MONTREAL,
May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - CN (TSX:
CNR) (NYSE: CNI) today announced a program to help municipalities
and First Nations communities across Canada green public properties with its
partners Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom.
As part of the CN EcoConnexions initiative, CN's
EcoConnexions From the Ground Up program will seek applications for
tree planting and other greening programs in communities across its
network, with a particular emphasis on properties adjacent to its
rail lines. Planting trees in these locations will not only help
beautify these areas, but will also provide natural noise and
visual barriers, and provide many other environmental and social
benefits.
"CN is proud to bring this innovative program to
promote tree-planting to communities along the CN corridor," said
John F. Orr, CN vice-president and
chief safety and sustainability officer. "Trees are an important
part of sustainable urban landscapes. They help purify air, provide
shade and habitat for songbirds, decrease soil erosion and help
manage storm water."
CN is especially pleased to partner with two
prominent, national organizations to implement this program. Tree
Canada has a 20-year reputation
for empowering communities to develop and maintain healthy urban
and rural forests. Communities in Bloom is renowned in communities
across Canada for its work
beautifying the urban landscape. These two organizations are
working with CN to develop a comprehensive program that will see
quality greening projects established across the country.
CN has led the way in connecting Canadians for
close to a century," says Tree Canada President Michael Rosen. "Through opportunities like From
the Ground Up, CN is helping municipalities and First Nations
communities improve our national landscape for future generations
to enjoy. Tree Canada is honoured
to be a part of this fantastic initiative."
"Communities in Bloom is proud to be involved in
the program" said Raymond Carrière, Founding President of
Communities in Bloom. "CN's From the Ground Up program will
be another demonstration of the social, environmental and
economical benefits of green spaces in making Canadian communities
better places to live in, to work in and to visit".
CN's EcoConnexions From the Ground Up program will
provide grants of up to $25,000 to
communities selected on the basis of a simple on-line application
which includes criteria such as the community's ability to match
CN's grant, community engagement and the long term sustainability
of the plantings. Complete details on the program and an
application form are available at www.cnfromthegroundup.ca.
About CN
CN - Canadian National Railway Company and its operating railway
subsidiaries - spans Canada and
mid-America, from the Atlantic and Pacific oceans to the
Gulf of Mexico, serving the ports
of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New
Orleans, and Mobile, Ala.,
and the key metropolitan areas of Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Duluth,
Minn./Superior, Wis.,
Green Bay, Wis., Minneapolis/St. Paul, Memphis, and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points
in North America. For more
information on CN, visit the company's website at www.cn.ca.
About Tree Canada
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit
charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant
and care for trees in urban and rural environments. Tree
Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and
individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of
schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the
benefits of planting and maintaining trees. To date, more than 77
million trees have been planted, 450 schoolyards have been greened,
and Tree Canada has helped organize nine national urban forest
conferences. More information about Tree Canada is available at
www.treecanada.ca.
About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization
committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility
and beautification through community involvement and the challenge
of a national program, with focus on the promotion and value of
green spaces. The pride, sense of community and feeling of
accomplishment generated through participation are visible in
communities across Canada. For
more information about Communities in Bloom, visit
www.communitiesinbloom.ca.
SOURCE CN