City will use part of federal grant money to plant hundreds of trees

A new branch of the City of Winnipeg’s tree-planting efforts has been revealed.

Up to $180,000 of a previously announced $7 million, three-year federal grant for Winnipeg will be spent on community-led tree planting projects.

The money should lead to 400 or more trees to be planted, with funding prioritized for projects that plant in underserved communities or areas with higher poverty rates, said Kerienne La France, the city’s supervisor of forestry technical services.

“Treed spaces and natural areas provide a range of benefits to our community… they also affect our psychological and spiritual well-being, which is well-documented and well-researched. In high-needs areas in particular, volunteer events like tree planting can help build a greater sense of community and belonging,” said La France.

The cash will flow from Ottawa’s 2 Billion Trees program, providing up to $20,000 for each organization that receives a grant. The tree-planting projects will be completed this year.

The city’s 2023 budget will include further funding for trees with an effort to better maintain publicly owned stock by ramping up pruning cycles, Mayor Scott Gillingham said.

“People of Winnipeg can expect us as a city to be investing more… on top of the federal government’s announcement today,” said Gillingham.

There are frequent requests from community groups for permission to plant trees on city land, which this program will help become a reality, said Coun. John Orlikow, the chairman of council’s community services committee.

The federal government estimates the full $7 million earmarked for Winnipeg will lead to more than 71,000 new trees planted.

“These investments ensure that we will generate lasting climate-change mitigation and biodiversity benefits,” said Terry Duguid, the Liberal MP for Winnipeg South.

The city has set its own target to add one million new trees by the time Winnipeg’s population reaches one million people, which is expected around 2040. The city expects to plant about 14,000 trees toward that goal this year, La France said.

“Historically, that is a significant increase over what organizations had planted previously,” she said.

Traditionally, the city’s naturalist and forestry branches planted a combined total of about 3,500 trees per year prior to the challenge, La France said.

Those who receive grants for tree planting projects will receive one-on-one help from a City of Winnipeg arborist. Incorporated community groups and registered not-for-profits are eligible to apply for the grants until March 1 at winnipeg.ca/homegrowngrant.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics is involved. Joyanne became the city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.

   Read full biography