Innisfil, ON – The Town of Innisfil has expanded tree canopy across nine community parks to support greener, more resilient public spaces. The project was made possible through a $73,100 grant funded by the Government of Canada through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative.
FCM’s GCCC initiative was announced in May 2024 and will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031 while offering funding, resources and coaching to communities.
Three hundred trees were planted as part of the Town’s efforts to enhance tree canopy in community parks, with planting focused on locations that have proportionally lower canopy. The project included Meadows of Stroud, Nantyr Park, Huron Court Park, Kidd’s Lane Park, Emberton Way Park, Knock Community Centre, Ireton Park, Lormel Gate Park, and Cookstown Community Park. Species were selected for climate resilience and biodiversity. The trees planted include native varieties of Maple, Oak, Elm, and Locust.
“Trees are an investment in the places where our community comes together,” says Mayor Lynn Dollin. “By adding 300 trees to parks across Innisfil, we’re helping our neighbourhoods become more beautiful and resilient for many years to come. We’re grateful for the support from the Government of Canada and FCM that helped make this planting possible.”
“FCM is proud to support the Town of Innisfil’s transformative tree-planting project,” says Tim Tierney, FCM President. “Through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative and with the support of the Government of Canada, we’re helping municipalities of every size get the right trees in the ground in the right places, creating cooler streets, cleaner air, and healthier neighbourhoods for decades to come.”
“Whether they are providing shade on a hot summer day, improving local green spaces, or bringing people together outdoors, trees make our communities better places to live,” says Secretary of State (Nature), the Honourable Nathalie Provost. “Together, we are helping communities expand their green spaces, providing lasting environmental and community benefits. The trees being planted will provide greater shade and comfort, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable community.”
The initiative supports the Town’s Urban Forest Strategy by increasing the urban tree canopy, enhancing biodiversity, and helping ensure equitable canopy distribution across the municipality. A healthy urban forest provides a range of environmental and community benefits, including shade, carbon sequestration, improved air quality, and more comfortable outdoor spaces that can also help communities adapt to a changing climate.
For more information about tree planting, maintenance, and preservation in Innisfil, visit innisfil.ca/trees.
About FCM’s Green Municipal Fund
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is a globally unique organization that leverages investments from the Government of Canada to provide funding and education to municipalities, helping them both reach net-zero and build resilient communities, while also delivering economic and social benefits such as jobs, housing and infrastructure. Since inception in 2000, it has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.02 million tonnes, funded nearly 60,000 person-years of employment and contributed $5.6 billion to the national GDP via the more than 2,850 approved projects. GMF manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada.
The Green Municipal Fund’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies is a $291M initiative, ending in 2031, funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the FCM. Capacity building is enabled through a partnership with Tree Canada.