local habitats. These boxes will provide much-needed homes for bats and owls while educating visitors about the importance of preserving biodiversity and respecting the land’s cultural heritage. 

Daily Challenge: Biggest Cumulative Donor: The team with the biggest cumulative donor throughout the challenge (not including prize top ups).

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Malcolm in the Middle – $3,000

2nd & 3rd tie: Virgin River & The Chicken Sisters – $1,500 each

This our last day, lets give it one final push for our parks!!!

🏆 Our 2025 REEL Earth Day Challenge champions will be announced tomorrow! 🏆

Our fourth park project is fully funded! 

Thanks to the amazing support of the BC film industry and the REEL Earth Day Challenge, we’ve raised another $20,000 to fully fund Indigenous-Led Summer Camps in various Regional Parks! 

For the fourth year in a row, the “Mishkoopitum” summer camps (hosted by CTS Youth Society) will offer a culturally rich and empowering environment where participants can learn from Indigenous knowledge and practices. These camps provide valuable opportunities for cultural exchange, fostering deep connections to heritage, traditions, and the land through storytelling, traditional crafts, and land-based learning. 

This project not only supports cultural understanding but also empowers youth with the knowledge and respect for the land they inhabit. 

Daily Challenge: Instagram Draw: Anyone can enter the Instagram Draw to support their team by posting about the event, their favourite team, or why Metro Vancouver Regional Parks are important. Use #ReelEarthDayChallenge, tag @mvrpfoundation.ca and include your favourite team’s name for a chance to win! Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are combined days.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Virgin River – $3,000

2nd: UNCLAIMED – $1,800

3rd : UNCLAIMED – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 21st): Biggest Cumulative Donor: The team with the biggest cumulative donor throughout the challenge (not including prize top ups).

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Daily Challenge: Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Malcolm in the Middle – $3,000

2nd: Virgin River – $1,800

3rd : The Chicken Sisters – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 18th): Instagram Draw: Anyone can enter the Instagram Draw to support their team by posting about the event, their favourite team, or why Metro Vancouver Regional Parks are important. Use #ReelEarthDayChallenge, tag @mvrpfoundation.ca and include your favourite team’s name for a chance to win! Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays are combined days.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Daily Challenge: Most Donors: The team with the most individual donors throughout the challenge by 11:59pm (not including prize top ups).

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Virgin River – $3,000

2nd: Malcolm in the Middle – $1,800

3rd : The Chicken Sisters – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 17th): Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

We’re making waves with another park project funded! 

Thanks to the amazing support of the BC film industry and the #REELEarthDayChallenge, we’ve raised another $15,000 to continue funding for the Floodgate & Salmon Research Project at ƛ̓éxətəm Regional Park! 

This research, in partnership with Resilient Waters, UBC Pacific Salmon Lab, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation), and Metro Vancouver Regional Parks, will study how different floodgate designs impact fish passage—especially for salmon in the Coquitlam River. The findings will help improve conditions for salmon populations, protect vital ecosystems, and guide future flood control infrastructure with ecological sustainability in mind.

Another round of applause to Virgin River team captain, Diana Donaldson, for joining Metro Vancouver Regional Parks Foundation’s Executive Director, Mark Mahl, on Global News Morning to celebrate the REEL Earth Day Challenge!

Watch the video here.

Daily Challenge: Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Virgin River – $3,000

2nd: Malcolm in the Middle – $1,800

3rd : The Chicken Sisters – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 16th): Most Donors: The team with the most individual donors throughout the challenge by 11:59pm (not including prize top ups).

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Big thanks to team captains Diana Donaldson, Brooke Allan and the Virgin River crew for letting us visit their set! We’re topping up their REEL Earth Day Challenge team with an extra $1,000—keep up the amazing work on and off screen!

This is your reminder to schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Daily Challenge: Best Reel: Create a captivating Instagram reel! Ideas: Share your favourite regional park, tell us a sustainability tip, rock a lipsync… just make it green themed! Make sure to tag @mvrpfoundation.ca, use #ReelEarthDayChallenge and mention your team name.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Virgin River – $3,000

2nd: UNCLAIMED – $1,800

3rd : UNCLAIMED – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 15th): Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

We’ve reached our second major #REELEarthDayChallenge milestone— another $20,000 raised to fully fund a Bird Viewing Tower at Boundary Bay Regional Park! 

In partnership with Metro Vancouver Regional Parks and the UBC School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, this tower will provide an accessible, low-impact space for birdwatching, allowing visitors to observe the park’s diverse bird populations while minimizing habitat disturbance. This project will enhance conservation awareness, improve visitor experiences, and deepen connections to our coastal ecosystems. 

Let’s keep this momentum soaring!  

Daily Challenge: Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day. Note: Friday, Saturday & Sunday are combined days.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: The Chicken Sisters – $3,000

2nd: UNCLAIMED – $1,800

3rd : UNCLAIMED – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 14th): Best Reel: Create a captivating Instagram reel! Ideas: Share your favourite regional park, tell us a sustainability tip, rock a lipsync… just make it green themed! Make sure to tag mvrpfoundation.ca, use #ReelEarthDayChallenge and mention your team name.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Daily Challenge: Best Poster: Have someone from your team put their design skills to the test and create a REEL Earth Day Poster (judged by the Creative BC team). Submit your posters to jbernard@creativebc.com.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Malcolm in the Middle – $3,000

2nd: Virgin River – $1,800

3rd : UNCLAIMED – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 11th): Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day. Note: Friday, Saturday & Sunday are combined days.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Daily Challenge: Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day.

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Virgin River – $3,000

2nd & 3rd tie: The Chicken Sisters & Malcolm in the Middle – $1,500 each

Next Challenge (April 10th): Best Poster: Have someone from your team put their design skills to the test and create a REEL Earth Day Poster (judged by the Creative BC team). Submit your posters to jbernard@creativebc.com.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!

Special thanks to Diana Donaldson of team Virgin River for chatting all things REEL Earth Day Challenge on the Nat & Drew radio show today!

Check out the interview here!

Our first #REELEarthDayChallenge project has been fully funded! 🎬 

Thanks to the incredible support of the BC film industry, we’ve hit our first $5,000 milestone—fully funding Picnic in the Park at Surrey Bend Regional Park! 

This newcomer event will break down barriers to outdoor access, helping participants connect with nature, practice English, and build community in a safe and welcoming space. Because of you, more people will feel at home in Metro Vancouver’s regional parks. 

But we’re just getting started… let’s keep the momentum going!  

Daily Challenge: First Donation (The first donation after midnight on April 8th).

Daily Challenge Winners:

1st: Virgin River – $3,000

2nd: Chicken Sisters – $1,800

3rd: Malcolm in the Middle – $1,200

Next Challenge (April 9th): Daily Top Team: The team that raises the most money each day before midnight (not including prize top ups) is considered the “Top Team” of the day.

Reminder: Complete your Eco-Prize Checklist for a one-time $1,000 team top up, and be entered to win a Vancouver luxury hotel getaway! Additionally, teams can schedule a set visit for another one-time $1,000 top up!