TCH Planting and Stewardship Initiative

Trees not only look great, but provide plenty of highly valued services for people! In 2019, we planted nearly 75 trees in Toronto Community Housing (TCH) communities and have quantified the benefits these trees will provide throughout their lives. While 75 new trees provide $108 worth of benefits in the first year of planting, by year 75, this cumulative value will reach $81,000!

Eleven Toronto Community Housing communities across Toronto welcomed 150 new trees as part of the TCHC Planting and Stewardship Initiative over the past two years. The TREE-rific neighbours not only make the communities greener, but also add unique flare.

We all know the benefits of having big, beautiful trees where we live. However, the unfortunate reality is that some communities miss out on these because their neighbourhoods lack trees. Recognizing the tremendous opportunity to increase canopy cover in the communities that would benefit the most, LEAF, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), City of Toronto Forestry and Park People have been trailblazing the way for equitable tree planting! With grants from the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, as well as TD Bank Group and the Arbor Day Foundation, the partners worked together with TCHC staff and tenants to plant 150 trees across 11 properties in Toronto.

May 15th, 2019 might have seemed like a regular Wednesday morning, just another spring day, but there was something celebratory in the air as the sun broke free from the clouds. Gathered by the community garden at 111 Kendleton Dr were a group of dedicated and inspired people, including LEAF staff, our program partners and local residents. Together, we were celebrating the successful completion of the first phase of a very special project which aims to increase tree canopy cover while increasing community engagement at Toronto Community Housing properties.