Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) has received $525,710 through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Green Municipal Fund to support a three-year community-based tree planting initiative across the Credit River Watershed. CVC is working with municipal partners and thousands of community volunteers to plant 13,440 native trees and shrubs in parks, greenspaces, riverbanks and natural areas across six municipalities, helping expand urban tree canopy, strengthen climate resilience and connect more residents with nature.
Funding for this project is provided by the Government of Canada and delivered through FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative. Announced in May 2024, GCCC will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031 while offering funding, resources and coaching to communities.
“Expanding tree canopy is one of the important ways we can strengthen the health and resilience of our watershed,” said Jesse De Jager, Director of Parks, Lands and Community Engagement at CVC. “Through this investment, we are working with our municipal partners and community members to plant native trees and shrubs where they can make a lasting difference – improving habitat, supporting healthier waterways, providing shade and helping communities adapt to a changing climate. Just as importantly, this initiative creates opportunities for residents to take an active role in caring for the natural spaces that make our communities healthier and more resilient.”
“FCM is proud to support Credit Valley Conservation’s transformative tree-planting project,” said Tim Tierney, FCM President. “Through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative and with the support of the Government of Canada, we’re helping municipalities of every size get the right trees in the ground in the right places, creating cooler streets, cleaner air, and healthier neighbourhoods for decades to come.”
“Whether they are providing shade on a hot summer day, improving local green spaces, or bringing people together outdoors, trees make our communities better places to live,” said Secretary of State (Nature), the Honourable Nathalie Provost. “Together, we are helping communities expand their greenspaces, providing lasting environmental and community benefits. The trees being planted will provide greater shade and comfort, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable community.”
With the help of local students, families and businesses, the project will help increase tree canopy cover in priority areas identified through municipal urban forestry strategies and CVC’s Watershed Plan. Sites have been selected based on their ecological importance, existing canopy levels and potential to strengthen the natural heritage system, with the goal to create healthy urban forests and climate-resilient neighbourhoods.
The funding is enabling CVC and its partners to expand the size and number of community planting events, providing more residents with hands-on opportunities to learn about and contribute to local environmental efforts.
To learn more about upcoming events and plant trees in your area, visit cvc.ca/events.
About FCM’s Green Municipal Fund
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is a globally unique organization that leverages investments from the Government of Canada to provide funding and education to municipalities, helping them both reach net-zero and build resilient communities, while also delivering economic and social benefits such as jobs, housing and infrastructure. Since inception in 2000, 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 the national GDP via the more than 2,850 approved projects. GMF manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada.
The Green Municipal Fund’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies is a $291M initiative, ending in 2031, funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the FCM. Capacity building is enabled through a partnership with Tree Canada.
About Credit Valley Conservation
Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) is a local conservation authority established by the Ontario government in 1954 to protect, restore and enhance the natural environment of the Credit River watershed. That watershed is the area of land where all rainfall, snowmelt and runoff drains (“sheds”) into lands and waters flowing into the Credit River. CVC creates connections between people and nature, knowledge and action. It inspires a deep appreciation for the role of nature in keeping people connected, healthy and happy. CVC is a member of Conservation Ontario.
Media Contacts
Jamie Williams
Specialist, Marketing & Communications
Credit Valley Conservation
M: 905-431-5772
Email