British Columbia communities host tree-related commemorative events

Various community events are being organized across British Columbia to mark National Tree Day and the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation.

In Abbotsford, residents are invited to Pepin Brook Park on September 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to plant trees. The initiative aims to support the city’s goal of increasing public land canopy coverage by 6 per cent by 2045, following a recorded loss of 7 per cent canopy coverage on non-ALR land between 1994 and 2017.

In Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, tree wrapping events will be held to honor residential school survivors and the children who never returned home. Participants will wrap trees in orange as a visible symbol of reconciliation. Organized by Alouette Addictions Services with guidance from local Indigenous partners, including the Katzie First Nation, the events will feature drumming, cultural teachings, and territorial welcomes.