For Canada’s 150th anniversary, the goal is to celebrate Canada through ways that have meaning to us as Canadians. One of the five strategic goals of the OPRS is to “connect people to nature through our parks”. By planting trees we unify a community, providing an opportunity for community involvement and empowerment that improves the quality of life in our neighborhood, both socially and environmentally. The Oliver Parks and Recreation Society was successful in securing a grant in the amount of $4659.52 from Tree Canada to plant over 80 trees this year, primarily in the north end of Lion’s Park by the oxbow.

On the morning of Wednesday, September 27 in conjunction with National Tree Day the Oliver Has Roots ceremonial tree planting event will take place in Lion’s Park. The official ceremony begins at 9:00am. A special presentation by a Tree Canada representative of a commemorative plaque donated by CN Rail will start off the event followed by the planting of a stand of each of the 3 species. The Douglas Maple (Acer glabrum subsp. Douglasii), a truly Canadian tree, will be planted by local veterans from the Royal Canadian Legion. The Western Red Cedar (Thula plicata), representing BC, will be planted by Yvonne (Venables) Moore and Don Bousfield as representative of our homesteading families. The White Birch (Betula papyrifera), a classic tree that symbolizes our First Nations community, will be planted by students of Senpaqcin elementary school. After the planting ceremony, volunteers will assist parks staff in the planting of 75 additional trees of the same varieties in Lion’s Park between 10:30-3:00pm.

Volunteers of all ages and abilities are still wanted for the tree planting portion of the event and everyone is more than welcome to attend the ceremony. For more information or to become a volunteer please contact Carol Sheridan at carol@oliverrecreation.ca or 250-498-4985.

Source: Carol Sheridan, Oliver Parks and Recreation