Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign Taking Root In Scarborough
TORONTO, ON – On October 27, the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign was featured at a special TD Tree Day to recognize TD Bank Group’s $500,000 contribution and ongoing support for current and future tree planting endeavours. The event, held in Scarborough, saw local volunteers gather to plant 300 trees and shrubs which will add to the total of over 1,200 trees already planted at this specific site, in connection to the campaign.
“We’ve now been able to plant an incredible 1,500 trees at this site here in Scarborough and have engaged hundreds of volunteers in the process,” said Mark Cullen, Chairman and co-founder of Highway Of Heroes Tree Campaign. “These volunteer-driven events allow us to educate and spread the message about the symbolism these trees have. We simply could not do this without the incredible support we receive from our partners at TD, our founding corporate sponsor, and for that we are forever grateful.”
Cullen, along with Chris Cheung, TD Tree Days Site Leader at TD Bank Group, MP Gary Anandasangaree and MPP Vijay Thanigasalam, addressed and thanked volunteers for their participation. Through these efforts, the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is being converted into the largest living memorial ever constructed and the trees planted will help with the Greater Toronto Area’s declining urban tree canopy.
"We are proud to come together with Highway of Heroes Living Tribute to honour the men and women who fought for Canada, rooting their memory and valiant effort in our country's landscape," says Chris Cheung, TD Tree Days Site Leader. "Throughout September and October, over 400 TD Tree Days volunteers will help plant more than 2,000 trees in communities along Highway 401 to honour those who served our country. These plantings will contribute to our larger goal as part of The Ready Commitment's target of helping plant 1 million trees by 2030."
Three years after the first trees were planted in connection to the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, Canadians continue to show support for the project and the goal to plant a tree for each of the 2 million Canadians who served our country in times of conflict. 117,000 of these trees will be for each Canadian who has fallen in war since the confederation. These trees are being planted along and near the Highway of Heroes, also known as Highway 401, between Trenton and Toronto.
Photos of the event are available here. (Photo Credit: Mike Schram / Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign)
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About Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign
When is a tree more than just a tree? The answer is when the tree is part of a memorial to honour Canada’s fallen heroes. We are planting 2,000,000 tress between Trenton and Toronto, one tree for every Canadian that has served during times of conflict since Confederation and including the war of 1812. 117,000 of the most prominent trees will be planted along and near the strench of the 401 known as the Highway of Heroes, one tree for every life lost while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. This tribute offers an opportunity to tell the story of those that have served in the Armed Forces and remind travellers along the highway of the great debt we owe these courageous Canadians. It will also provide a myriad of environmental benefits for generations to come. The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is supported by the Government of Ontario, Mark’s Choice, Landscape Ontario, TD Bank, Frank Cowan Company, Tree Canada, Every Tree Counts (a partnership between Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation and the City of Toronto), Rotary District 7070, Maple Leaves Forever, and the Garden Club of Toronto.
About TD Tree Days
TD Tree Days invests in the health of our urban tree canopies, and offers TD employees, their families, and our community partners, a fun, easy and rewarding way to give back and help green the communities in which they live and work. Launched in 2010 as a national employee engagement program in Canada, TD Tree Days has evolved into TD's flagship volunteer program, engaging employees, customers and community partners in three countries. The program is also contributing to The Ready Commitment's target of helping plant 1 million trees by 2030. Since 2010, more than 20,000 volunteers have helped plant over 340,000 trees in over 270 communities across Canada. In 2018, thousands of volunteers will come together to further enhance over 100 green spaces for everyone to enjoy. For more information and to register, visit tdtreedays.com.
