MONTREAL, April 22, 2016 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI)
today announced the successful candidates for its 2016 From the
Ground Up community tree-planting program. Thirty one
communities in Canada were
selected amongst the 92 applications to receive grants of up to
$25,000 each in this fifth year of
the program.
The objective of the CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground
Up program is to promote community sustainability, through the
greening of municipal and community properties across Canada. CN and its partners Tree Canada and
Communities in Bloom help Canadian municipalities and community
groups establish tree planting and green space enhancement
initiatives in a sustainable, environmentally responsible manner.
The program aims to enhance environmental and social health of
communities.
"CN is committed to making a positive impact on the communities
along our network, and we are proud to be part of a program that
helps to make these communities better places to live, work and
play," said Claude Mongeau,
president and chief executive officer of CN. "Since we started this
program, more than 50,000 trees and shrubs have been planted in 120
communities across Canada, which
not only add beauty, but is another way we positively contribute to
a sustainable future one community at a time, as planting trees
improve air quality and offset carbon emissions."
Successful candidates were chosen on the basis of rigorous
selection criteria developed and overseen by CN's program partners,
Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom. The program partners rated
each application on those criteria and presented a ranked list of
programs from which final candidates were
selected. Communities in Bloom and Tree Canada will provide
guidance in the development of the chosen projects.
"Tree Canada is thrilled to
continue to work with CN and Communities in Bloom bringing CN
EcoConnexions – From the Ground Up to deserving communities
across Canada," says Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "This
program not only provides funding, but much needed awareness to the
value of trees and green spaces to our health and wellbeing as well
as the environment. I have personally witnessed the impact this
program has had and can honestly say that CN has created a lasting
legacy of sustainability for present and future generations."
"Communities in Bloom is proud to partner with CN and Tree
Canada in delivering the CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground
Up program. The enhancement of green spaces and tree planting
provide economic, social and environmental stewardship benefits to
the communities for generations to come" said Raymond Carriere, Founding President of
Communities in Bloom. "The projects are a demonstration of civic
pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment through
community engagement."
Civic support for the tree-planting program has been strong
since CN initiated it in 2012, with over 700 communities applying
for funds. This year's recipients bring the total to 170
communities across Canada and
the United States that have
benefited from funding through the CN EcoConnexions – From the
Ground Up program. Details on the program are available at
www.cnfromthegroundup.ca.
CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground Up 2016 successful
applicants
Canada:
District of Hope, BC -
6th Avenue Rail Crossing Beautification
District of Lillooet, BC -
Lillooet Gateway Revitalization
Squamish-Lillooet Regional District, BC - Gates Lake Community Park
Enhancement Project
City of Vancouver, BC -
Restoration of Native Forests
City of Edmonton, AB - Nature to
91st street
Town of Fahler, AB - Trees for Life
County of Vermilion River, AB - Community Trees
Kneehill County, AB - Three Hills Creek Recreational Area
Town of Kinistino, SK - Walkway
through Town
Wakamow Valley Authority, SK - Community Food Farm / Orchard
Grandview & District Recreation Commission, MB - Wilson Park
Renewal
Rivers Train Station Restoration Committee, MB – Loco Labyrinth
& RV Park
Town of Ste.-Anne, MB - Tree
Planting
Town of Atikokan, ON -- Root for
Trees
Town of Fort Erie, ON - Emerald
Ash Borer Replanting Project
City of Hamilton, ON - Woodlands
Literacy Trail
Township of King, ON - Greening
Metrus Community Park Development
City of Sarnia, ON - Gateway
Project - Howard Watson Nature Trail
City of Sault Ste-Marie, ON -
Etienne Brule Orchard Project
Ville de Contrecoeur, QC -
Reboisement du développement des Faubourg
Ville de Longueuil, QC -
Revitalisation du Parc Christ-Roi
Ville de Mont-Joli, QC - Vert une
Jolie Ville
Ville de Pointe-Claire, QC -
Protection et restauration du Parc Naturel Terra-Cota
Ville de Rimouski, QC -
Parc Gilles-Vigneault et
Dominique-Savio
Ville de Saint-Félicien – Landscaping of the « Gare du
Meuble »
Municipalité de Sainte-Marie-Salomé, QC - Sentier le
Rassembleur
Ville de Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC -
Corridor de verdure Floralies
Village of Belledune, NB -
Veterans Memorial Park
Ville d'Edmundston, NB - Création
d'un parc d'entrainement en plein air
Town of Sackville, NB - Sackville
Urban Forest Revitalization Project
Village of Salisbury, NB -
Highland Park Revitalization
Click here to view a description of each project.
Click here to access a map of the projects.
About CN
CN transports more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide
range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to
manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of
approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National
Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries –
serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince
Rupert, B.C., Montreal,
Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of
Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth,
Minn./Superior, Wis., and
Jackson, Miss., with connections
to all points in North America.
For more information about 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, nearly 80 million trees have been
planted, over 550 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada
has helped organize eleven national urban forest conferences. The
next Canadian Urban Forest Conference will take place in
Laval, QC in 2016. 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 enhancement of green spaces. The pride, sense of
community and feeling of accomplishment generated through
participation are visible in communities across Canada. The 2016 Symposium and Awards will be
held in Regina, SK from
October 27 to 29. For more
information about the Communities in Bloom program, visit
www.communitiesinbloom.ca.
SOURCE CN