City Offering Tree Vouchers to Residents

Popular partnership program returns for limited time

NEWS RELEASE - Distributed January 8, 2018 10:00 AM

Continuing its partnership with Green Thumb Garden Centre, the City of Nanaimo will once again provide residents with affordable trees for planting on their property. Starting Monday, January 15, 2018 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., $20 vouchers* for trees will be available for purchase in the Service and Resource Building located at 411 Dunsmuir Street. The vouchers can then be redeemed at Green Thumb Garden Centre for a designated tree worth up to $75 in value. The vouchers expire on March 25, 2018.

"Trees in a city provide many social, economic and environmental benefits,” explains Patrick McIntosh, Urban Forestry Coordinator, “A healthy urban forest canopy provides critical habitat for wildlife, reduces the impacts of global warming, provides storm water abatement, increases property values and help define the character of the city. One mature tree can sequester over 50lbs of carbon in a year and produce enough oxygen for two adults, protecting our existing trees and planting new ones is one of the best things we can do for future generations"

The City’s partnership with Green Thumb Garden Centre has been successful in the past with vouchers on offer selling out quickly at community events such as the Wild Foods and Earth Day Festival and Rivers Day.

Rob Lawrence, Environmental Planner says, “Continuing to offer the tree voucher program is important in raising awareness about the value of trees in our city for cleaning our air, purifying our water and creating space for our wildlife to thrive"

A total of 400 vouchers will be available on a first come, first serve basis. A limit of two vouchers will be sold per property. They are available for owners of properties within the City of Nanaimo only. Proof of residency or photo ID may be required.

*UPDATE - All tree vouchers have been sold.

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