📣 Call for Nominations: Board of Directors & Committee Members, Friends of Allan Gardens

Want to help Friends of Allan Gardens Grow Bigger, Bolder and Better?

Then look no further! Friends of Allan Gardens (the Friends) is thrilled to invite dynamic and passionate individuals to join our volunteer Board of Directors or roll up their sleeves by getting involved in one of our three active committees.

These are exciting times for the Friends and we have even bolder ambitions for the future. We have a strong and growing base of programs and community relationships, a proven track record of fundraising, maturing organizational and governance and a partnership with the City of Toronto’s Park Department that will unlock new ideas and opportunities for Allan Gardens.  In 2023, we launched Growing with the City outlining ‘an ecosystem of initiatives’ for revitalizing Allan Gardens. The wind is in our sails. We are ready to take Allan Gardens into the future and are looking for others who share our enthusiasm.

If you want to make a meaningful and lasting impact and have the skills and experience to help guide us forward, please consider joining our team!

About the Friends of Allan Gardens

The Friends is a volunteer-based, registered charitable organization working to imagine and lead the revitalization of Allan Gardens. Friends of Allan Gardens operates out of the historic Children's Conservatory and the new Teaching Garden, which it manages on behalf of the City of Toronto.

Our mission is to enhance the beauty, vibrancy, and inclusivity of Allan Gardens, a treasured public park in downtown Toronto. We are seeking dedicated Board and committee members to guide and champion our efforts. Your involvement will be crucial to achieving our four strategic goals: 

1. Revitalize Park Spaces: Enhancing the gardens, off-leash dog area, and walkways for an improved visitor experience;

2. Expand Horticultural & Cultural Programming: Celebrating the park’s unique character;

3. Support Indigenous Cultural Programming: Acknowledging the park’s significance to the urban Indigenous community; and

4. Advance the Greenhouse Link Building: Planning, engagement, and fundraising for an expansion to the historic conservatory complex at Allan Gardens.

Discover more about who we are, our exciting projects and guiding strategic vision documents here.

What We’re Looking For

We seek vibrant change-makers looking to make a difference. Ideal candidates are strategic, collaborative, and committed to creating high-quality public spaces and programs for all to enjoy. We are a small and nimble organization so we are looking for people who aren’t afraid to dive in to get things done while being able to balance action with the long-view. 

We value diverse skill sets and are looking for people with knowledge and experiences in the following areas:

• Program and Community: Horticulture, arts & culture, community engagement and Indigenous relationships.

• Marketing and Development: Fundraising, sponsorships, communications, marketing & public affairs;

• Financial Acumen: Finance, accounting & business administration; and

• Governance and human resources: Culture building, policies and procedures, risk and compliance.

We are dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion and aspire for our Board, committees, and staff to reflect Toronto’s rich cultural tapestry. We are particularly interested in board members with community connections and we welcome those with Indigenous affair’s knowledge and/or lived experiences.

About the Board

Ready to bring your A-game? As one of up to nine Board Directors, you will provide overarching governance. Board member responsibilities include guiding the Friend’s strategic direction, providing financial and management oversight through the Executive Director, acting as a spokesperson or community liaison for select stakeholder relations as needed and ensuring legal compliance.

As a Board member, you’ll commit to:

• Fully support the mission, vision and values of FOAG;

• Being prepared and fully engaged in monthly meetings (typically held on the second Thursday of each month); 

• Join at a working committee, described below, and consider participating as a committee chair where needed;

• Actively participate in our governance processes, including participating in our annual general meetings and nominating the officers of the board; and

• Participate in occasional meetings peppered-in throughout the year for strategic discussions and to address opportunities and priorities.

Additionally, we are currently recruiting for a secretary position, which may be the right fit for those with a talent and interest in organization and documentation.

Our Committees

Help the Friends Grow! Our Committees are composed of both board and non-board members, including Friends volunteers. Committees work on targeted and time bound activities in service to driving FOAG’s strategic priorities forward. Depending on the committee, expect to participate in 6 to 12 meetings a year. Active committees include:

1. Fundraising and Development: building the Friends capacity to activate the newly restored Palm House, and work towards the development of the Link Building conservatory expansion and other capital initiatives.

2. Programming:  Strengthening our “ground game” where we strategize about our public and volunteer programs so we can continue to build relationships and deepen our impact in the community. Some of our current programs include a weekly farmers market, family drop-in programs, and volunteer gardening shifts.

3. Annual Conference Working Group: Every year, the Friends host and collaborate on conferences about the future of Allan Gardens and of horticulture. The best part about this conference is the celebration party at the end! Will you help us plan this wonderful annual event? 

What FOAG Can Offer You

Contribute to a Project the Matters to our City: Allan Gardens is a 160 year old cultural and natural landscape, a public park located in a fast growing, complex and incredibly diverse urban neighbourhood. It’s a centre of horticultural excellence and an urban oasis for connecting people with nature. Your contributions of time and energy matter to the health and wellbeing of our community and city and will leave a powerful legacy for the next 160 years.

Develop your strategic, leadership and professional skills: Whether you are a seasoned board volunteer or a relatively newbie in the field of governance looking to learn these skills, whether you have considerable expertise in one of our working committee needs or are looking to develop those skills, joining the Friends is an excellent way to give back, to learn, to grow professionally and build your networks.

Build Community and Connections: FOAG’ers are an amazing and growing group of individuals committed to realizing FOAG’s mission and having fun while doing it. Meet great people who share your interests and passion for revitalizing Allan Gardens.

Nomination Process

We invite you to nominate yourself or suggest someone you know who would be a great fit for our Board and committees. The nomination process is easy, and can be done here, or click the button below. We’ll ask you for:

1. Your contact information

2. Your resume or CV, and other supporting materials for your nomination. 

3. Why you’d be a good fit as a board member, officer, or committee member. 

Nominations are open until Thursday November 28th at 7pm, with elections and appointments taking place later this Fall. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further discussions. We're looking for up to two new board members, and up to two committee members.

Get In Touch

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to the future of Allan Gardens. If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to Matt Canaran, Executive Director, at matt@friendsofallangardens.ca.

Let’s work together to bring out the best in Allan Gardens. We look forward to your nomination!