The History of Operation ReLeaf
Since 1996, Tree Canada has been dedicated to restoring landscapes and urban areas impacted by natural disasters.
Operation ReLeaf has supported replanting efforts following various natural events, including wildfires, floods, ice storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, and infestations by pests like emerald ash borer and mountain pine beetle.
2020
Operation ReLeaf – ReCover BC
About this Program
In 2017, communities in British Columbia received evacuation orders and alerts, and many saw significant fire activity. Tree Canada and the Canadian Red Cross (CRC) are working together to provide up to $150,000 in funding to replant trees on publicly accessible lands impacted by the wildfires.
2019
Operation ReLeaf – Nova Scotia
About this Program
On the evening of Saturday, September 7, 2019, Hurricane Dorian made landfall near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Although it had been downgraded from a Category 2 hurricane to a post-tropical storm, hurricane-strength winds moved in an approximately 600 km wide swath. Its highest intensity was felt in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the southeast corner of New Brunswick.
Downing trees and power lines, the storm caused incredible damage. Homes and businesses were left without power, and thousands of trees were uprooted or snapped off by the storm.
Thanks to the generous support of Home Hardware, a longstanding Tree Canada partner, Operation ReLeaf – Nova Scotia is able to assist local governments in replanting and recovery efforts.
2018
Operation ReLeaf – Ottawa-Gatineau Tornadoes
About this Program
On September 21, 2018, tornadoes touched down in the Ottawa-Gatineau area with peak winds reaching speeds of 265 km/h. The scope of the damage was vast, with over 1,000 properties either demolished or damaged, leaving over 200,000 without power.
In addition, on June 2, 2019, a tornado touched down in the Ottawa suburb of Orleans. With peak winds reaching 135 km/h, it downed trees, damaged homes and caused power outages across the area.
2017
Operation ReLeaf – BC Fire ReLeaf 2
About this Program
The second B.C. Fire ReLeaf program was aimed at replacing trees lost due to the wildfires in 2017 and 2018. For British Columbia, 2017 was by far the worst fire season in recorded history. More than 1,300 fires were reported, devastating over 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) in the province and displacing approximately 30,000 residents.
2016
Operation ReLeaf – Fort McMurray
About this Program
In May 2016, fire swept through the town of Fort McMurray. The flames jumped barriers and highways. A total of 1.4 million acres were consumed in a matter of days.
Operation ReLeaf – Fort McMurray is a multi-year effort to help reclaim the loss of trees and urban canopy after the devastating wildfires that struck the region.
2014
Operation ReLeaf – Alberta Flood ReLeaf
About this Program
The Alberta Flood ReLeaf program launched in May 2014 in partnership with TELUS after a massive flood devastated Calgary, High River, and many other communities. Many mature trees were uprooted and left municipalities with a severely reduced tree canopy. The Alberta Flood ReLeaf program helped homeowners, private landowners, and municipalities to replace trees that had been severely damaged or killed.
2013
Operation ReLeaf – Emerald Ash Borer ReLeaf
About this Program
Tree Canada’s EAB ReLeaf program was launched in 2013 to fight the spread of EAB and other invasive insects, in partnership with municipalities and Lallemand Plant Care/BioForest. We coordinated the selection process and distribution of TreeAzin, a natural registered product with very low environmental toxicity that helps stop the emerald ash borer and other invasive insects, such as the European elm scale and the LDD moth.
2011
Operation ReLeaf – Goderich Tornado ReLeaf
About this Program
In the summer of 2011, a devastating F3 tornado swept through the town of Goderich in southwestern Ontario, injuring people, damaging property, and uprooting trees. Along with our long-time partner Home Hardware, Tree Canada responded to re-green affected areas and replace trees that were lost or damaged.
2010
Operation ReLeaf – Alberta Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf
About this Program
The Alberta Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf program was first launched in 2010, in partnership with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and TELUS. This program provided funding to homeowners, private landowners, and municipalities to replace trees and recover forests affected by the mountain pine beetle on private and municipal lands.
2009
Operation ReLeaf – BC Fire ReLeaf
About this Program
This BC Fire ReLeaf program aimed to replace trees lost due to wildfires that destroyed 612 hectares in 2009. This was the second time that Tree Canada lent a hand to rebuild British Columbia’s forests due to fires, with the first BC Fire ReLeaf taking place in 2003.
2003
Operation ReLeaf – Maritime Hurricane ReLeaf
About this Program
Maritime Hurricane ReLeaf was created to help the people of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island recover from Hurricane Juan in September 2003. With winds of over 150 km/h, the hurricane knocked out power for up to a week and uprooted tens of thousands of trees across the Maritimes.
1998
Operation ReLeaf – Ice Storm ReLeaf
About this Program
Ice storms hit Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec in 1998. Thousands were without power for weeks and green spaces across both provinces were lost. Tree Canada responded with our second Operation ReLeaf initiative to restore urban green spaces in badly hit communities.
1996
Operation ReLeaf – Saguenay Flood ReLeaf
About this Program
Tree Canada’s Operation ReLeaf started in 1996 following serious flooding in Saguenay, Quebec. We mobilized and launched the effort the following year to help restore Saguenay’s urban green spaces.