Quebec communities receive over $58,000 to get their green on

MONTREAL — Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, four Quebec cities have been awarded nearly $60,000 to green up their urban spaces.

The initiative is part of a pan-Canadian TD Green Streets program, where 22 communities across the country have received a total of $300,000 in grants to support local forestry and greening projects.

In 2015, more than 125 applications were submitted, and projects ranged from community tree plantings to urban farming to adopt-a-tree programs.

TD Friends of the Environment Foundation and Tree Canada donated close to $58,000 to four Quebec cities: Epiphany, Montreal, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue and Saint-Lambert.

Saint-Leonard, Montreal
In spring of 2014, the eco-quarter in St. Leonard, a borough of Montreal, created a project called “From the roots to the tops,” where 125 local primary school students planted tree seeds. To build on the project, the borough plans to adopt 30 of the trees and plant them in two municipal parks along with more mature trees.

Saint-Lambert
The city of Saint-Lambert created a civic engagement program that includes encouraging local residents to plant a tree and then take care of it for two years.

Epiphany
The city of Epiphany will plant a total of 500 trees and shrubs in its green spaces in order to offset the future loss of ash trees threatened by Emerald Ash Borer. The hope is this will help maintain existing urban greenery and ensure shelter for local wildlife.

Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue
Taking a proactive action in the face the threat of Emerald Ash Borer, the city will plant a variety of tree species. The impact of the loss of ash trees is major and officials hope the project will help to lessen or even reverse longterm effects.

“Supporting urban forestry has never been more important and with the number of outstanding applications received this year, it’s clear that Canadian municipalities continue to share our passion and commitment for creating greener communities for all to enjoy,” said Mary Desjardins, the Executive Director of TD Friends of the Environment Foundation in a statement.

“Together with Tree Canada, we are proud to help bring these projects to life.”

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The full list of 2015 TD Green Streets recipients across Canada includes:

Bolton, ON
Brandon, MB
Calgary, AB
Charlottetown, PEI
Edmonton, AB
Épiphany/Comité Écologique du Grand Montréal, QC
Fredericton, NB
Guelph, ON
Nanaimo, BC
Oshawa, ON
Port Hope, ON
Saugeen First Nation Southampton, ON
Ste. Anne de Bellevue, QC
St. Lambert, QC
St. Leonard, QC
Strathroy, ON
Surrey, BC
Swift Current, SK
Truro, NS
Toronto/Danforth BIA, ON
Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe, Chilliwack, BC
West Vancouver, BC