PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS 2014 BRITISH COLUMBIA Applicant: Squamish River Watershed Society (District of Squamish) Amount of funding provided by CN: $12,568.50 Project Name: Quest University Community Bee Garden This project will transform the campus of Quest University Canada into a vibrant green space. Native plants to support wild bees, purify the air, manage water runoff and naturalize the area. The establishment of a fruit tree orchard will produce healthy food for students and the community as well as enable knowledge sharing and community workshops. A community garden planted and maintained by students will provide healthy food for students and create a space for learning about gardening and food security. Applicant: City of Fort St. John Amount of funding provided by CN: $5,000 Project Name: FSJ Rotary Skatepark The FSJ Rotary Skatepark was opened in 2013. The funds from this project will allow the landscape to be finished with native and ornamental trees. The park was created through volunteer work and funds raised from the private and public sectors in Fort St. John. The site will greatly benefit from wind breaks and shade along with the aesthetic enhancement in the form of the tree canopy. The mature trees and a more pleasing park setting will enhance the skatepark and create a pleasant setting for the community.
Applicant: District of Fort St. James Amount of funding provided by CN: $23,034 Project Name: Cottonwood Park Enhancement Project The project will provide additional landscape, trees and beautification; improve pedestrian and cyclist safety on a highly-used industry highway; connect a linkage with our downtown and a well-used walking trail loop; engage youth, seniors and community in its development and inauguration. This traffic calming initiative will improve pedestrian safety and beautify an otherwise non-descript area of the park. The trail will also join other existing trails and our downtown. The project will be community-driven, horticulturalist guided planting of landscaping elements (trees, shrubs and flowers) along this pathway which will encourage local environmental ethic, provide educational learning, and foster civic pride. Applicant: Village of Lytton Amount of funding provided by CN: $6,346.50 Project Name: O'Dwyer Park Restoration The proposed restoration of O Dwyer Parak will plant more native vegetation, redesign the current sitting areas and walking paths, provide slope stabilization and revamp some of the existing infrastructure to make this beautiful view point more appealing as a visiting area. The parks location provides an outstanding view, overlooking the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers which is an important natural and historic feature of the region.
ALBERTA Applicant: City of Red Deer Project Name: Native Tree & Shrub Replacement Project The project will provide for the replacement of native trees & shrubs within the City of Red Deer formal parks and roadways, which have died due to drought and disease. Using the CN EcoConnexions Grant, along with additional funds and resources provided by The City and community volunteers, the goal is to replace 398 native trees and 150 native shrubs in 2014. The plan is to plant a range of sizes to create age class tree diversity, which will include bare root, potted, and caliper size trees, as well as container class native shrubs. Applicant: Strathcona County Project Name: Sensory Garden and Shade Tree Planting Strathcona County, the Sherwood Park Elks and several other partners and potential funders are partnering to build a sensory garden, to add shade trees and to construct a sound and music pod in Broadmoor Lake Regional Park. The Project is to add a sensory planting area that includes numerous shrubs and trees that are specifically designed to provide visual, auditory, texture, touch and olfactory experiences. The plans include a sound and music area that includes chimes and sensory sound components.
Applicant: City of Spruce Grove Amount of funding provided by CN: $20,000 Project Name: Sprucing Up Spruce Grove Schoolyards The purpose of this project is to increase the vegetation cover at three-five local schoolyards in Spruce Grove. The landscaping plan will include trees, seedlings, and semi-naturalized shrub beds with a focus on native species. Local chapters for the Junior Forest Wardens and Scouts will be involved with the planting which will be linked with the City's Environment Week activities/education efforts in June. Accompanying the project will be a dedicated web space where residents can learn more about the project and the vegetation planted. Applicant: Town of Sexsmith Amount of funding provided by CN: $15,000 Project Name: Sexsmith Edible Community Gardens The project will allow the Town of Sexsmith to increase the green space and to plant trees that produce fruits and berries. Community gardens will be built with raised beds for the benefit of the residents who would like to have a garden that may not have the space to do so. The gardens that will not are not used by the community will be planted for the food bank. Apple trees as well as Saskatoon berry bushes and blueberry bushes mixed with some evergreens and some leafy trees.
SASKATCHEWAN Applicant: City of Moose Jaw Amount of funding provided by CN: $2,000 Project Name: Spring Creek Lilac Hedge barrier The City of Moose Jaw has park land property that is situated between Residential property and a CN allowance. The area is currently prairie grass and of course weeds that come with disturbing soil. There are currently no trees and very few shrubs in this area. The funding will allow the city to plant sections of lilac hedges along the CN allowance on City property to act as a barrier for sight as well as sound for the adjacent residential property owners. Applicant: Town of Wadena Amount of funding provided by CN: $4,135 Project Name: Wadena Beautification Project The project will include the continued enhancement of Wadena Centennial Park, recently established in 2010 as a legacy of 100 years of Wadena being recognized as a Town; the restoration of the current picnic/rest area at the main intersection of Highways #35 and #5 near the CN railway and, the planting of new treed areas at the Wadena Lions Sports Grounds to provide more sheltered areas for patrons as well as improved the overall atmosphere at the Sports Grounds.
Applicant: Town of Kindersley Project Name: The Senses Unleashed "The Senses Unleashed" will consist of a dog park surrounded by a unique selection of plants and shrubs that will stimulate the senses of those using the area. Residents & visitors to the community will enjoy a tranquil setting to enjoy a picnic lunch, relax or wander down the secret paths. The dog park will allow dogs to play protected within the security of a fenced area and will ensure residents and pets do not have access to the CN rail line. Applicant: Village of Waseca Amount of funding provided by CN: $12,150 Project Name: Waseca PR3 Community Park The project consists of the beautification and improvements to a public space in the community to enable better public use of the area for safe outdoor recreational enjoyment and activities by cleaning up of the area, planting trees/shrubs, landscaping and walking trail.
MANITOBA Applicant: City of Brandon Amount of funding provided by CN: $21,350 Project Name: Restoration of 1st Street The restoration of 1st Street will allow for the removal and re-planting of 60 native spruce trees that are central to one of Brandon s primary entranceways. Enhancing this green space in a sustainable and visually appealing manner will enrich the community for both residents and visitors. The flood of 2011, in conjunction with other biotic and abiotic stressors has led to the loss of numerous trees along 1st Street. This project will allow all the damaged trees to be replaced with a variety of native and drought tolerant coniferous species creating a visually appealing green space. Applicant: Town of Gladstone Amount of funding provided by CN: $4,400 Project Name: Court Yard and Rail Sound Barrier The Town of Gladstone will create a sound barrier using an assortment of trees, shrubs, and hedges to aid in offsetting the noise generated by the train. Additionally, we are planning to create a green space courtyard with the aim of creating a calming, green space for community members to congregate. This court yard will be in close proximity to the Town of Gladstone s office, and business core, thus it is a prime location due to the high traffic area.
Applicant: Rural Municipality of Miniota Amount of funding provided by CN: $7,271 Project Name: Miniota Community Greening The Miniota Greening will involve planting of several mature trees at select locations within the Miniota townsite, a shelterbelt adjacent to the Miniota School and a 300-ft strip on the north end of town near a proposed sub division. The project will improve the visual aesthetics and allow for establishment before existing trees reach the end of their lifespan. In the case of the new planting near the school shelter from winds will also be a direct benefit.
ONTARIO Applicant: City of Brampton Amount of funding provided by CN: $15,000 Project Name: National Tree Day restoration project The project will restore and further enhance the natural plantings along the water course found in the 407/Dixie Park Park located at Dixie Road and the 407. The park is located close to the CN Halton Subdivision Line. The site previously contained a concrete channel along the watercourse. The City of Brampton the Toronto Region Conservation Authority have removed the concrete channel and are in progression of restoring the banks and surrounding area to its natural state. Applicant: Town of Milton Project Name: Jaycee Trail Conservation and Active Management Plan The woodlands surrounding Jaycee Trail and the Mill Pond form the largest area of municipally owned urban forest within the Town of Milton. With historical roots dating back to the founding of Milton in the 1800 s, the woodland provides cultural, environmental, recreational, and social opportunities to everyday urban life in the heart of the Town. The project will ensure future sustainability and regeneration of the woodlands; the provision of native planting; allowances for continued recreational use of the site through management; and to encourage stewardship within the local environment.
Applicant: Municipality of Port Hope Amount of funding provided by CN: $19,600 Project Name: Port Hope Community Forest The purpose of the Port Hope Community Forest project is to renew and enhance the tree canopy through community engagement, a phased program of tree planting and sustainability plan. The project will include tree and shrubs planting in a number of locations along the streets and also at gateways to enhance entrances to the Municipality through coordinated beautification planting. Part of the proposed project will include tree and shrubs planting in Port Hope s downtown and along the Ganaraska River and also in the newly developed Baulch Road Community Park. Applicant: City of Oshawa Amount of funding provided by CN: $24,989 Project Name: Durham Court Park Re-forestation Durham Court Park is a 3 acre park located in the City of Oshawa. Due to the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, all the ash trees in this woodlot were removed. Now that the area is cleared, the residents have lost all the enjoyment and benefits of having a woodlot in their backyard. With the help of the CN EcoConnexions, the area will be re-planted with native tree species and a native grass/ perennial seed mix. The project will compensate for loss of this small natural ecosystem for area families, especially the children to learn, live and play, and the habitat loss for all the species in this area.
Applicant: City of Vaughan Amount of funding provided by CN: $5,000 Project Name: EcoConnexions Maple Planting Project The project is a restoration/education initiative designed to provide an opportunity for youth to learn the importance of environmental stewardship through a planting project near Maple High School. This project will contribute to the planting of approximately 900 trees, 80 shrubs and various bulbs. The City and school will partner to create a landscape plan, materials and educational program to be delivered to approximately 100 children. The event will be comprised of morning and afternoon sessions where students will learn how to properly plant and care for the plants, their benefits and then plant the materials themselves according to the landscape plan. Applicant: Green Venture (City of Hamilton) Amount of funding provided by CN; $11,600 Project Name: Depave Paradise Depave projects, through community partnerships and volunteer engagement, remove unnecessary pavement from urban areas to create beautiful community green space and mitigate stormwater runoff. Removing pavement and replacing it with native plants, trees and shrubs increases water infiltration rate, recharges our groundwater supply, and cools our neighbourhoods.
Applicant: City of Niagara Falls Amount of funding requested from CN: $25,000 Project Name: Millennium Trail - Phase 3 Since the new millennium, the City of Niagara Falls has been working extensively to complete a trail system that will allow residents and visitors to travel from central Niagara Falls to the "Crown Jewel" trail system of the Niagara Parks Commission. This will enable the public to venture off on foot, roller blades, skateboard, wheelchair or on bicycle to destinations all the way to either Lake Erie or Lake Ontario without having to deal with motorized vehicle traffic. The Millennium Trail - Phase 3 section is the crucial link between existing City trail to the Niagara Parks Commission trail system. Another layer to the proposal is to have the trail built in the Spring of 2014, allowing residents and visitors to access the trail in time for special events occurring due to the War of 1812/14 celebrations.
QUEBEC Applicant: Town of Drummondville Project Name: Jardin Agro-Forêt The project consists of developing the green space at Joly Park in a sustainable manner. People who come to take part in the multiple activities held at the Agro-forêt community garden may also enjoy the Joly Park urban forest and discover a thriving biodiversity. Part of the space will become a large urban garden divided into three sectors linked by a footpath accessible to everyone: nut grove sector, inhabited forest sector and urban garden sector. Applicant: Town of Lévis Project Name: Rehabilitation of a natural environment at Renaud-Maillette Park The project consists of landscaping work around the soccer field at Renaud-Maillette Park in the Saint-Rédempteur sector of the Town of Lévis. As landscaping the soccer field required deforestation work, the soccer field perimeter will be returned to its natural state by laying turf and planting trees, perennials and ornamental grasses. This project provides a sustainable advantage to the community because recreating a natural environment around the soccer field will add to tree density that will reduce heat islands by providing shade, helping to purify the air and reducing soil erosion and attract birds.
Applicant: Town of Rivière-du-Loup Amount of funding provided by CN: $6,700 Project Name: Mon quartier...j'en prends soin (Caring for my neighbourhood) The project consists of landscaping Rivière du Loup's central rail zone in the station, tunnel and river sector. The project aims to enhance and beautify the area and dissuade residents from accessing the right-of-way and rail yards. Landscaping small "green" zones will increase safety at these locations by creating a positive effect on driver behaviour, residents' perception of danger, as well as the attitude of walkers and their sense of safety. The natural revitalization of this sector will have a positive impact on the wellbeing of the entire community. Applicant: Nature Action Québec (Town of Boucherville) Amount of funding provided by CN: $20,000 Project Name: Community restoration of Tremblay Wood The project consists of restoring a former backfill site at Tremblay Wood in Boucherville. Plantings have been planned to help beautify the site and prevent unplanned use. These plantings will help restore and beautify the site and provide new quality spaces for wildlife. Employees from neighbouring businesses will also have access to the space, where they can relax in a natural setting. A community planting day has been planned to reinforce industries' sense of belonging.
NEW-BRUNSWICK Applicant: City of Moncton Project Name: Moncton 125 Project The City of Moncton will be 125 years incorporated in 2015 and to start off the celebrations we would like to have a high profile project to involve the community and create a buzz around the anniversary. The intent of the project is to plant 125 shade trees along Vaughan Harvey Boulevard, a main artery, to commemorate the anniversary of the city while further focusing the value of urban forestry initiatives such as tree planting and preservation showing that we are committed to a green future. The main CN line through the city also crosses over Vaughan Harvey linking the transportation heritage with our future vision. Applicant: City of Edmundston Project Name: Restoration of Edmundston civic park The restoration of Edmundston civic park will enhance the "Ma rue, mes arbres" (My street, my trees) park by creating a green strip along the access trail. "Ma rue, mes arbres" park, located within the municipality's civic park will host the official opening of the 2014 World Acadian Congress expected to draw thousands of visitors from all over Canada as well as from other countries.
Applicant: Quispamsis Elementary School Home and School Committee (Town of Quispamsis) Project Name: QES Community Play Place The Quispamsis Elementary School property has tremendous potential to be developed into a Community Play Place that would provide a community space for children and families to learn, play and socialize in a natural setting. It will include linking trails to the subdivision (800 homes) and encouraging active transportation, areas for outdoor classrooms off the trails and a play place. This will consist of berms for the children to climb on, green areas topped with sod, new, age appropriate play structures, a common playing field and trees with benches placed under their canopy. Applicant: Town of Grand Falls Amount of funding provided by CN: $12,675 Project Name: Land reforestation Since 2008, the municipality has been actively working on reforestation and plans to reforest vacant lots to protect the cliff, adjacent properties and roads. The project will enable the municipality to reforest vacant lots along Saint John River. Trees will help to moderate soil erosion and contribute to natural reforestation that will take hold over time. The Town is undertaking this project, which is perfectly aligned with its environmental priorities. The visual environment will also be enhanced.