Growing and Strengthening Canada's Urban Forests

Growing and Strengthening Canada's Urban Forests

Amid the hustle and bustle of urban life, it's easy to overlook the quiet heroes standing tall among the skyscrapers. But these heroes, with their leafy canopies and mighty roots, hold the key to a greener, healthier future. With four out of five people calling urban areas home, nurturing and fortifying Canada's urban forests has never been more crucial.

Trees cool our cities, clean the air we breathe and generally make our lives better. Planting and caring for trees are practical and effective ways to help mitigate the impacts of climate change on our communities.

However, within the context of heartbreaking stories of disappearing natural spaces and the aftermath of natural disasters, there is still hope. That hope lies in the power of both individual and collective action and is best harnessed on a day when communities come together to plant a better future.

National Tree Day is a day to celebrate trees, take action on climate change and connect with nature. Every September, thousands of Canadians join Tree Canada to plant and care for trees at community planting events in every province.

Mark your calendars: this year's National Tree Day will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 20th. Thanks to the generous support of BMO, Tree Canada is thrilled to host over a dozen free events across major cities and towns throughout the country. With countless volunteer positions, this event is the perfect time to roll up your sleeves and get into the green. To join as a volunteer visit treecanada.ca and sign up today.

• Your impact will have deep roots—volunteers typically plant between three to five trees, each alongside members of the community and employees of other Tree Canada partners.

• No experience? No problem. Tree Canada experts and volunteers will bet here to provide support and answer your tree questions.

• You will learn how to plant and care for urban trees so they provide benefits for years to come. You bring your enthusiasm, and we'll provide gloves and shovels!

The look of deep satisfaction and bright smiles on faces, young and old alike, tell us that planting a tree is a meaningful experience. National Tree Day is a day for all Canadians to come together in appreciation of trees and embrace their role as active participants in growing and nurturing Canada's tree canopy.

In 2022, Tree Canada held 12 planting events, engaging over 1,100 volunteers to plant more than 4,000 trees in communities across Canada.

Tree Canada also encourages Canadians to host their own National Tree Day events. Whether by planting trees or cleaning up greenspaces, organizers can register their events on the Tree Canada website for a chance to win a free tree-planting activity in their community.

Since 1992, Tree Canada has worked relentlessly to grow Canada’s tree canopy through our greening programs, research, and engagement efforts. We are the only national non-profit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments. Together with our partners, we plant over 1.5 million trees annually, helping to grow resilient ecosystems and healthier, greener communities across Canada.

Since the first National Tree Day in 2011, Tree Canada has engaged thousands of Canadians and planted over 10,000 trees in communities across Canada.

To learn more about National Tree Day and the vital role that trees play in our communities, please visit treecanada.ca/national-tree-day or join the conversation at #NationalTreeDay and #NTD2023.