April 25, 2015
Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38 Scarborough Centre), Toronto's Tree Advocate, Councillor Jim Karygiannis (Ward 39 Scarborough-Agincourt) and City staff joined members of the community at L'Amoreaux North Park and Humber Arboretum today to plant over 2,500 trees and shrubs as part of the Trees Across Toronto annual spring planting event.
Over 2,000 Torontonians participated in the planting event, including 300 employees from HSBC Bank Canada, representatives from the Toronto Parking Authority and the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation.
"The City aims to maximize tree species diversity as this provides increased resiliency when certain species are threatened," said Councillor De Baeremaeker. “Trees Across Toronto is a splendid example of corporate sponsors, City staff and the community working together to show our commitment to environmental stewardship and to making Toronto a beautiful, greener, more livable city."
The City of Toronto's goal is to increase Toronto's tree canopy by 40 per cent by planting, protecting and maintaining trees across the city. Although the December 2013 ice storm and emerald ash borer infestation had devastating impacts on the City's tree canopy, it is being replenished through the maintenance and planting of trees in City parks and ravines through the Trees Across Toronto program.
“Toronto's urban forest is home to several rare and protected plant and animal species, and ecologically sensitive habitats,” said Councillor Karygiannis. “By volunteering their time and efforts to plant trees today, Torontonians have exercised their green thumbs to increase our urban forest and enhance our natural urban spaces.”
Those who missed today's planting event are invited to plant a tree on their own property or consult the Parks, Forestry and Recreation website at
http://www.toronto.ca/parks for information about additional planting events hosted by the City of Toronto this spring. Over 60 per cent of Toronto's urban forest is on private property. It is crucial that residents plant trees on private property if Toronto is going to protect and nurture its urban forest.
Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.
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Media contact: Ross Bryant, Strategic Communications, 416-896-2017, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
