More than $350,000 Will Support 26 Projects Across Canada in 2026: Targeting 5,000 Trees, 14 Mini Forests, and 16,000 Native Plant Species

Earth Day, April 22, 2026: Canadian Trees For Life and Green Communities Canada are expanding their national urban planting collaboration in 2026, nearly tripling their 2025 joint investment to plant more than 5,000 trees and 16,000 locally native plant species through 26 community-led projects across the country.

The funding now exceeds $350,000 for 2026 – nearly triple last year’s pilot program, which supported 10 projects from communities eager to launch their own urban greening initiatives.

In 2026, the program will enable a range of projects selected from more than 70 submissions, including 14 densely planted mini forests designed to grow quickly and maximize biodiversity in compact urban spaces. These initiatives will increase tree canopy, reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, absorb stormwater, and create habitat for pollinators and wildlife. In all, approximately 5,000 trees will be planted in 26 communities spread across 21 cities and six provinces. These co-funded projects are in addition to several projects Green Communities Canada is funding through the Living Cities Canada Fund. A full list of participating communities and planting projects is provided below. 

Participating community partners will receive direct funding, along with training and technical guidance to support long-term monitoring and maintenance. Many of the selected initiatives are led by groups working in neighbourhoods that experience higher levels of environmental and social inequity – areas often more vulnerable to extreme weather and with less access to green infrastructure.

“The demand we saw following last year’s collaboration made it clear that communities across Canada are eager to strengthen and grow urban forests in their own neighbourhoods,” said Marina Dimitriadis, Executive Director of Trees For Life. “By deepening our partnership with Green Communities Canada, we’re able to build on that momentum, amplify our impact, and help more local leaders turn climate goals into action.” 

“We are thrilled to be growing this partnership with Trees For Life,” said Brianna Salmon, Executive Director of Green Communities Canada. “Our big challenge is to rapidly scale green infrastructure across Canada in ways that prioritize environmental justice and create thriving, inclusive communities. By working together we’re able to empower even more communities to create a more resilient, sustainable, and healthy future.”

For more information visit treesforlife.ca and greencommunitiescanada.org/green-infrastructure.  

2026 Co-Funded Projects between Trees for Life & GCC*

• ACAP St. John: will plant a new 100 square metre mini forest using 300 trees and shrubs in St. John, NB.
• Black Environmental Initiative: will plant 300 trees and shrubs engaging black and equity-denied youth in Toronto, ON, in neighbourhoods with low canopy cover. These activities will occur between June to October, and they are working in partnership with LEAF and the City of Toronto.
• Calgary Climate Hub: will plant a new 200 square metre mini forest at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, AB, using 800 plants.
• City of Charlottetown: will plant a mini forest in Charlottetown, PEI, using 450 plants.
• City of Guelph: will plant a new 300 square metre mini forest in Guelph, ON using 900 plants.
• Conseil régional de l’environnement de l’Estrie (CREE): will depave and plant 20 trees, 10 shrubs, and an additional native species at l’École Étincelle in Granby, QC, in October 2026.
• EnviroCentre: will plant a new 200 square metre mini forest in Ottawa, ON, using 600 trees and shrubs.
• Forêt Capitale Forest: will plant a new 100 square metre Truth and Reconciliation mini forest with 300 plants in partnership with the National Capital Commission in Ottawa, ON.
• GreenUP: will plant a new 100 square metre mini forest using 300 plants at an elementary school in Peterborough, ON.
• Green Venture: will plant a new 200 square metre mini forest in Hamilton, ON, using 800 trees and shrubs.
• Hope Blooms: will engage the African Nova Scotians to plant 45 trees and shrubs and over 2000 additional food and pollinator plants in Halifax, NS.
• LEAF: will plant 350 trees and shrubs engaging equity-denied individuals in low-canopy neighbourhoods, in partnership with Toronto Community Housing in Toronto, ON.
• London Environmental Network: are planting an edible landscape with 10 trees, 20 shrubs, and 100 annual seedlings in partnership with Community Living London on May 9. They will be installing four raised garden beds, three arch trellises for growing plants, rain barrels, and planting perennial fruit and nut trees and shrubs at the site to increase wellness, food security, and canopy for the tenants at the site.
• Oakvillegreen: will be planting 150 trees and 150 shrubs on April 25 as an ecological restoration initiative in Valleyridge Park in Oakville, ON. They are excited to have so much interest from volunteers to plant, and their volunteer registration is now full!
• Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance: will plant a new mini forest in Dieppe, NB.
• REEP Green Solutions: will plant a new 100 square metre mini forest using 300 plants in Kitchener, ON.
• REVE Nourricier: will plant a new mini forest featuring over 800 plants in collaboration with the Conseil des Abénakis d’Odanak in Odanak, QC.
• Sustainable Red Deer Society: will install 100 new plants in Red Deer, AB.
• Sustainable Waterloo Region: will plant a new 500 square metre microforest in Kitchener, ON, in the yard at Sunnyside Public School.

Additional projects funded exclusively from the Living Cities Canada Fund (Green Communities Canada)*

• Ashcroft Indian Band will plant 35 shade trees and a new pollinator garden with 20 plants at their new cultural centre and walking path in Ashcroft, BC. They are replanting following the 2025 wildfire season and subsequent watering restrictions.
• Ecosource: will plant edible and pollinator species at the Three Towers Community Garden in Brampton, ON. This initiative is in partnership with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s SNAP (Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program) in Bramalea neighbourhood.
• Environment Lethbridge: will plant four pollinator gardens using 200 native pollinator and edible species at the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, AB.
• Green Thumbs Growing Kids: is partnering with the Toronto and District School Board to plant rooftop gardens, pollinator, and edible species at five sites using 3,500 plants in Toronto, ON.
• Halton Environment Network: will be planting edible and pollinator friendly species at the Oakville Food Forest in Oakville, ON. They work in partnership with the Town of Oakville, Oakvillegreen, Sustainable Milton, schools, and corporate volunteers to maintain and enhance the site.
• Oakvillegreen: will be planting 250 trees at Valleyridge Park in June, in Oakville, ON, for a private event.
• Reena supports individuals with developmental disabilities, and will be installing new pollinator and edible species at 12 sites in Toronto and Vaughan, ON. The plants will enhance food security, canopy cover, and biodiversity for the tenants living at these sites. They partner with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the City of Vaughan.

*Details of planting projects are subject to change, and some projects may be added or removed as plans are finalized.

Thank you to our funders

About Green Communities Canada 

Green Communities Canada (GCC) has been leading community-based climate action since 1995. With over 100 member and partner organizations located across Canada, GCC shares resources, co-creates programming, and advances transformative and equitable change. As a national non-profit charity, GCC’s goal is to support and sustain community-based action. GCC does this by acting as a network, funder, backbone, and accelerator. GCC has a solid track record of leading community-engaged green infrastructure programming through their Depave Paradise Initiative, National Mini Forest Program, and Living Cities Canada Fund. 

About Trees For Life 

Trees For Life is a Canadian charity driven to inspire, support and mobilize community-led tree and shrub-planting initiatives. Its mission is to create a healthier, happier Canada by planting native trees where people live, work, and play. Including the work of its first projects, the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign and GrandTrees Climate Solutions, Trees For Life has raised over $18 million to support the planting and stewardship of over 3.3 million trees across Canada. 

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Green Communities Canada

Leif Einarson, Communications Manager | 705.745.7479 x 1017 |  leinarson@greencommunitiescanada.org

Trees For Life

Andrea McLoughlin, Rise PR | 416.407.4321 | amcloughlin@risepr.ca

Adrienne Kakoullis, Rise PR | 416.450.6637 | akakoullis@risepr.ca