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Port Coquitlam to plant 150 trees in four parks with federal support
Port Coquitlam is planting 150 larger, established trees in four parks this fall, with $77,910 from the federal government through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Students will join a demonstration planting, and selected groups will later plant seedlings in a natural area.
The City of Port Coquitlam is planting 150 large, caliper-sized trees in four city parks this fall, with support from the Government of Canada through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative. Planting began Oct. 5 and will continue over the coming weeks at Castle Park, Gates Park, Lions Park and Blakeburn Park. Residents may see crews moving between sites. Caliper trees are larger, more established nursery trees measured by trunk diameter, allowing them to provide shade and other benefits sooner than smaller saplings.
Mayor Brad West said trees make parks more comfortable, beautiful and resilient for everyone who uses them. He thanked the Government of Canada and FCM for their support, saying the City is adding 150 mature trees to four well-loved parks and inviting students and residents to help grow the urban forest for the next generation.
As part of the project, City staff will hold a demonstration planting with students from Port Coquitlam schools. Students will learn about trees and biodiversity, watch how large trees are planted, and help plant smaller trees nearby. Each student will be offered a tree plug to take home and plant as a thank-you.
Later this fall, the City will also invite selected user groups to plant tree and shrub seedlings in one of its natural areas to enhance biodiversity and promote canopy regeneration.
The Government of Canada is contributing $77,910 through FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, delivered by FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF). New trees can cool neighbourhoods, manage stormwater, improve air quality and provide habitat for birds and pollinators.
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund is described as a globally unique organization that uses Government of Canada investments to provide funding and education to municipalities. It helps them work toward net-zero emissions and build resilient communities, while also supporting economic and social benefits such as jobs, housing and infrastructure. Since its inception in 2000, GMF says it has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.02 million tonnes, funded nearly 60,000 person-years of employment and contributed $5.6 billion to national GDP through more than 2,850 approved projects. It manages approximately $2.4 billion in Government of Canada-funded programs.
Growing Canada’s Community Canopies is a $291-million initiative funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by FCM. It is scheduled to end in 2031. Capacity building is supported through a partnership with Tree Canada.