Media Advisory (June 14): Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign Continues to Grow

WHITBY, ON - On Friday, June 14th, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Military Veterans and volunteers from the local community will plant 300 more trees in support of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign.

Canada’s gardening guru, Campaign Chair and co-founder of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, Mark Cullen, will host a special ceremony prior to tree planting activities. The Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs, will be in attendance to announce funding for the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and will also present Canadian Armed Forces member, Corporal Nick Kerr, with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for outstanding dedication to volunteer work with the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign.

The event is funded by Veterans Affairs Canada with additional support from Volvo Trucks Canada, Volvo Financial Services, Volvo Construction Equipment, Mack Trucks Canada, and Mack Financial Services, in collaboration with the Town of Whitby.

Just one week following the 75^th anniversary of D-Day, the event will take place at Intrepid Park, the former site of Camp X and legendary secret paramilitary training installation for covert agents during the second world war.

                                            -30-

About The 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 trees between Trenton and Toronto, one tree for every Canadian that has served during times of conflict since Confederation and including the war of 1812. One hundred seventeen thousand of the most prominent trees will be planted along, and near the stretch 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 funded by Veterans Affairs Canada, 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), Harrington & Associates, Rotary District 7070, Maple Leaves Forever, and the Garden Club of Toronto. To learn more, visit www.hohtribute.ca.