Welcome
For over 15 years Tree Canada has been a leader in protecting and nurturing trees across Canada. Today we present our second edition of our electronic newsletter, Mïstïk . Named after the Cree word for tree, Mïstïk keeps our supporters informed on the news, issues and upcoming events surrounding Tree Canada. We welcome feedback — so please send comments to tcf@treecanada.ca.
Michael Rosen, Editor & President of Tree Canada
Winners of Green Streets Canada — And We All Win!
Sixteen municipalities in the Green Streets Canada program have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure the survival of their trees. This year $189,000 in funding went to those successful urban forest programs. Without Tree Canada’s corporate partners, however, the Green Streets Program could not exist. Winners were sponsored this year by Trans Canada Corporation, BC Hydro and Trees Ontario — the latter having sponsored seven of the sixteen winners. Read our press release for further details on the winners and sponsors.
Important Business — Tree Canada’s 75th Million Tree!
75th million tree planted in Ottawa's historical ByWard Market (Oct. 25, 2007)
Tree Canada’s 2007 annual general meeting (AGM) took place on October 25 and 26 at the Wakefield Mill, among the fabulous fall colours of Wakefield, Quebec. The AGM followed Tree Canada’s 15th year anniversary festivities, which included a parliamentary reception hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Peter Milliken, and the ceremonial planting of our 75th million tree with Minister of Transport, Infrastructures and Communities, Lawrence Cannon.
From FCA to Arbres Canada and Logo Re-Branding
In May our French name changed officially from la Fondation canadienne de l’arbre to Arbres Canada. “The word fondation gives the impression of a granting organization,” says Tree Canada President, Michael Rosen. “Au contraire; we do not provide money for tree planting. Donors and sponsors do. They and our volunteers need to feel welcome in both official languages. This is too important a project to leave anyone out!” View our new look en français.
Shell’s Planting Continues
On September 21, 2007, Shell and Tree Canada announced an extensive planting of more than 120,000 trees in B.C., Alberta, Quebec and Ontario. Work has now been completed in the Buffalo Lake Moraine Conservation Area near Stettler, Alberta. Shell employees assisted in the planting under the watchful coordination of Tree Canada’s Community Advisor, Gérard Fournier and the Alberta Conservation Association. The entire project will result in an estimated 43,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration. “Shell's work with Tree Canada is only one example of us taking action today to manage the greenhouse gas emissions associated with our operations,” said Rob Seeley, General Manager of Sustainable Development and External Affairs for Shell's Oil Sands division. Click here to see other Tree Canada sponsors.
The Fall Colours Are Out
… and so is the Fall issue of Canadian Trees. Dorothy Dobbie, Tree Canada’s Vice-Chair, publishes this informative, glossy magazine twice a year. Read about tree care, historic trees, tree art, insects and diseases, and meet some of Canada’s leading arborists and foresters. Join 7,000 readers by subscribing — You’ll enjoy a good read and help Tree Canada at the same time.
Community Roots
Gérard Fournier is an arborist who devotes a lot of time to his community. As Tree Canada’s Community Advisor for southern Alberta, Gérard provides advice and coordinates local Tree Canada projects, like the recent planting at Buffalo Lake. He is the owner of the For Trees Co., a Didsbury arboricultural company operating on a 30-acre tree farm. A long-time certified tree worker, arborist, and part time college lecturer, Gérard is one of the few Board Certified Master Arborists with the International Society of Arboriculture (and possibly the only one with a degree in philosophy). Read more about Tree Canada’s community advisors.
IKEA Bags the Bag for Tree Canada
Canadians take home an estimated 55 million plastic bags a week and IKEA Canada is trying to reduce that number. In its commitment to reducing plastic bag consumption at its stores by 50 per cent in the next year, IKEA began charging 5¢ per bag on October 22, 2007. It will donate all proceeds from the sale of plastic bags to its long-term environmental partner, Tree Canada, who will then use these funds to plant trees throughout Canada to help offset CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions. IKEA Canada has worked with Tree Canada for the last 10 years — planting more than 14,000 trees!
The Environment Is No Gambling Matter
For the third year in a row, Manitoba Lotteries Corporation (MLC) is planting 10,000 trees in an effort to offset the effects of greenhouse gas emissions associated with its facility operations. “These seedlings will continue to provide numerous environmental benefits for years to come,” said Ken Fosty, Tree Canada’s Community Adviser and Extension Officer for the Manitoba Forestry Association. He participated in the planting of the seedlings (which included white spruce, Manitoba’s provincial tree) along with Courtander Enterprises, a First Nations tree planting crew based in Fort Alexander. Read more about this initiative.
Quebec’s First Carbon Neutral Tree Plantation
17,000 trees were planted near Sherbrooke, on abandoned farmland at Ste-Élie d’OrfordThis spring, in order to offset carbon emissions, a total of 17,000 trees were planted near Sherbrooke, on abandoned farmland at Ste-Élie d’Orford. Over 2,800 tons of CO2 will be absorbed thanks to contributions from countless individuals and companies, namely Caron Industries, Baxter Corporation — Sherbrooke, Fluxnet Canada and ideum.ca.
My Tree and Me
Do you have an old friend — who happens to be a tree? Or maybe you have a brand new baby — who happens to be a tree? Perhaps your best playmate is of the arboreal persuasion? We want to see! Send us a photo, along with a brief explanation (25 words or less). Email it to tcf@treecanada.ca (.jpg only, and no more than 300 KB, please), or mail it to 222 Somerset Street West, Suite 402, Ottawa, ON, K2P 2G3. We’ll include our favourites in the spring 2008 edition of this e-newsletter.
Don’t Miss It!
Watch for the upcoming public television broadcast of Places of Green, an informative and breathtaking one-hour documentary on Canada’s leadership role in conserving and sustaining its urban forests, parks, and wilderness. This King Motion Picture Corporation production will be part of Mountain Lake's PBS membership drive. For every DVD/membership sold, a tree will be planted and cared for by Tree Canada.
Our very own Michael Rosen and Morgan Grove will be studio guests. If you are in the broadcast area, tune in at 8 p.m. on December 4, or catch the rebroadcast at 1 p.m., December 8.
Maple Leaf Day — Another Success
Michelle and Dave Eisen from the Ingersoll Home Centre and Tree Canada’s Ed Borczon
On September 26th, over 30 communities participated in Canada’s second annual Maple Leaf Day festivities. Hats off to Home Hardware for sponsoring the day in 12 communities across Canada! Hats off to the mayors of Oshawa, Midland, and Wasaga Beach in Ontario, of Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, and of Cold Lake and Edmonton in Alberta for making Maple Leaf Day proclamations! Hats off to Ottawa-Orleans M.P., Royal Galipeau for greening yet another schoolyard on this, his second Maple Leaf Day!
plantatree™ — Nectar of the Gods
We always knew that wine was good for the spirit (and some say for our health). Well, now it is also good for the environment! The Lifford Wine Agency has launched its plantatree™ wine in Ontario and for each bottle sold, a tree will be planted by Tree Canada. “Growing Clean Air while enjoying a wonderful Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay…it doesn’t get better than that!” says Tree Canada President and plantatree™ enthusiast, Michael Rosen. Lifford Wine Agency, thank you for allowing us to adopt your product as Tree Canada’s “Official Wine”.
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Tree Canada. Please visit our website for more information on us and our associated programs and services and keep supporting our programs through your generous donations!
