HOLIDAY CLOSURE: All WPL locations will be closed on Monday, September 7 for the Labour Day holiday. Click here to see locations and hours info.

Roots & Shoots

Discover how local teens are creating positive change through sustainability, community initiatives, and hands-on learning.

A teen volunteer steams clothing for the community closet program.
A teen from the Roots & Shoots team helps to clean up the pollinator garden at the Eastside Branch

What is Roots & Shoots?

We’re proud to be part of Roots & Shoots, a global youth leadership program founded by the Jane Goodall Institute that empowers young people to make a positive difference for people, animals, and the environment.

Thanks to a grant from the Jane Goodall Institute, supported by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., we’ve been working with members of our Teen Events Team to bring new programs and community initiatives to life. Our teen volunteers have shared their ideas, passions, and creativity to help shape projects focused on sustainability, environmental action, and community wellbeing.

Programs

Over the next two years, Roots & Shoots will bring more than 20 programs to the library, exploring topics like sustainability, textile conservation, native plants, and environmental action. Check out upcoming programs below.

Community Closet

The WPL Community Closet is a free, thrift-inspired pop-up where anyone can browse and take clothing at no cost. Created by our Roots & Shoots team, the Community Closet encourages clothing reuse, reduces textile waste, and helps make clothing more accessible throughout our community.

Before each event, we’ll collect clean, gently used clothing donations, which volunteers and library staff will sort, organize, and prepare for shopping. The Community Closet will visit each library location over the next two years.

Upcoming Community Closet Events

  • September 2026 – Eastside Branch
  • December 2026 – Main Library
  • March 2027 – McCormick Branch
  • June 2027 – John M. Harper Branch
  • September 2027 – Eastside Branch

*dates and locations are subject to change

A close up of racks of clothing.

The Impact

“I got to work with a team that shares a passion for the environment. It was especially cool to see our ideas come to life and make a positive impact in our community.”
– Harper

“We collaborated with a team and got to learn more about native dye plants and other strategies to help support the environment.”
– Tayyabah

“Participating was a great opportunity to collaborate as a team to develop our own outreach program from start to finish, while helping our community and the environment around us. I enjoyed working with other teens to develop our own Community Closet, inspired by our shared interests in sustainability and fashion. I’m excited to see how our idea for a library thrift store will benefit both our community and the environment around us.”
– Brynn

Interested in more green initiatives at the library?

Learn more about our seed library, outdoor gardening opportunities, pollinator garden, and hydroponic indoor growing towers.