Presentation of Laurier Maples to Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada (left) by Jeff Monty, President, Tree Canada Foundation (centre) and Mark Hubert, Director, Forest Products Association of Canada at the 9th National Forest Congress, May 1, 2003 - Ottawa.

Ottawa, May 1, 2003 — The Tree Canada Foundation will be presenting six sugar maples, progeny of trees planted by Sir Wilfrid Laurier in Victoriaville, Québec 130 years ago, to the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien, Prime Minister of Canada. The presentation will take place on Thursday, May 1st at 12:00 p.m. at the Ottawa Congress Centre, Colonel By Drive, Ottawa.

The maples are being presented in recognition of the leadership shown by the Prime Minister for the 9th National Forest Congress held in Ottawa, May 1-2. Sir Wilfrid Laurier founded the 1st National Forest Congress in 1906, bringing together various groups to map a strategy for the managing of Canada’s forests - taking a particular interest in the conservation and protection of Canada’s forests.

Today’s Congress demonstrates the tremendous importance forests have for the lives of Canadians. As stewards of 10% of the world’s forests, all forest stakeholders are aware of the lead role that Canadian forests play.

The Tree Canada Foundation has accepted the Prime Minister’s challenge to have each Canadian reduce their carbon emissions by planting six trees this year – the number of trees required to sequester 1 tonne of carbon from the atmosphere.

"Trees are vital for all Canadians – it’s a human health issue", says Dr. Gilbert Paillé, Chairman of the Tree Canada Foundation. "The Laurier maples are a symbol of the fact that we need more trees to counter the effects of pollution and to help give Canadians a psychological lift".

The Tree Canada Foundation is a charitable organization which provides support through partnerships to Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. To date the Foundation has engaged more than 60 top Canadian companies and government agencies to support the planting of over 75 million trees, the regreening of over 300 schoolyard projects, five national urban forestry conferences and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the health issues connected with trees.

As a member of the National Forest Coalition, the Foundation has contributed to the consensus document which forms an integral part of the 9th Congress.