IKEA Canada adds to Canada’s urban forests: Tree Canada recognizes leadership with Ultimate Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 2019 (Burlington, ON) – Today, IKEA Canada is recognized for its environmental leadership by Tree Canada, the non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians by planting and nurturing trees. In honour of IKEA’s continued commitment to growing better places to live and providing $1 million in funding towards creating a greener Canada, Tree Canada has awarded the organization with its Ultimate Award.

At a time when invasive insects, like the emerald ash borer (EAB), are continuing to rapidly spread across communities in Canada, corporate partners, such as IKEA are playing an important role with Tree Canada in increasing the resiliency of urban forests through their support of community planting initiatives.

First confirmed in 2010, EAB has been identified in areas throughout Burlington and the City’s population of ash trees, which represents approximately 13 per cent of its urban forest, is at risk.

In an effort to plant a diversity of species to increase resilience to potential diseases and other invasive pests, the City of Burlington is one of nineteen communities, where IKEA employees participated in its annual employee engagement activities, planting a total of 331 native trees and shrubs.

Since 1996, Tree Canada and IKEA Canada have:
• partnered to plant over 55,000 trees in communities across Canada as part of their employee engagement program;
• planted over 18,700 seedlings in rural areas, and;
• created outdoor classrooms for two schools.

Quotes:

“We are at a critical point in our history where the protection of our urban forests is as crucial as ever, and it is through our corporate partnerships that we can positively influence the health of our urban forests and the health of the communities that rely on them. We thank organizations, like IKEA, for their continued environmental leadership and support, and are proud to recognize them with our Ultimate Award this year”.
– Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada

“We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Tree Canada, an organization which supports us in creating a positive impact on the planet,” said Melissa Mirowski, Sustainability Lead, IKEA Canada. “Our co-workers are our best sustainability ambassadors and look forward to coming together every year with Tree Canada to green our local communities.”
– Melissa Mirowoski, Sustainability Lead, IKEA Canada.

 About Tree Canada

Tree Canada is the non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians by planting and nurturing trees. Through our programs, research and educational efforts, we have helped restore tree cover in areas hit by natural disasters, guided communities in managing their urban forests, helped green 660 schoolyards and organized annual urban forest conferences. To date, with our community partners and sponsors, we have planted more than 82 million trees. Get involved or learn more about us at treecanada.ca.

For interviews, photos and more information:

Media Inquiries
Cristiane Doherty
Manager of Communications and Marketing, Tree Canada
cdoherty@treecanada.ca
613-567-5545 ext. 224

Partners in Planting Program
Sarah Quann
Lead Program Manager, Tree Canada
squann@treecanada.ca
613-567-5545 ext. 229