Features Environment & Sustainability Forestry
Scouts to plant trees in park devastated by Fort McMurray wildfire

Aug. 23, 2017 – A year after the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alta., Scouts Canada youth, Scouters (adult volunteers) and their families will be planting 750 trees in the city’s J. Howard Pew Memorial Park on August 26 to help reforest the area.

“This project was inspired by a group of St. Albert Scouts who are excited about being able to help the community of Fort McMurray and provide these trees as a symbol of hope and regrowth for years to come,” said Erin Isobel Shea, Scouter with the 12th St. Albert Scouts and organizer of the tree planting initiative.

Scouting youth will plant seedlings native to the area — poplar, aspen, spruce and dogwood — and the Wild Rose, Alberta’s provincial flower. Three symbolic trees — a Manitoba Maple, representing Canada; a Lodgepole Pine, symbolizing Alberta; and a Paper Birch, symbolic of First Nations — will be planted to recognize the strength and unity of the community.

The trees will be supplied by Tree Canada’s Tree to Our Nature, Canada 150 legacy program.

“The amount of trees that were lost in Fort McMurray was devastating to the local ecosystem. Scouts Canada is committed to doing its part to help our environment and our neighbours as they recover from this tragedy,” said Caitlyn Piton, National Youth Commissioner and Chair of the National Youth Network, Scouts Canada.

The initiative is funded by Scouts Canada, Tree Canada and TD Friends of the Environment, which donated $50,000 to fund 20 Scouts Canada tree-planting initiatives in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick taking place throughout the year.

Since 1972, Scouts have planted approximately 80 million trees.