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Scouts Canada help reforest the community

Last Updated Aug 22, 2017 at 10:24 am MDT

PHOTO. Burned trees are shown in Saprae Creek near Fort McMurray, Alta, on Friday June 3, 2016. Loggers trying to harvest trees killed by the Fort McMurray wildfire last spring say they are finding only a third of the salvageable wood they expected to find. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

A year after the devastating wildfires, Scouts Canada youth, Scouters (adult volunteers) and their families will help reforest the area.

On Aug. 26, they’ll be planting 750 trees in J. Howard Pew Memorial Park.

“This project was inspired by a group of St. Albert Scouts who are excited about being able to help the community of Fort McMurray and provide these trees as a symbol of hope and regrowth for years to come,” said Isobel Shea, Scouter with the 12th St. Albert Scouts and organizer of the tree planting initiative.

Scouting youth with the help of Canada 150 legacy program are making an impact in restoring our area. They’ll be planting seedlings native to the area, as well as symbolic trees – a Hot Wings Maple, representing Canada; a Lodgepole Pine, symbolizing Alberta; and paper birch, symbolic of the First Nations, to recognize the strength and unity of the community.

Four Scouters who lost their service awards in the wildfire will be presented with replacements and honoured for their hard work and dedication at a special ceremony, while Fort McKay drummer, Nicolas Giant will perform a blessing song.

“Environmental stewardship, citizenship and community service are longstanding core values of Scouts Canada,” said Caitlyn Piton, National Youth Commissioner and Chair of the National Youth Network, Scouts Canada. “The amount of trees that were lost in Fort McMurray was devastating to the local ecosystem. Scouts Canada is committed to doing its part to help our environment and our neighbours as they recover from this tragedy.” 

In an effort to reduce Canada’s negative environmental impact, Scouting youth aged 5-26 and volunteers, plant approximately 200,000 trees across the country each year. Since 1972, Scouts have planted approximately 80 million trees. There are many long established forest sites planted by Scouts dating as far back as 1916.

The initiative is funded by Scouts Canada, Tree Canada and TD Friends of the Environment, which donated $50,000 to fund 20 Scouts Canada tree-planting initiatives in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick taking place throughout 2017. Driving Force provided transportation for Scouts.