Written by Dr. Sujane Kandasamy

Co-founder of PEACH Health Ontario, Health Research Methodologist & Public Health Researcher

Dr. Sujane Kandasamy is a co-founder of PEACH (Partnerships for Environmental Action by Clinicians and Communities for Healthcare Facilities), Health Ontario. The organization is part of Trees for Health, a coalition of passionate organizations partnering with health facilities, municipalities, and conservation authorities to plant trees to honour health workers across the province.

Complementing the morning planting at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park, the staff of longtime supporters Harrington and Associates added another 150 trees to this important piece of green space north of Toronto. Guided by the experts at the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, the eager group planted these trees in honour of local healthcare heroes.

In partnership with the TRCA, over 30 AGF employees gathered to plant 250 trees at Bruce’s Mill Conservation Park in Whitchurch-Stouffville, just north of Toronto. It’s an important green space providing educational programs, and recreational activities and offers an escape to thousands of people. The conservation area is over 250 acres in size and it is home to a diverse ecosystem, including wetlands and mixed forest.

Through the Trees for Heroes program, Trees for Life is proud to continue the tradition of building living tributes, started by the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign. Now trees are planted for all kinds of heroes, and in 2024 we’ll launch a special collaboration that continues to honour the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.

Mike Hurley, TFL’s Executive Director and sole runner for the Acorns this year, successfully completed the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon 5K on October 15th, just seconds shy of his best-ever time. Your generosity raised over $x,xxx in support of tree planting in the Toronto waterfront area near the race route including Tommy Thompson Park.

On the same day, just north of Toronto, over 100 volunteers including over 20 from our corporate supporter Less Mess, gathered at Beaver Woodland in Richmond Hill to lend LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests), a helping hand as they grow Richmond Hill’s urban forest.

A HUGE thank you to all of you for the planting on Saturday, October 21st. at Kortright Hills in Guelph.

With the combined TD Tree Days, TFL, and Trees for Guelph volunteers, 600 native trees and shrubs were added to the City of Guelph’s Kortright Hills tree canopy of the future.

For the 2nd consecutive year, Trees for Life and the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals (OACFP) created a lasting green legacy for the community where the annual OACFP conference was held. This year, that community was Huntsville, ON. Through a partnership between Trees for Life, the OACFP, the Town of Huntsville, and with funding provided by Meridian Credit Union, 100 new trees were planted at three local cemeteries.

In collaboration with the City of Edmonton’s Root for Trees program, TD Friends of the Environment and Covenant Health, Trees for Life hosted the largest-ever tree planting event honouring healthcare workers on October 5.

On September 30, 2023, Beechwood Cemetery Foundation alongside their partners, the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society and the Assembly of 7 Generations unveiled a new Sacred Forest. This monument features three large boulders, with a central plaque.

For the 2nd year in a row, Trees for Life is honoured to be chosen as an environmental charity partner of Canada Running Series and the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Last year over $25K was raised through the CRS races partnership. These funds went to support the efforts of TFL’s planting partner the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, including planting over 4200 trees and shrubs at 5 sites in close proximity to the race route along Toronto’s waterfront.

Thanks to our friends at the City of Guelph and corporate partner Royal Canin Canada, there are now 175 new native trees including Bur Oak, White Cedar and Sugar Maple in the Kortright Hills Natural Area in Guelph. This marks the second time in as many years that we are fortunate to be working together and greening an important part of the Hanlon Creek watershed.