Celebrate!
Looking ahead, 10 years seems a long time. If you have a 5 year old, for instance, they will be 15. If you are 69, as I am, it is hard to imagine how life will be different in 2035 at 79 (God willing that I am here!).
But when we look back on 10 years? Time seems to have flown by.
It was 10 years ago that our, then, fledgling not for profit tree planting organization planted our first tree at the Coroner’s Office, Keele St. and hwy 401 in Toronto. We were “cutting the ribbon” (literally planting our first tree) with the Ontario Minister of Transportation Stephen Del Duca. After hearing how we planned to plant over 2 million trees on the Highway of Heroes, which stretches from CFB Trenton to the Coroners office in Toronto, he handed me his private cell phone number. “Call me any time” he said.
It was an extraordinary moment for our entire team.
The CEO of Forests Ontario (now Forests Canada), Rob Keen said, “In all my years in not-for-profit urban tree planting, this is a first. You should be proud.”
We were.
We planted over 2.5 million trees on and near the Highway of Heroes to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of our Canadian military during times of war. Our then Governor General and his wife, David and Sharon Johnston agreed to act as our honorary patrons. Corporal Nick Kerr agreed to act as our honorary military representative. 5 Silver Cross Mothers, who had lost sons and daughters in the Afghan conflict lined up to support us. Each told their stories, moving us to tears every time.
And, you could say, the rest is history.
Except that the story did not end with the planting of our last “hero” tree: it launched us into a new chapter of our story: Canadian Trees for Life. With a mission to maximize the Canadian urban tree canopy and to continue to celebrate our heroes: military, health care workers, first responders, educators… the list is as long as you want to make it.
Trees For Life Hero Forests are being planted across the country to provide a living legacy to the people who make Canada great. Who make our lives safe, keep us healthy and serve us in every manner of speaking.
Today Trees For Life represents a new, clean future. Air that is oxygen rich, water that is filtered as only trees can: cooler, slower urban environments that enhance the livability of our towns, villages and cities.
Since the conclusion of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign we have planted many more trees and engaged thousands more Canadians in the act of tree planting. Our current total is over 3.5 million.
We have partnered with dozens of municipalities, conservation authorities and health care facilities to prove that working together can be enormously effective. And we want to work with you and your municipality. If the idea interests you, please contact Kate Powell at kate@treesforlife.ca.
In the mean time, we have many activities on the go to celebrate our 10 years of active urban tree planting.
50/50 draw: We launched the Trees for Life 50/50 raffle on August 1st. This is your chance to win big and help grow a greener, healthier Canada! Tickets are 1 for $5, 5 for $20, 15 for $30, 50 for $50, or 150 for $100, and the raffle ends on November 15th. Get your tickets today at https://www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/ctfl!
Golf Tournament & Auction. Aug. 21st. There are limited spots available to register for golf, to sponsor and to celebrate with us! We limit the number of golfers to ensure that there is no waiting at the T box and to maximize the fun had by all. Info and register at https://www.treesforlife.ca/charity-golf-2025.
On August 14th, we’re opening our annual auction to the public leading up to the 2025 Trees for Life Charity Golf Tournament on Thursday, August 21st! You can bid on trips, airfare for two courtesy of the Air Canada Foundation, signed Toronto Maple Leafs items and other sports memorabilia, a guitar signed by Taylor Swift, and dozens of other incredible prizes. Bidding closes at 7pm on the evening of the golf tournament. Visit https://galabid.com/tfl2025 to see more and place your bids in support of Trees for Life.
Autumn tree planting. After record spring tree planting season, we are planning on breaking some more records. Please check out these planting dates and locations and check in often as new dates are confirmed.
Planting across Canada. We are very excited to announce that we are in active discussion with potential planting partners who will catapult our work across the country. PEI, Quebec, BC, Alberta and more are all real possibilities for enhanced tree planting in the fall and next spring. Stay tuned!
And finally, our plans to expand the Hero Forests concept, where we celebrate and acknowledge community heroes coast to coast, are moving quickly. Recently we announced new partnerships with the Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health, and Stratford, PEI.
To say that I am proud of our team would be a gross understatement. More than proud, I am in constant training for the next marathon as keeping up with our amazing staff and board is exercise in itself.
I am running to keep up. 😊
Please join us on social media and in person!
Yours as ever,
Mark Cullen
Volunteer Chair, Trees For Life
