Ottawa, Ontario – The last Wednesday in September – the middle of National Forest Week – is the perfect time to plant trees through Canada. This year, Maple Leaf Day will be celebrated on September 23.

Maple Leaf Day is the one day when Canadians are asked to reflect on the link between their lives and the maple leaf — a symbol of Canadians’ historical, economic and environmental link to trees. There are many different ways to celebrate the occasion. Tree dedications, plantings, educational workshops, outdoor educational walks, interpretation days, schoolyard plantings and symposiums.

To mark Maple Leaf Day, Tilly O’Neill Gordon, the Member of Parliament for Miramichi will plant a tree at Gretna Green Elementary School (located at 15 Gretna Green Drive, Miramichi) on Wednesday, September 23, at 11:00 a.m.  Joining her will be the students and teachers from the school.   ”I’m proud to be able to share this joint initiative with the community and I want to thank Jean-Guy Comeau and the Woodlot Owners Association,” said Ms. Gordon. “Trees play an important role in our lives, and we want to celebrate the environmental and economic benefits they bring to all Canadians.”

It is important to have an official day set aside to celebrate trees in Canada, and the event coincides with National Forest Week (the last week of September). Maple is one of the 306 species of tree that grow in Canada. The maple is and always will be a symbol of this country and is depicted on our flag. We face many challenges, global warming among them, and trees are sure to play an increasing role in meeting those challenges.

“We sometimes lose sight of how important trees are in our lives in terms of air and soil quality, our beautiful scenery and our psychological well-being. That is why we need to celebrate Maple Leaf Day, a day to shine the spotlight on our trees,” Ms. Gordon concluded.