The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN), along with the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, will be hosting the second annual Giving Trees... Giving Hope event Saturday, May 21, to help raise funds for breast cancer awareness.
For a modest donation to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, Islanders will have the opportunity to experience first-hand the enthusiasm and inspiration of transplanting native trees and shrubs as Anita Verreault enjoyed last year.
“Not only did I learn a lot at the site, but I got to take home two beautiful trees for my three- and five-year-old sons,” said Mrs. Verreault. “The trees named Dirt and Thorn will be tenderly cared for by Jaysen and Ethan for many years to come.”
The Giving Trees... Giving Hope event will be held at St. Patrick’s Road, Route 323 near St. Teresa. It starts at 8 a.m. and ends at 12 noon. Forestry staff and volunteers with the Canadian Breast Cancer Network will be on hand to offer tours and tips. Trees will be colour-coded by species and landscaping mulch will be provided by Georgetown Timber. The event goes rain or shine. All Islanders need to do is show up with a shovel and a pail, said Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem.
“We’re very pleased to partner with this survivor-directed group of volunteers,” said Minister Ballem. “We hope Islanders will take advantage of this opportunity to support a good cause and transplant the native trees and shrubs being offered in honour of the women and men who are affected by breast cancer.”
Prior to the Giving Trees... Giving Hope event, well-known guest speakers will talk about forests, wildlife, flora and fauna Thursday, May 19, 7-9 p.m., at the Cotton Centre in Stratford. Wildlife biologist Dan McAskill will give a talk about The Value of Native Trees and Shrubs to Island Wildlife; horticulturist David Carmichael will speak on Successful Transplanting and Care of Native Trees and Shrubs; and botanist Kate MacQuarrie will finish the evening with a talk on Identifying and Using Acadian Forest Plants.
For more information on the Giving Trees... Giving Hope event, please contact Catherine Mooney, Canadian Breast Cancer Network spokesperson, at 687-3246 or mooneys@pei.sympatico.ca; or Reg Conohan, Provincial Forest Program representative, at 961-7296 or rwconohan@gov.pe.ca.