Highway of Heroes - Campaign Highlights

Dear Friends of The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign

Let me begin by saying “Thank you”.

Our campaign to reforest the Highway of Heroes is complete and we are thrilled. Without your support, this just would not have happened. Over the last 7 years, we have planted over 2 million trees ON and near the Highway of Heroes along the 401. A tree for every Canadian lost at war and a tree for each who volunteered for military service.

We have also reached our goal of $10 million. Again, with thanks to you.

The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign was born out of genuine concern for climate change and inspired by the Canadians who gave the highway its name: those who serve in the Canadian Armed Forces, plus Silver Cross moms, families, and friends. I hope you enjoy this booklet of stories and campaign highlights.

The Next Chapter is an exciting, new focus to increase the urban tree canopy across Canada and honour our everyday heroes who improve our lives. We call this program Trees For Heroes, a campaign run by our national charity, Canadian Trees For Life.

Is there a Hero in your life that you wish to honour, thank, or remember?

A frontline or health care worker, first responder, teacher, or loved one? Why not have a native tree planted in their honour?

I am personally committed to our new mission, with renewed zeal and enthusiasm, as are our volunteer and staff teams.

Will you join us as you did on the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign, and support Trees For Life, Trees For Heroes? www.treesforlife.ca

I look forward to hearing from you,

Sincerely,

Mark Cullen, Board President and Volunteer Chair, Canadian Trees for Life | Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign

P.S. All donations to Trees for Life are matched by Natural Resources Canada, through the 2 Billion Tree Program. Your donation is tax-deductible.

Growth over the Years

Officially launched in the fall of 2015, the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign took 7 years to complete. Through the combined generous support from the Federal, Provincial, and many Municipal governments, various community organizations, foundations, and over 3,500 Canadians, over $10M was raised to create the world’s largest living memorial.

As the project gained momentum, so did the pace at which trees were planted. The campaign resulted in:

• 117,000 “Hero Trees” planted directly adjacent to the Highway of Heroes in memory of all soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice

• Over 2,370,000 “Service Trees” planted within 30km of the Highway 401 corridor in honour of those who served since Confederation and including the War of 1812

• Nearly 2.5 million trees are in the ground thanks to this campaign

“We believe in The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and Trees For Life”

- Honorary Patrons, the Right Honorable David Johnston and his wife Sharon, former Honorary Captain (Navy) for Military Personnel Command

Key Dates & Campaign Highlights

September 2016

New goal of planting 2 million trees is set to honour all that have served in times of conflict

December 2017

The Right Hon. David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, and his wife Sharon, former Honourary Captain of the Canadian Navy become Honourary Patrons

April 2019

O cial partnership formed with Forests Ontario’s 50 Million Tree program

July 2020

The Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation of Ontario, announces another $1M from the province, bringing the total commitment from the MTO to $2M

November 2022

HoHTC surpasses its 2 million trees goal with the ceremonial planting of the “last tree” at Historic Fort York

November 2015

O cial launch with the goal of planting 117,000 trees, first plantings at CFB Trenton and Keele St. Coroner’s o ce

November 2017

The Hon. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, endorses HoHTC and attends the 2nd anniversary planting ceremony

March 2018

Then Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynn announces a $1M commitment June 2019

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans A airs Canada, announce a commitment of over $3M through VAC’s Commemorative Partnerships Program

June 2021

$10M fundraising goal is reached, ahead of schedule

November 2022

Bronze sculptures by world-renowned artist Ruth Abernethy are unveiled at two ONroute service centres in Port Hope and Trenton

Signature Projects, Collaborations & Plantings

CFB Trenton & Coroner’s Office

Granted special permission from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), HoHTC plants the first trees at CFB Trenton and the Coroner’s Office at Keele St., the start and end of the Highway of Hereos, launching the campaign to honour the 117,000 who died in battle.

Keele St. Garden, Toronto

Sponsored by the Garden Club of Toronto, this signature project is one of the last sights seen by anyone traveling the Highway of Heroes.

Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) Monument Landscaping

HoHTC provided trees as part of the landscaping project for two LAV monuments installed in Bowmanville and Cobourg.

Newcastle Public School, Clarington

Inspired by the HoH which runs along school property, Newcastle P.S. created a “mini HoH” complete with asphalt pathway, a yellow “highway mid-line” and 30 trees on either side planted by the school children.

Bain Park, Trenton

Home to Quinte West’s Afghanistan memorial and located next to CFB Trenton, the start of the HoH. This popular public space is home to over 300 new trees.

Camp X (Intrepid Park), Whitby

The former site of ‘Camp X’, a spy training ground for the allies in WWII, is now home to over 600 trees. The spot is memorable as it’s where Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and the Hon. Lawrence MacAuley, Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada, announced a commitment of over $3M through VAC’s Commemorative Partnerships Program.

Downsview Park, Toronto

The largest urban park in Toronto and home to CFB Downsview saw multiple community tree planting events in the early days, creating forests of over 3,000 trees at the site.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto

Home to Canada’s largest Veteran’s care facility, Sunnybrook’s staff and patients are benefiting from a dedicated arborteum and other plantings done through the HoHTC resulting in over 1,200 trees on their grounds.

Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa

Canada’s national cemetery and premier Veteran cemetery, has hosted many planting ceremonies in partnership with HoHTC, most recently, honouring the Governor General’s Foot Guards.

Betty Sutherland Park, Toronto

A sprawling urban green space that is now home to over 6,000 HoHTC trees. This City of Toronto site presented challenging growing conditions, but with the implementation of HoHTC’s planting practices and dedicated operations team, led to the first successful renaturalization of the area.

Battle of Vimy Ridge Planting, Whitby

Located at the former site of the Pringle Creek water treatment facility, this site allowed for a planting design inspired by the military formations of the historic Battle of Vimy Ridge. Groves of trees commemorate this significant event where many say Canada as a nation was born.

Ontario Regiment Museum, Oshawa

Now home to an arboretum with over 700 trees honouring those who served, this site, which is open to the public, also holds the largest collection of decommissioned military vehicles in North America.

Forests Ontario’s Private Landowner Partnership

The partnership with Forests Ontario’s 50 Million Tree program provided private landowners located within 30 km of the 401 corridor with the opportunity to have trees planted on their property as part of the Tree Tribute. This partnership delivered a high volume of trees costefficiently and was crucial to HoHTC exceeding the 2 million trees goal.

ONroute Service Centres, Port Hope & Trenton Bronze sculpture installations by worldrenowned artist Ruth Abernethy commemorate the completion of the HoHTC and serve to educate their over 3 million average monthly visitors about the campaign and who it honours.

Historic Fort York, Toronto

Fittingly, the home of the last ceremonial HoHTC trees, which were planted by the Right Honourable David Johnston and his wife Sharon, former Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy, during a special event. The site of one of Canada’s oldest battles dates back to the War of 1812, one of the first conflicts entered into by “Canadians,” despite the fact that Canada would not gain independence until over 50 years later.

Key Sponsors & Supporters

Founding Sponsors

Garden Club of Toronto

One of two original founding partners that were among the first to donate to the cause. A memorial garden was created in 2016, at Keele St. and the 401 and has been updated and maintained annually since.

Maple Leaves Forever

The second of our original founding sponsors, this partnership has been the inspiration for including several native maple trees species in plantings throughout the campaign.

TD Bank (Friends of the Environment Foundation)

Our first major corporate partner, TD bank has supported HoHTC consistently, starting with a $50k pledge. At over $800k granted to date, they are our single largest corporate supporter.

Key Supporters

Veterans Affairs Canada

A total commitment of $3M to support tree planting, permanent memorial construction and volunteer engagement events.

Ministry of Transportation of Ontario

Provided over $2M to support planting trees on MTO lands, helping to increase the durability of MTO infrastructure whilst supporting tree planting and a Remembrance program.

City of Toronto

Provided over $430,000 to support planting on non-city owned property through their Urban Forestry Grants program.

City of Quinte West

A highly military-centric community and home to CFB Trenton pledged $100,000 over 4 years.

Cullen’s Foods

The passion, leadership and financial support of our Chair, Mark Cullen and his family has helped to make this success possible.

The de Pencier Family Foundation

The family has been an unwavering supporter of HoHTC for the duration of the campaign.

Barrett Family Foundation

Donated funds to inspire and match donations raised at the annual golf tournament and during our annual fall fundraising campaign.

Intact Public Entities (formerly Frank Cowan Company)

This organization granted our first multi-year corporate commitment.

Veteran Volunteers

Corporal Nick Kerr

Volunteer extadoranaire, has attended multiple events over the years, sometimes driving for many hours and sometimes flying in. An Afghan Vet, currently on deployment in Latvia to help train forces for the conflict in Ukraine, he was a pallbearer for 8 friends lost in Afghanistan. Nick found volunteering to plant trees to be theraputic for his PTSD.

Master Corporal Trevor Vautour (Ret.)

Now working as an OPP officer, Trevor attended a special event at CFB Trenton in the summer of 2020 to speak about what the campaign means to him from both a military Veteran and a First Responder perspective - many of whom lead processions down the HoH.

Pat Thomas, PPCLI Veteran

Pat volunteered and attended at least a half dozen events over the years. A Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Veteran who also believes strongly in the importance of community volunteerism and commemorating the service and sacrifice of his comrades.

Silver Cross Mothers & Families

Over the years, we have become friends with

while

include:

Lyn

Military Connections Made over the Years

Bases, Regiments & Veteran Groups

CFB Trenton & 8 Wing

They hosted multiple events and provided military representatives for all HoHTC public events held in Quinte West (Trenton), including the Base Commander who participated on multiple occasions.

4th Division

This group provided military volunteers for multiple events, allowing volunteers to plant side by side with some of the very heroes the campaign is honouring.

Hasting & Prince Edward County Regiment (Hasty P’s)

They also provided military volunteers for multiple events, and ceremonial trees were planted at the Hasty P’s headquarters, the Belleville Armories.

Korean War Veteran’s Association

Provided donations and volunteers for multiple events.

Royal Canadian Legion Branches

Also provided donations and volunteers for multiple events over the years. Notable participation and support came from RCL Trenton, RCL Cobourg, RCL Ajax, RCL 10 (Toronto), and RCL Wilson (Toronto).

48th Highlanders

Former members of this regiment donated generously as did their family members who were inspired by their service.

Plant

First responders. Nurses. Frontline workers. We’re honouring the sacrifices of those who serve us by planting trees in their names. Together, we can help plant living tributes to the people who matter. Donate today at treesforlife.ca.