The City of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Tree Fund will host the second annual Toronto Tree Festival on Saturday June 11, 2011.
“The Toronto Islands offer a scenic backdrop for the festival to celebrate the beauty and diversity of trees that provide so many benefits to our urban environment.
Toronto Island Park provides a unique habitat to foster a diverse taxonomy of indigenous tree species.
Gingkos, Red Buds, Scots Elm, Yellow Wood, Zelkovas and Camperdown Elms are just some of the species that festival participants will discover.
The Toronto Tree Festivall began as the “Tour of Trees” in 2002 and has attracted a loyal group of followers.
Participants can bring a bike or rent one on the island and learn the story of the Toronto Island’s arboriculture.
Here is the itinerary of the Toronto Tree Festival activities:
Date: Saturday, June 11
Location: Centre Island
- 10 a.m. – ferry boat departs Bay Street ferry terminal;
- 10:15 a.m. – Toronto Tree Festival will begin in the morning as guided cycling and walking tours begin at the ferry dock on Centre Island;
- guided cycling tour that will run approximately 2 hours;
- the annual Tour of Trees is guided by forestry experts and tree enthusiasts;
- 12:30 p.m. – Toronto Tree Festival gates open – Franklins Children’s Garden on Centre Island will host the actual festival
- Toronto Tree Festival will host a variety of children’s activities and programs as well as
- tree plantings, tree climbing and rescue demonstrations;
- tree and eco art installations by local artists;
- TREE-mendous mini vendor village catering to tree enthusiasts alike ;
- BBQ fare will be made available by Centreville Foods
- 3:30 p.m. – Presentation of Sakura trees and ceremonial planting, west of the octagonal fountain, Centre Island:
- There will be a special presentation as well as a ceremonial planting of a Sakura tree.
- The Sakura Project donated 30 Japanese flowering cherry trees to the City of Toronto earlier this spring.
- These trees were planted on Centre Island.
- Nobuaki Yamamoto, Acting Japanese Consul-General; Steve Fry, President of the Friends of Toronto Island and representatives from the City of Toronto will participate in the ceremony.
Toronto Tree Festival Admission is FREE (ferry fees apply).
For more information on the Toronto Tree Festival, please call 311 or email: torontotreefest@toronto.ca.
ENJOY!
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Media Advisory
June 10, 2011
Tree-mendous fun to be had at the Toronto Tree Festival
The Toronto Tree Festival presented by the City of Toronto and the Canadian Tree Fund offers a full day of family fun with guided cycling and walking tours, tremendous children’s activities, interactive tree planting and climbing demos, tree and eco art displays.
There will be a special presentation as well as a ceremonial planting of a Sakura tree. The Sakura Project donated 30 Japanese flowering cherry trees to the City of Toronto earlier this spring. These trees were planted on Centre Island. Nobuaki Yamamoto, Acting Japanese Consul-General; Steve Fry, President of the Friends of Toronto Island and representatives from the City of Toronto will participate in the ceremony.
Date: Saturday, June 11
Times:
10:15 a.m. Guided cycling and walking tours begin at the ferry dock on Centre Island (ferry departs Bay Street ferry terminal at 10 a.m.)
12:30 p.m. Festival Gates open, Franklins Children’s Garden, Centre Island
3:30 p.m. Presentation of Sakura trees and ceremonial planting, west of the octagonal fountain, Centre Island
Location: Centre Island
Admission to the festival is free. Ferry fees apply.
For more information about this event call 311.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.