Winnipeg, MB – Local community groups and organizations are once again eligible for funding to help grow Winnipeg’s tree canopy.
Applications for the 2024 Home Grown Grant, supported by the Government of Canada Two Billion Trees Program, opened last week.
This marks the second year funding is being made available to registered not-for-profits looking to organize tree planting projects in their communities. In 2023, Winnipeg received more than $7 million over three years for its larger Home Grown Tree Planting Program, which includes both the grant and internal planting efforts.
“Trees are essential to our lives — they capture carbon, improve air quality and support wildlife — and they are important allies in our fight against climate change. That’s why Canada has committed to planting two billion trees,” said the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada. “Through this investment with the City of Winnipeg, we are showing how collaborative work between the federal government and our municipal partners can permanently expand forest cover and build healthier, more resilient communities, by ensuring that the right tree is planted at the right place at the right time.”
“The 2 Billion Trees program is an integral part of our efforts to fight climate change and reverse biodiversity loss" said Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Special Advisor for Water. "By making this investment in partnership with the City of Winnipeg, more trees will be planted across our community, providing cleaner air, more greenspace, and healthier, more resilient neighbourhoods for Canadians to call home.”
“The Home Grown Grant is part of the City’s long-term strategy to renew our urban forest and bring new life to our community’s tree canopy,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “By involving community organizations in the tree planting process we are empowering Winnipeggers to do their part in shaping a greener and more sustainable future for our city.”
"Winnipeg’s Urban Forest is the envy of many cities, but that also means we must be vigilant and active to maintain the health of our existing urban forest, as well as expanding it," said Russ Wyatt, Councillor for the Transcona ward. " As City Council moves toward developing and adopting a Greenspace Master Plan, for existing City trees and forests as well as the creation of new forests and parks, it is important we remember to work with other levels of governments to ensure Winnipeg is at the forefront in fighting Climate Change."
The start of the 2024 Home Grown Grant intake was celebrated with the first celebratory planting made possible by 2023 grant funding.
Members of Transcona Legion Branch No. 7 joined dignitaries and officials from the City of Winnipeg and Government of Canada to announce the intake and put trees in the ground at Transcona Cemetery.
“Our Legion Branch #7, along with Transcona Cemetery are grateful to be the recipients of a Home Grown grant that has provided these trees for the cemetery grounds,” said Peter Martin, Executive Member of the Transcona Legion Branch #7. “It is nice to see them planted alongside the Field of Honour where more than 300 Veterans and Service Members are resting.”
Successful applicants can receive up to $20,000 each from the grant program for planting projects that focus on adding trees to geographic areas of higher poverty and underserved areas of the city.
In addition to the funding, successful Home Grown grant applicants will receive one-on-one guidance and oversight from a City of Winnipeg arborist and ongoing support to ensure their respective programs’ success.
To be eligible, community organizations must be either incorporated or a registered not-for-profit and have identified a planting site on public property within their respective community.
Full criteria and application forms can be found at winnipeg.ca/homegrowngrant.
The application deadline for the 2024 planting year is November 10, 2023.