By Jon Waldman
TelPay celebrated National Tree Week with three tree planting projects: a fruit and berry forest for the Neeginan Centre at Higgins and Main; the planting of 200 trees at Elzéar Goulet Park, 718 Tache Ave., and 3,000 trees given to the public at a drive through event at Neeginan Centre (the old CP Station).
This spring, despite the chaos of Covid-19, TelPay’s staff, customers and partners achieved the goal of planting 5,000 trees as part of the Million Tree Challenge through Tree Canada.
On September 23, National Tree Day, Telpay and the Neeginan Centre announced its plan to plant a fruit and berry forest at the Higgins and Main Street location. Telpay and the Neeginan Centre also planted a White Spruce tree honouring former parliamentarian and long-time board member and former chair of Tree Canada, Dorothy Dobbie. Mayor Bowman was in attendance.
“This is an important project both environmentally and socially as it provides increased food security to the downtown area,” said Cora Jalonen, CEO of Telpay. “Telpay will be looking for these kinds of opportunities over the coming five years of our commitment to the Million Tree Challenge.”
As many events had to be cancelled in the spring, Telpay was pleased to be able to fulfil its commitment to planting. The tree planting of 200 trees at Elzéar Goulet Park took place on Sept. 26. Attended by Telpay staff and volunteers, Mayor Bowman, William Loewen, founder of Telpay, and Val Vint, great-great-grand-daughter of Elzéar Goulet, presented short speeches.
“I’m grateful for the donation and leadership shown by TelPay in the early stages of the Million Tree Challenge”, said Mayor Brian Bowman. “The Million Tree Challenge creates an opportunity to grow and promote our tree canopy, loved by all Winnipeggers. Telpay’s commitment to the Million Tree Challenge shows how our local businesses play an integral role in our community.”
A community tree giveaway Will also be held the afternoon of Oct 3, set up as a drive-thru pick-up at the Neeginan Centre parking lot and open to all citizens of Winnipeg who would like to plant fall trees. Three thousand trees will be given away that day. Individuals who plant new trees on their property can now register them at: Winnipeg.ca/milliontrees so they can be counted towards our collective goal of one million!
About the One Million
Tree Challenge
The Million Tree Challenge is a vision to protect and expand Winnipeg’s tree canopy. The goal is to plant a million new trees in Winnipeg as the city’s population grows toward one million residents. The efforts would result in a net expansion of growth of their tree canopy that will go beyond replacing existing trees lost to age, disease or other impairments.