Toronto to plant 50 trees in celebration of 50th anniversary of Earth Day

TORONTO, ON., Oct. 21, 2020 — Today, the City of Toronto has pledged to plant 50 trees to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day as part of the Earth Day Canada 2020 Tree Relay.

Toronto joins more than a dozen other Canadian cities in making this commitment. As part of the relay, each city announces their commitment on the 22nd day of a month and then ‘passes the baton’ to another city the following month. Toronto will invite Nanaimo, BC to make the pledge in November.

Launched by Earth Day Canada on April 22 after the COVID-19 pandemic restricted in-person gatherings, the Earth Day Tree Relay will continue until Earth Day, 2021. More than 750 trees are expected to be planted across Canada through the relay.

“Trees are an important component of a vibrant and resilient city, and I commend Earth Day Canada for its innovative approach to celebrating this important milestone,” said Mayor John Tory. “Toronto is proud to join Earth Day Canada to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day in this way.”

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Toronto’s ceremonial tree planting event planned on April 22 was cancelled. Fifty trees will instead be distributed to Toronto residents to plant through events hosted by the City’s Live Green Toronto team in 2021. Details will be announced next spring.

More information about the 2020 Tree Relay is available at earthday.ca .

SOURCE City of Toronto

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