Canadian Communities Awarded Almost $300,000 in Grants for Innovative Urban Forestry Projects

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Tree Canada award 22 TD Green Streets grants

TORONTO, March 17, 2015 /CNW/ - Communities across Canada are developing innovative projects to grow and care for their urban green spaces – and today are being recognized for doing so. As part of the 2015 TD Green Streets program, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) and Tree Canada awarded 22 communities with grants to support municipal forestry and greening projects.  

"Supporting urban forestry has never been more important and with the number of outstanding applications received this year, it's clear that Canadian municipalities continue to share our passion and commitment for creating greener communities for all to enjoy," said Mary Desjardins, Executive Director, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. "We applaud our grant recipients for their innovative ideas to green their communities and together with Tree Canada, we are proud to help bring these projects to life."

This year, more than 125 applications were submitted. Proposals ranged from community tree plantings to urban farming to Adopt a Tree programs, and more.

"Planting trees and growing the tree canopy in urban centers can have a tremendous impact on the health of people and the communities they live in," said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "Programs such as TD Green Streets will help communities from coast to coast reap these benefits for many years to come."

Some of this year's TD Green Streets recipients include:

Chilliwack, BC – With the TD Green Streets grant, the Ts'elxweyeqw Tribe will enhance local trail heads with landscaping, signage and kiosks that provide information on plants and their meaning to the culture, the tribe's connection to the area, and the ecological importance of protecting the forests, mountains and Chilliwack River Valley.

Guelph, ON – To enhance Guelph's urban forest and help reach the city's goal of achieving a canopy coverage target of 40 per cent, the City of Guelph will encourage property owners to participate in the Adopt a Tree program and plant a variety of tree species on their own properties. The program will provide education on the importance of the urban forest, the benefits of urban trees, care of newly planted trees, and maintenance of mature trees to ensure their long-term survival.

St. Leonard, QC – In spring 2014, the Écoquartier St. Leonard initiated the project "From Root to Crown" in which 125 students from local elementary schools planted tree seeds. To build on the project, the district plans to adopt 30 of the trees and plant them in two municipal parks along with more mature trees.

Fredericton, NB – The City of Fredericton will replace 1,000 urban street trees lost as a result of tropical storm Arthur in July 2014, and has committed to ongoing maintenance so the landscape can be enjoyed by future generations and visitors.  

2015 TD Green Streets recipients:

TD Green Streets is open to Canadian municipalities, Aboriginal communities and Business Improvement Associations (BIAs). Submissions are reviewed by representatives from Tree Canada, TD FEF, and regional urban forest practitioners, and evaluated on innovation, community involvement and technical expertise.

Since the program's inception in 1994, more than 500 communities have received grants. For more information about TD Green Streets please visit tdgreenstreets.ca. 

About Tree Canada
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments.  Tree Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees. Since 1992, 80 million trees have been planted, over 550 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has helped organize eleven national urban forest conferences. The next Canadian Urban Forest Conference will take place in Laval, QC in 2016. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.

About TD Friends of the Environment Foundation:
From schoolyard naturalization and energy conservation, to tree plantings and environmental education, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) is proud to provide funding to help sustain an incredible array of grassroots environmental programs across the country.  In 2014, TD FEF supported over 1,000 projects with $4.9 million in funding. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis, and TD Bank Group contributes in excess of $1 million annually. TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated funds environmental projects in the community in which the donation was made. For more information on how to donate and get involved in your community, visit tdfef.com.

SOURCE TD Friends of the Environment Foundation