CNLA: National Tree Day

“By passing this motion, the House of Commons will ask Canadians to spend just one day reflecting on the link between their lives and that of the tree,” said Royal Galipeau, M.P. Ottawa-Orléans who presented the motion. “Canadians will dedicate trees, plant trees, learn about trees and appreciate the historical impact the tree has had on Canada’s economic success as a nation.”

Canada’s landscape horticulture industry embraced National Tree Day whole-heartedly, with over 90 members participating and planting over 150 trees.

Several members donated and planted more than one tree at each school and in some instances, donated up to 10 trees. The Hon. Royal Galipeau’s intent for National Tree Day was to pay homage to and learn about the history and legacy of trees in Canada. CNLA members went above and beyond the intended spirit. CNLA members set out to teach students how to plant and care for a tree and help them understand the environmental benefits that trees offer. For many students, it was their first exposure to seeing a tree being planted.

This was especially the case at Bennetto Public School in Hamilton, ON located in the city’s north end and considered a high-risk school. Clintar Landscape Management Hamilton chose this school specifically because they knew that very few community groups have reached out to this particular school. Clintar’s Rod Pring brought a very enthusiastic crew who took their time explaining the steps of planting the ornamental pear tree. They explained that it need special care and that it would grow as they grow and that the students present would be the special caretakers for the tree. For the majority of the students, it was their first exposure to the landscape horticulture industry with many asking very interesting questions.

While this year’s event was a great success, we believe next year we will have over 1,000 trees donated and planted on National Tree Day. It was the cohesive partnership between Landscape Ontario, CNLA and the other provincial landscape horticulture industry associations that kept the momentum going for this initiative. Thank you to everyone involved from the planning and development stages to the dedicated members that took time out of their day to give back to the community. This is the embodiment of being Green for Life!

While this year’s event was a great success, we believe next year we will have over 1,000 trees donated and planted on National Tree Day. It was the cohesive partnership between Landscape Ontario, CNLA and the other provincial landscape horticulture industry associations that kept the momen- tum going for this initiative. Thank you to everyone involved from the planning and development stages to the dedicated members that took time out of their day to give back to the community. This is the embodiment of being Green for Life!

National Tree Day Event Details

Date(s): September 21, 2011

Time: All Day (sample event timeline found in Shovel Ready Toolkit)

Official Partners

Organization Details

Organization: Canadian Nursery Landscape Association

Contact Name: Joe Salemi

Contact Phone: 1-888-446-3499 ext 8620

Contact Email: joseph@canadanursery.com

Planting Trees at Schools

On September 21, 2011, CNLA members will seek to educate students and the public about the environmental benefits of trees through planting events at schools in member’s local communities.

How National Tree Day works

Download a faxable form and fax it to CNLA at 1-866-833-8603.
National Tree Day Shovel Ready Toolkit – full implementation planLet your whole company know about the program and together identify a local school with a need for a tree. Work through the natural connections between your company and school personnel. The best plan is to target a school where you have an existing relational connection to school leadership. This is an important step in the success of the whole program.
Make contact with your relational connection at the school, and propose the tree planting to school leadership. (Make sure the school maintenance department supports the plan, as they will care for the tree after it is planted.)

School Proposal Template – modify and give to school personnel to explain the program

Select your province for the appropriate press release:
(BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS, NL, PEI)

Educator's Toolkit – give to teachers who may want more information on trees

Let CNLA staff know which school you are working with. Email the details for your planting event to program staff at CNLA (joseph@canadanursery.com).
Promote your event to your local media.

Press Release Template – modify and send to local media

Select your province for the appropriate press release:
(BC, AB, SK, MB, ON, NB, NS, NL, PEI)

CNLA staff will provide major media across the country with specifics on the tree planting events, as well as information on trees and why fall is a perfect time for planting.
On September 21, hold your planting event at a local school. A sample timeline for the planting event is included in the National Tree Day Shovel Ready Toolkit
PRINTABLE POSTER (8.5 x 11) and BANNER (5.5' x 2.5')

For the Retailers!

Retailers are welcome to take part by connecting with their local schools to deliver the program. Or, you can simply promote National Tree Day through your store and remind your customers that autumn is the perfect time to plant!

Here are some ideas for making National Tree Day a hit:

Give away seedlings to children visiting your store on September 21.
Hold a nursery sale in honour of National Tree Day.
Create signage that reminds customers to plant a tree in honour of National Tree Day.
Plant a tree on your property in honour of National Tree Day, and build a how-to-plant seminar around the event for customers.
Plant a tree in a park or school yard in honour of National Tree Day (with appropriate permissions, of course).
Find a reforestation or remediation program in your community and hold an after-hours staff tree planting party (you supply the pizza dinner).
Pair up with landscaper clients -- you supply the tree, and they supply the schoolyard planting activity!
Donate a portion of the proceeds from every tree sold on September 21 to Tree Canada, CNLA's partner in National Tree Day.

Tell us what you are planning! And send us photos. We'd like to share your efforts with your colleagues across the country.

Every CNLA member company can take an active role

This all-industry public service event benefits everyone involved:
Schools receive a tree with all its intrinsic environmental advantages.
Students learn about the value of trees.
CNLA members gain higher visibility and strengthened community relationships.
CNLA members will have the opportunity to talk about trees, plants and other healthy components of a quality outdoor living environment.

Where will the trees come from?

Each company is responsible to provide the trees they plant. Tree growers are encouraged to discount or donate trees to a limited number of their CNLA member-customers for this program. The number and manner of this discount or donation is up to each grower.

Questions?

Email joseph@canadanursery.com, or call 1-888-446-3499 ext 8620. Encourage other CNLA members to get involved!

Resources

There are great resources available on Tree Canada's National Tree Day website -- www.nationaltreeday.ca

National Tree Day logo (EPS, JPG, PNG)

Purchase Tree Canada saplings, tree seed kits

Green Side Up brochure

Guide to planting trees for urban residents

Successful tree planting brochure

Tree maintenance schedule brochure