Trees for Life Launches Multi-Province Urban Greening Campaign

Over 40 community planting events will plant over 5,000 trees and 16,000 native plant species this year!

With rising temperatures and extreme weather affecting communities across Canada, Trees for Life is launching one of the spring’s largest coordinated urban tree planting efforts to help expand the country’s urban canopy where people live, work and play.

This year’s Spring campaign kicked off during Earth Week (April 19-25), with Trees for Life is supporting more than 40 community planting events across seven provinces in partnership with Arbor Day Foundation, Green Communities Canada, Landscape Ontario, and LEAF, alongside local governments, businesses, foundations and community volunteers. Together, they will plant over 9,500 trees and 17,250 native plant species, with more to come.

Mark Cullen explains

“Each tree planted is a promise of a greener future – of cleaner air, cooler cities and healthier neighborhoods,” says Mark Cullen, expert celebrity gardener and Past Chair, Trees for Life Board of Directors. “Together we can create thriving green spaces in the communities where Canadians live, work, and play.”

Trees for Life and Arbor Day Foundation will invest more than $160,000 across five urban revitalization projects in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario this spring, enhancing flood resiliency, supporting ecological restoration and addressing the urban heat island effect. The collaboration builds on a successful 2025 pilot project with AWS, which added 2,400 new trees across three sites in Calgary and Montreal.

Five thousand trees and 16,000 native plants will take root this year through 24 community initiatives across six provinces, made possible by a joint $350,000 investment from Trees for Life and Green Communities Canada, tripling last year’s pilot program. Select plantings will take place this spring, with additional events slated for the fall.

Trees for Life is seeking volunteers to support various community plantings. Grab a shovel, dig in and help grow a greener future by volunteering at a local event. Advanced registration is required. Sign up at treesforlife.ca/events.

The Tree Effect: How Healthy Urban Tree Canopies Benefit Communities

Trees deliver powerful benefits, including:

Nature’s Natural “Air Conditioning”: Shade from the urban tree canopy helps combat extreme heat, cooling the air by up to several degrees. It can also reduce air-conditioning use.

Supporting Mental & Physical Health: Trees filter pollutants, improving air quality (especially important for those with asthma and other respiratory conditions). Plus, time spent in nature reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, improves mood and encourages physical activity.

Climate Action: Experts agree tree planting is one of the most scalable, affordable and effective nature-based solutions to tackle climate change.

Water management: Established trees help prevent shoreline erosion, filter pollutants to protect waterways and absorb stormwater to reduce flooding risks.
Biodiversity: Trees create habitats to support wildlife.

“Beyond the environmental benefits, trees are essential building blocks that help vibrant communities take root,” says Marina Dimitriadis, Executive Director, Trees for Life. “From the cool breeze during a summer evening stroll, to the gathering spaces for quiet contemplation, exercise, discovery and play, trees drive a deeper connection to nature, to our neighbours and to our communities.”

Trees for Life’s Spring Planting Schedule

Additional planting events and partnerships will be added throughout the season.

* Select events seeking volunteers | advance volunteer registration is required at treesforlife.ca/events *

DATE	LOCATION	DATE	LOCATION
APRIL
April 19	RICHMOND HILL, ON Meander Park In partnership with LEAF300 trees \| 100 shrubsRegister to volunteer	April 20	BALA, ON: Bala Sports Park In partnership with Landscape Ontario, North Chapter
April 22	RICHMOND, BC: Terra Nova Park n partnership with Arbor Day Foundation and City of Richmond500 trees	April 22	NOBLETON, ON: Bluff Trail In partnership with LEAF225 trees \| 75 shrubs
April 25	MISSISSAUGA, ON: Arsenal Lands In partnership with TRCA and supported by Polytainers and Canada Running Series 1,000 trees and shrubs Register to volunteer	April 25	OAKVILLE, ON: Valleyridge Park Co-Funded by Green Communities Canada, in partnership with Oakvillegreen Conservation Association 50 trees \| 150 shrubsRegister to volunteer HERE
April 25	WHITBY, ON: Fallingbrook ParkIn partnership with LEAF375 trees \| 125 shrubs Register to volunteer
MAY
May 2	AURORA, ON: Stewart Burnett Park In partnership with LEAF750 trees \| 250 shrubsRegister to volunteer	May 3	OSHAWA, ON: Conlin Meadows ParkIn partnership with LEAF 375 trees \| 125 shrubsRegister to volunteer
May 8	MISSISSAUGA, ON: Arsenal Lands In partnership with TRCA \| Supported by St. Joseph’s Communications 500 trees Registration open soon	May 9	VAUGHAN, ON: Concord Thornhill Regional Park In partnership with LEAF375 trees \| 125 shrubs Register to volunteer
May 10	NOBLETON, ON: Bluff Trail In partnership with LEAF 375 trees \| 125 shrubsRegister to volunteer	May 12	NOBLETON, ON: Bluff Trail In partnership with LEAF 150 trees \| 50 shrubs
May 23	LONDON, ON Co-Funded by Green Communities Canada, in partnership with London Environmental Network and Community Living London 20 trees \| 20 shrubs focusing on edible species	May 26	MARKHAM, ON: Robinson Creek In partnership with LEAF 375 trees \| 125 shrubs
May 30	TORONTO, ON: Biidaasige Park In partnership with Arbor Day Foundation and City of Toronto
JUNE
June 2	EDMONTON, AB In partnership with Arbor Day Foundation and Cummins	TBC	RED DEER, ABCo-Funded by Green Communities Canada, in partnership with Sustainable Red Deer Society100 plants, including 20 trees and 20 shrubs