MISSISSAUGA – When it comes to Halloween in the GTA, there’s nothing quite like the nighttime traditions of walking past one of the area’s spooky haunted properties, or carving creepy Jack-O-Lanterns with the kids.
But with October 31 falling on a Saturday this year, the City of Mississauga’s Parks and Forestry Department is inviting families to get an early start on the scares – while helping boost the natural appeal of their community – at the inaugural “Trick or Trees” tree planting event.
Starting at 9:00 AM and running until noon, Trick or Tree invites volunteers of all ages to bring their costumes – and shovels, if you’ve got them – down to Mississauga’s Richard Jones Park, where the tree planting fun will include provided equipment (and, of course, free Halloween treats).
The event is just one of many public planting opportunities organized by One Million Trees Mississauga, an initiative presented in partnership with local organizations like Credit Valley Conservation, Evergreen, and Toronto and Region Conservation.
Through organizing planting events on public land, and encouraging local residents to plant trees on their private properties, the organization’s aim is to add one million trees to Mississauga’s forests by the year 2032. That goal number equals 48 per cent of the city’s current tree population (approximately 2.1 million) – of which roughly 10 per cent is susceptible to the harmful impact of emerald ash borers.
“Trees are important to the environment, health and quality of life in our city,” Manager of Forestry Gavin Longmuir explained last year, shortly after the One Million Trees hit its first major milestone of 100,000 trees planted.
“The tremendous success of our tree planting program shows that our residents and community partners are committed to preserving, protecting and improving our urban forest.”
