Planting the roots to a green neighbourhood
Image
Vaughan receives grant supporting the Islington Avenue Streetscape project
Vaughan is committed to environmental sustainability and creating beautiful neighbourhoods for the community and future generations to enjoy. To support this mandate, the City received a grant of $25,000 in 2018 from Tree Canada’s CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground Up program to help complete the Islington Avenue Streetscape project.
The program, in conjunction with Tree Canada, invests in community greening initiatives across the country. This contribution will partially fund the 307 trees that will be planted along the boulevard on Islington Avenue to provide shade, beautify the area and improve the Kleinburg-Nashville Heritage Conservation District.
To commemorate the funding, a plaque unveiling and ceremonial tree planting was held today at the northwest corner of Islington Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive. Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Members of Council were joined by Daniel Salvatore, CN Public Affairs Manager and Ed Borczon, Community Advisor for Tree Canada.
Once complete, the streetscape will lead into the Kleinburg Village, provide an enjoyable space for residents and visitors, and create an identifiable landscape that reflects the heritage of the neighbourhood. Features have been chosen to reinforce Kleinburg’s distinct character. These include rural aspects such as rail fencing, pioneer style stone wall, detailed paving pattern, seating nodes and walking paths. The streetscape will also incorporate accessibility features and focus on pedestrian safety.
Projects like the Islington Avenue Streetscape further strengthen the City’s commitment to environmental sustainability, as outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. Additional initiatives, including Vaughan’s tree canopy replacement plan, also contribute to this Council priority and have seen more than 21,000 trees planted throughout the city.
QUOTES
“As part of the City of Vaughan's commitment to environmental sustainability, we are delivering on initiatives that protect the environment and foster a sustainable future. We are grateful to generous organizations such as Tree Canada and CN, who offer support and recognize the value in creating green communities. With the grant from the CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground Up program, the City will be able to plant more than 300 trees as part of the Islington Avenue Streetscape. This area is the entrance into the Kleinburg-Nashville Heritage Conservation District and the gateway for both the historical village of Kleinburg and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. The improvements will contribute to a more functional, beautiful and safe area for the community to enjoy. Each time we plant a tree, we sow the seeds for a more sustainable future.”
- Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
"Tree Canada is thrilled to be working with CN to enhance the tree canopies of so many deserving communities across Canada. These trees we plant and nurture are a living legacy that will enrich our country, our communities and our homes for decades to come. These communities greened through CN EcoConnexions will be a lasting testament to CN’s exemplary environmental leadership."
- Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada
“CN remains committed to making a positive impact on the communities along our network and are proud to be part of a program that helps to make these communities better places to live, work and play. We’re not only helping beautify these communities, we’re positively contributing to a sustainable future one community at a time, as planting trees improves air quality and offsets carbon emissions.”
- Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer for CN
QUICK FACTS
- The Islington Avenue Streetscape project is a multi-phased project. First phase included the Islington Avenue Streetscape segment between Major Mackenzie Drive to Pennon Road to the north. The east side of Islington Avenue will be worked on next.
- The CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program, sponsored by CN Rail in partnership with Tree Canada, provided funding in 2018 of up to $25,000 for the greening of municipal and First Nations properties across the country.
- Tree Canada is a non-profit charity dedicated to improving quality of life by planting, nurturing and restoring trees. Since 1992, the organization has planted more than 80 million trees and greened more than 600 schoolyards in cities throughout Canada.
- 30 -