Memorial University’s Botanical Garden will be celebrating Canada’s National Tree Day through a tree planting ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 12:30 p.m.

National Tree Day is the celebration of trees and forests in towns, cities and neighbourhoods across Canada. 

MUN Botanical Garden suffered significant damage to its natural area during hurricane Igor in 2010 and post-tropical storm Leslie in 2012. Canon’s Take Root Program, presented by Evergreen, has awarded $5,000 in funding to help restore the grounds as part of the garden’s Hurricane Damage Restoration Project.

“Through this grant, we are able to replant more than 300 native trees and shrubs in our natural area,” said Liz Klose, director, MUN Botanical Garden. “Our plans for the redevelopment are focused on deciduous and fruit-bearing woody plants which would help expand the habitat diversity in our natural area. The culmination of this project will be the planting of a large red maple, acer rubrum – a native Newfoundland tree.”

Following the ceremony, Todd Boland, research horticulturist at the garden and author of Trees and Shrubs of Newfoundland and Labrador, will lead a tree walk emphasizing the native and ornamental trees and shrubs within the garden.

Evergreen is a national environmental organization that makes cities more livable through community naturalization projects. Canon’s Take Root Program, presented by Evergreen, will provide a $5,000 grant and a PowerShot digital camera to 30 local groups across Canada every year for the next three years. Take Root aims to add more than 7,500 trees to the Canadian urban landscape annually and encourage community engagement in public spaces through native tree-planting events, invasive-species removal and other community stewardship, monitoring and developmental activities.

For more information, please contact Liz Klose, director, Memorial University, Botanical Garden, at 709-864-3326, lklose@mun.ca; Wayne Doyle, senior manager, corporate communications, Canon Canada Inc., at 905-565-4598,

wayne_doyle@canada.canon.com; or Anthony Westenberg, manager, public relations, Evergreen, at 416-596-1495 ext. 332, awestenberg@evergreen.ca.

 

 

Evergreen is a not-for-profit organization that makes cities more livable. By deepening the connection between people and nature, and empowering Canadians to take a hands-on approach to their urban environments, Evergreen is improving the health of our cities – now and for the future. Since 1991 Evergreen has engaged people in creating and sustaining healthy, dynamic outdoor spaces and providing Canadians with the tools and knowledge to become stewards of the environment in their schools, communities and homes. Evergreen’s entrepreneurial approach to social responsibility creates vibrant neighbourhoods, a healthy natural environment and a sustainable society for all.

Headquartered in Mississauga, Ont., the company employs 1,200 people at its offices nationwide, servicing the Canadian market from coast to coast. Innovation and cutting-edge technology have been essential ingredients in Canon's success. Canon's leadership in imaging, optical and document management technology and solutions is based in large part on the thousands of patents the company has secured throughout its history. Canon Inc. has been among the top four U.S. patent recipients since 1994. The company's comprehensive product line includes networked multifunction devices; digital copiers (colour and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems and facsimile machines; calculators, digital camcorders, digital cameras and lenses; medical imaging equipment, semiconductor, broadcast and other specialized industrial products. Canon Canada is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility.

For 20 years, Tree Canada has engaged communities, governments, corporations and individuals in the pursuit of a greener and healthier living environment for Canadians. Under the direction of our 13-member volunteer board of directors, we provide Canadians with education, technical expertise, and resources to plant and care for urban and rural trees. We’ve planted nearly 80 million trees and greened more than 530 schoolyards across the country. National Tree Day will serve as a celebration for all Canadians to appreciate the great benefits that trees provide us – clean air, wildlife habitat, reducing energy demand and connecting with nature.