News
14 Innovative Communities Part of Green Streets Canada 2005!
Ottawa, April 18, 2005 - The President of the Tree Canada Foundation , Jeff Monty today announced the awarding of 14 Green Streets Canada Communities for 2005. The 14 communities were chosen from 53 applications received from across Canada – chosen for their demonstration of innovative urban forest practices, amongst other criteria.
"The quality of the applications this year was superb", Mr. Monty said. "We are particularly proud of the collaboration between municipalities and of our first, First Nation winner, Cowichan Tribes First Nation in B.C. Communities increasingly understand the importance of urban forests as "green infrastructure" in the economic, social and environmental well-being of Canadians – our challenge is to continue to engage other levels of government and the private sector to support this 9 th Forest Region", he said.
Green Streets Canada is the country's largest municipal urban forest program relying on a minimum of 50/50 funding from municipalities, First Nations and their communities. Municipalities and First Nations put forward proposals based on: urban forestry innovation, community support and applicability to other jurisdictions. Total value of Green Streets Canada 2005 projects including Tree Canada, municipalities, volunteers and other sponsors' contributions in 2005 is $914,000. Over 280 Canadian communities have been greened under the program since 1994 with over $11 million in total funding committed to municipal trees and forests.
The Canadian Forest Service , (CFS) a sector within Natural Resources Canada , has been a major funding supporter of the Tree Canada Foundation and its many programs, including Green Streets Canada . A past winner of Tree Canada's Eterne Award, BC Hydro's support for Green Streets Canada this year compliments their goals of becoming a leading sustainable energy company by producing and delivering electricity in environmentally and socially responsible ways.
The Tree Canada Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. To date the Foundation has engaged more than 60 top Canadian companies and government agencies to support the planting of over 75 million trees, the regreening of over 300 schoolyards, six national urban forestry conferences and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees.
For further information contact:
Michael Rosen, Tree
Canada Foundation: (613) 567-5545.
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