Wednesday October 1, 2025 | COLWOOD, BC [Posted at 3:37 pm | Updated October 2, 2025]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Rain held off and a sunny afternoon emerged in the gardens at Royal Roads University (RRU) after the announcement of a $250,000 donation by the TD Bank Group (TD).
The event was led by RRU President Philip Steenkamp who hosted Lieutenant Governor Wendy Cocchia and TD District Vice President Bruce Gray for speeches, photo-ops and lunch.
RRU Vice-President of External Relations Susan Gee delivered remarks. The event was attended by former Board Chair and Chancellor Nelson Chan and many community leaders including Sooke Mayor Maja Tait, Indigenous Elder Shirley Alphonse, and Indigenous leader Katherine Strongwind.
Lunch was catered by the RRU Habitat Café campus food service using food items harvested from the Farm at Royal Roads.
About the farm:
The Farm at Royal Roads was developed starting 2021 on the former 5.26-acre walled Edwardian kitchen garden plot situated near Hatley Garden.
The growing area features a variety of growing spaces including an Indigenous Medicine Garden, a Giving Garden, a Market Garden and a Polyculture Orchard.
The no-dig produce beds with more than 90 plant species yielded 3,175 kg (7,000 lb) of produce in the 2024-2025 growing season.
Food from the Farm supplies students at the campus, the Habitat Cafe, and a wide range of community members and projects including the Songhees Wellness Centre and The Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group’s Good Food Box Program.
There is an ongoing campaign to encourage donations to the Farm at Royal Roads project.
TD funding targets:
TD has been supporting The Farm at RRU since 2023.
This latest grant expands the bank’s philanthropy by supporting programming for the local community to visit the farm and learn about its operation through participatory activities.
Today’s $250,000 donation is on top of $196,000 donated by the TD Bank in May 2023, for a total of $446,000.
The funding will also support the expansion of research conducted on site by students, faculty and partners.
Project goals:
Projects will pursue the discovery of climate change solutions and mitigation strategies, explore the impact of biodiversity loss and pollution, and expand regenerative agriculture, food sovereignty and ecological stewardship practices.
The Royal Roads Indigenous Education Team and the Farm at Royal Roads Guiding Committee will design and develop the new offerings by engaging with community and Indigenous knowledge keepers to inform future programming.
Pumpkin weight:
There was a fun draw for entrants to guess the weight of a large pumpkin that was harvested from the farm. Winner of the gift basket prize tba.
===== RELATED:
- John Horgan commemorative plaque unveiled at Royal Roads Langford campus (September 16, 2025)
- Pacific Economic Development Canada issues $677,800 to Royal Roads (March 18, 2025)
- Royal Roads grad student research focuses on west shore growth issues (November 23, 2024)
- TD Bank Group donates $196,000 to Royal Roads food-growing initiatives (May 30, 2023)
- Big yield for inaugural Royal Roads community garden (October 3, 2022)
- NEWS SECTIONS: ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY | URBAN FOOD RESILIENCE | FOOD SECURITY