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Peterborough, ON - The City of Peterborough hosted Trees 4 Peterborough, a community tree planting event on September 23, 2023, together with event sponsors RBC, the Excelsior Group, Peterborough Homes and Merritt Home Hardware with support from GreenUp and volunteers from the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
A total of 500 potted trees and 20 larger caliper trees were planted at Bears Creek Woods Park, located at 1210 Franklin Dr., with help from community volunteers, members of the Rotary Club of Peterborough and students from the Trent University Community Research Centre.
The investment in the City’s urban forest canopy was the result of sponsorship by RBC Dominion Securities of $10,000, and donations from The Excelsior Group of $5,000, and from Peterborough Homes of $2,500 and Merritt Home Hardware, who lent an auger for the planting.
“Trees 4 Peterborough has evolved into a wonderful community project and we sincerely thank our partners,” said Councillor Lesley Parnell, Chair of the City’s Arenas, Parks and Recreation Portfolio. “These 520 new trees, in addition to the City’s yearly complement, are most welcome. In Peterborough, we love our trees and parks!”
“A variety of maples, oaks, spruce and other trees native to our zone, have been planted for an authentic look and resilience. Special thanks to our urban forestry team at the City of Peterborough for their tireless efforts,” she continued.
Urban trees provide many benefits, including reducing flooding, improving air quality, reducing heat build-up in the City, positive impacts to mental and physical health and mitigating climate change. One tree with a diameter of 15 centimetres can absorb 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide and intercept almost 2,000 litres of rainfall per year.
RBC Dominion Securities started the initiative with a generous five-year, $50,000 commitment through the RBC Foundation.
Quotes
“At RBC Dominion Securities, we are committed to helping our communities thrive by supporting initiatives such as the City of Peterborough’s Sustainable Community Project. This project aligns to our existing commitment to greening communities. Since 2020, we have planted 84,300 trees through Tree Canada’s National Greening Program, as our way of saying thanks to our clients who have switched to paperless statements.”
Graham Culp, Branch Director, RBC Dominion Securities
“Peterborough Homes is proud to support this annual initiative to plant trees around the City of Peterborough. We must all work together to ensure Peterborough continues to grow in a responsible manner, both within our own communities as well as all around this vibrant City we call home.”
Brian Fenton, President & Owner of Peterborough Homes
“Excelsior Group is excited to once again be a proud supporter of the Trees 4 Peterborough initiative. To spend a day giving back to the planet that nourishes life on earth, is a day that is spent investing in our environment and communities. This initiative is just one of the ways we are delivering on our mission to Build Inspiring Spaces for Ontarians across the province.”
Satish Thakkar, President of the Excelsior Group
"The Rotary Club of Peterborough is pleased to be part of the third annual tree planting event. Our Club and Rotary International are committed to creating sustainable and environmentally responsible communities. Our commitments have included local projects such as the Rotary Greenway Trail, Camp Kawartha.”
Kevin Duguay, Rotary Club of Peterborough
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