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‘Lets Make Orangeville shine’ theme for Earth Day tree planting

April 20, 2017   ·   0 Comments

By Jasen Obermeyer

With Earth Week in full swing throughout Orangeville, the annual “Let’s Make Orangeville Shine” Earth Day tree plantings and community clean-up are designed to raise awareness of the environment, and take care of our community.

The tree plantings and clean-up will take place this Saturday, April 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Tree planters are to meet and register at Broadway Pentecostal Church, while clean-up volunteers meet and register at Rotary Park, 75 Second Avenue.

Those participating in the clean up will be given a map of where to clean up, along with safety vests, gloves, and bags. Everyone in both events will meet up at noon for a free BBQ and light refreshments.

Make Orangeville Shine was started 25 years ago by members of the Rotary Club of Orangeville to help clean up Rotary Park and the eastern entrance to Orangeville, as a gesture for Earth Day. Rotary Club has now partnered with Tim Hortons, Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and the Orangeville Sustainability Action Team (OSAT).

Tree-planting experience is not required, as demonstrations and planting equipment will be provided at the church. Lindsey Jennings, with the CVC, said they are going to plant 500 shrubs and trees in a natural area around Gooseberry Drive.

Ms. Jennings confirmed there are a mixture of maple, pine, cedar, and spruce trees, and they are hoping for 200 volunteers.

She said roughly 5,000 trees have been planted since the event began 10 years ago. “There’s a longstanding history. It’s really important for public awareness and community engagement.” Although the tree-planting and clean-up have come together for the past seven years for Make Orangeville Shine, the former has been going on for 10 years, the latter for 25 years.

But what else can one do to help on Earth Day?

“Reduce water consumption, turn off lights, use energy at off peak times,” suggested Ms. Jennings.

When asked the significance of these two events, she said Orangeville has lots of green space, but they could be improved by the tree planting and clean-up. “Orangeville’s got some pretty green councillors, and really supportive participants, so they’ve been great to work with.”

Earth Day will also be marked in Mono by the Caledon Hills Bruce Trail Club with their own tree planting, installation of bluebird boxes, an environmental clean-up and a Walk in the Woods. The event will commence at 10 a.m. on 5 Sideroad, just east of Airport Road.

For more information, visit the club’s website at www.caledonbrucetrail.ca

Funding for the Orangeville tree plantings came in the form of a grant by the Canada 150 Legacy Program.

Tree Canada, through the Canada 150 program, provided $4,960 to plant 20 maple trees at Alder Parklands (275 Alder Street) at 9 a.m. Volunteers needed to assist with that tree planting will meet at Alder Parklands at 9 a.m., in front of the soccer fields. Parks staff will be there to assist volunteers. Gloves and shovels will be provided but volunteers can bring their own if they wish.

The Orangeville Sustainability Action Team is the recipient of the Tree Canada grant and has collaborated with the Dufferin County Cultural Resource Circle for a second tree planting event. A native tree planting ceremony of an Eastern White Pine and White birch at Island Court Parkette (150 Amelia Street) is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday. The tree planting ceremony will include stories of the Indigenous people from our area, the symbolism of the trees, and the ways of the First Nations people. The community is invited to attend the native tree planting ceremony. A commemorative plaque, acknowledging the Tree Canada grant, has been donated by Canadian National Railway Company (CN) and will be installed at Island Court Parkette.

Trees are a symbol of growth, strength, sustainability, hope, and peace. Tree Canada is supporting 150 community greening initiatives across the country this year.

“Planting trees in our communities isn’t just an excellent way of celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary,” said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. “It’s also a great way of making a positive, meaningful contribution to the future beauty and health of our communities that will endure for generations to come.”

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