Communities to receive commemorative plaque,
ceremonial tree in honour of Canada's 150th
OTTAWA, Sept. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI)
today announced that 50 communities across Canada will be awarded grants of $25,000 to fund local tree planting projects in
honour of the nation's 150th anniversary.
The 2017 grant awards, the sixth year of the CN EcoConnexions -
From the Ground Up program launched in partnership with
Tree Canada and
Communities in Bloom, double from 25 to 50 the number of
communities that have been awarded grants in previous
years.
Selected communities will each receive a $25,000 grant from CN, and a commemorative plaque
and ceremonial tree to be planted in celebration of Canada's 150th
anniversary.
CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program promotes
community sustainability through the greening of municipal and
community properties across Canada. CN and its partners, Tree
Canada and Communities in Bloom, assist Canadian municipalities and
community groups in establishing tree planting and green space
enhancement initiatives in a sustainable, environmentally
responsible manner.
Since CN launched From the Ground Up in 2012, more than
60,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, helping to enhance the
environmental and social health of 150 communities across
Canada. Through its various tree
planting initiatives, including From the Ground Up, CN has
planted 1.2 million trees across North
America since 2011.
"CN remains committed to making a positive impact on the cities
and towns along our network, and we are proud to be part of a
program that helps to make them better places to live, work and
play," said Sean Finn, CN Executive Vice-President, Corporate
Services, and Chief Legal Officer. "We're not only helping beautify
these communities, we're positively contributing to a sustainable
future one community at a time, as planting trees improves air
quality and offsets carbon emissions."
"Tree Canada is excited to
continue our partnership with CN and Communities in Bloom to bring
CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up to deserving communities
across Canada," said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "With
this program, CN is creating a lasting legacy of sustainability for
present and future generations, providing funding and much-needed
awareness to the value of trees and green spaces to our health and
wellbeing as well as the environment."
"Communities in Bloom is proud to partner with CN and Tree
Canada in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation
through the 2017 edition of the CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground
Up program," said Raymond Carrière, Founding President of
Communities in Bloom. "We are looking forward to witnessing
projects throughout Canada made
possible by community engagement, environmental awareness, civic
pride and dedication to the natural environment. CN's
contribution enables these communities to enhance their green
spaces and their urban forests for generations to come."
About CN
CN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI) is a true backbone
of the economy, transporting approximately 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
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, visit 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. Since 1992, more than 80 million trees have
been planted, over 580 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 2017 Symposium and Awards will be
held in Ottawa-Gatineau, National Capital Region from
September 13 – 16, 2017. For
more information about the Communities in Bloom program, visit
www.communitiesinbloom.ca.
SOURCE CN