Nearly 400 trees were planted across the city with help from federal government, and city funding.
A total of 386 trees were planted across parks, boulevards and other public spaces within the city.
The project was supported by both city capital funding, and a $222,000 grant funded by the Government of Canada through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative.
$185,000 of the grant funding was put towards tree planting, and $37,000 was for the purchase of a water truck to help care for trees across the city.
“FCM is proud to support the City of Grande Prairie’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 green spaces, 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.”
The city says that the project helps advance its Urban Forest Strategy. The city says that the strategy identifies tree planting, species diversity, proactive maintenance and coordinated tree establishment as important to maintaining a healthy and resilient urban forest.
Mayor Jackie Clayton says that growing the urban forest is an investment in the places that people experience everyday.
“Adding trees across our parks, neighbourhoods and public spaces supports neighbourhood livability while helping us care for community assets with the long term in mind. This funding allows us to not only plant more trees, but also invest in the care they need to establish and thrive.”
FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative was announced in May 2024 and will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031.
