City of Waterloo receives $1.9 million grant for 10,000 trees

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and the Government of Canada awarded City of Waterloo over $1.9 million towards its “Increasing Tree Canopy in Waterloo’s Park and Open Spaces” project.

The FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) grant supports planting the right type of trees in the right places, so communities across Canada can grow, manage and protect their tree canopies. In Waterloo, it will mean 10,000 trees planted in 82 locations over the next few years.

“We already have 1,300 trees planted and are excited about the benefits this will bring to our city,” said Sarah Soerensen, planting coordinator and arborist for the City of Waterloo.  These trees will be placed in parks and open spaces owned by the City to help maintain the existing tree canopy at 32 per cent or more. The project will help diversify the tree canopy with over 50 species and will reduce the amount of mowed grass maintained by City staff.

“The City of Waterloo is pleased to partner with FCM. This funding accelerates our investments in our public open spaces and naturalization efforts that preserve and enhance the natural ecosystems in our city,” said Dorothy McCabe, City of Waterloo Mayor. “More trees will provide more shade, reduce heat island effects and add trees in neighbourhoods which need them most, supporting tree equity.”

A wider variety of trees throughout City of Waterloo helps ensure resilience to disease or infestations like the Emerald Ash Borer. The 50 species, whose growing conditions vary, will be planted based on soil conditions: Yellow Birch and Tamarack in wet areas, large shade trees like Burr oaks in well drained areas, and hardy species like Kentucky Coffee and Hackberry trees near parking lots.

The 10,000 trees will be planted in the next two years (2025-2026) with the third year dedicated to maintaining the planted trees. The City of Waterloo continues to work on a Forest Management Strategy to maintain its tree canopy into the future.

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Media contact:

Stacey Abbott
Communications Manager, City of Waterloo
Stacey.Abbott@waterloo.ca