WINNER

City of Kingston, ON

National Finalist in the 100,001 to 300,000 Population Category
Special Mention: Breadth of Sustainable Development Initiatives

The City of Kingston is the 2007 National winner in the 100 001 to 300 000 Population Category. Excelling in all criteria, Kingston was also presented with the Canada Lands Company Award for Sustainable Development as well as the Communities in Bloom Award for Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation at the 2007 National Awards Ceremony.

The Communities in Bloom (CiB)judges were particularly impressed by the emphasis placed on the environment as identified in Kingston's Strategic Plan for 2000-2010. The community has taken positive steps to achieve this objective through various initiatives including a municipal Environment Division with dedicated staff, the formation of the Kingston Environmental Advisory forum (KEAF), extensive planning with a strong focus on public consultation, transportation management strategies, and improved walking and cycling alternatives including bus-only lanes.

Local developers work closely with business associations, community groups and the City to ensure the preservation of important architectural heritage. The CiB judges found the community, especially the active vibrant Heritage Committee and Kingston Historical Society, to be diligent in the preservation of its long and distinguished history. Fort Henry, Market Square and City Hall are all examples of conservation projects, the latter two being fine examples of restored and renovated public spaces. In addition natural heritage is also preserved and protected, making Canada's first capital a beautiful place to live and visit.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program.

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PRESS RELEASE: KINGSTON, ON - August 28, 2007

Kingston Blooms To Honour 5-Bloom Winners
Competition receives highest number of entries ever

This year's Kingston's Communities in Bloom gardening competition received 185 entries - that's the highest number of entrants in the last five years - and 50 of them have won the coveted 5-Bloom rating for their beautification efforts.

The 5-Bloom winners' circle includes a number of incumbents like Manuel DeSousa, Lynda Dennie and Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast, but they have been joined by Norm and Alice Kennedy, Navy Memorial Park, and Ongwanada's Joseph Dominik Sensory Garden (click here to see the full list of 5-Bloom winners).

Kingston Blooms - Kingston's arm of the national Communities in Bloom program -- gives residents of Kingston the opportunity to showcase their gardens and, by doing so, assist the City in its bid to become National Bloom Champions.

During the first two weeks of July, volunteer judges visited all the registered properties and evaluated them based on criteria like originality and creativity, colour and texture, use of plants to suite the space, cleanliness of property and the ever-coveted WOW factor. Properties are scored from 1 to 5 Blooms: 1 Bloom represents 1-9 points, 2 Blooms 10-19 points, 3 Blooms 20-32 points, 4 Blooms 33-42 points, and 5 Blooms 43-50 points.

5-Bloom winners have been notified by phone and invited to join event sponsors and volunteers Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Colonnade Gold and Country Club, where they will each receive a photograph of their gardens along with a commemorative trowel. This year 49 people volunteered with Communities in Bloom and 45 businesses and organizations supported the program through in-kind and monetary contributions, including Novelis Global Technologies which is sponsoring the award and recognition celebration for the third time.

Kingston will find out how it fares in the Communities in Bloom National Program when the results are announced on Saturday, Sept. 22 in Moncton, New Brunswick. Kingston is competing in the 100,001 - 300,000 population category against Chatham-Kent, Barrie and Whitby.

For more information on this year's Communities in Bloom Kingston competition, go to www.cityofkingston.ca/blooms

Media contact:
For more information contact Sue Hitchcock, Department of Community Services, at 613-546-4291, ext. 1716. Or call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.

PRESS RELEASE: KINGSTON, ON - July 19, 2007

Bloom judges arrive to see how Kingston's gardens grow
Citizens may want to spruce up their yards - and the city - for judges' visit

Now's the time to pull some weeds and pick any litter out of your petunias: the national judges of the Communities in Bloom gardening contest are on their way to Kingston. The judges will be visiting from July 25th to 28th.

This year's competition attracted more than 200 registrants, the highest number since Kingston began participating in the beautification initiative in 2003. Last year, Kingston received the competition's highest rating: five blooms.

"We're delighted by the level of participation," says Sue Hitchcock, local organizer of Communities in Bloom. "The gardens we saw at homes and businesses were absolutely spectacular. Kingstonians really work hard to keep this City truly beautiful, and it shows."

The national judges will be roaming about Kingston and considering a number of criteria, such as:

• Tidiness. The judges will look at such things as medians, boulevards, sidewalks, ditches, and even dog droppings.
• Environmental Awareness. Local policies and by-laws, waste reduction and conservation efforts (like Kingston's recent rain barrel initiative), are all noted by the judges
• Community Involvement. This category looks at how many citizens are involved in community projects such as garden clubs, service groups, recreational clubs, sports clubs and schools.

Other criteria to be considered by the judges will be Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation, Urban Forest Management, and the City's Landscaped Areas, Floral Displays, Turf and Ground Cover.

The judging of the local contest is now complete and the winners of the coveted five-bloom garden designation will be announced in August.

Beautification efforts like the Communities in Bloom program help promote civic pride, promote tourism, decrease vandalism, increase property values and, of course, improve quality of life.

Media contact: For more information contact Sue Hitchcock, Department of Community Services, at 613-546-4291, ext. 1716. Or call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.

Gardening Competition Swings In To Full Bloom
Communities In Bloom Registration Closing Date Nears

For further information contact:
Sue Hitchcock, Department of Community Services, at 613-546-4291, ext. 1716. Or call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.

If you know your dahlias from your irises, or appreciate the arc of a finely-pruned Japanese maple, you may have a garden worthy of winning blooms in Kingston's Communities in Bloom gardening competition.

Registration for the competition closes on June 15 and local judging takes place the first two weeks of July (though schools will be judged prior to the end of the school year).

"We especially encourage those who have received post-cards from Canada Post carriers praising their gardens to consider registering their gardens. These people put a lot of energy into keeping Kingston beautiful and this competition celebrates their efforts," says Sue Hitchcock who coordinates the competition for the City. She notes that anyone who picks up garbage, takes the bus to work, recycles, or supports arts or cultural festivals also plays a part in beautifying Kingston.

Gardeners - or their appreciative neighbours - can register a garden at www.kingstonblooms.com to win blooms in one of these categories: residential; residential complex (including apartments, townhouse complexes and condominiums); downtown floral beautification; commercial/industrial business (for properties outside the Business Improvement Area); organizations (like schools, places of worship, social clubs and organizations); rural residential; and window-dressing contest.

Last year Communities in Bloom rated Kingston a 5-bloom city, and Elginburg Public School won the Ontario Schools in Bloom Championship (the students enjoyed a free trip to Toronto to show off their skills beautifying the CN Tower). This year the national judges will visit Kingston from July 25 to 27 and will evaluate the community based on a variety of criteria including tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, and cultural heritage cultivation.

"The program promotes civic pride, improved quality of life, and an appreciation of nature," says Hitchcock. "Kingston is our home. We have a beautiful home and it's because people work to keep it that way."

June 15 is also the closing date for nominations for the Bill Robb Visionary Award - recognizing a volunteer who has made a lasting and meaningful contribution to the community through municipal beautification.

For more information on this year's Communities in Bloom Kingston competition, go to www.kingstonblooms.com.

Introducing Our Communities in Bloom
National Judges

Lisa Tompkins
Lisa Tompkins has an extensive background in event production and management. Her first years in the workplace were spent in various theatrical pursuits, including a long stint as a product spokesperson for a major automotive manufacturer at consumer auto shows and new-model announcement programs across the country; as well, she worked behind the scenes, creating display and exhibit/product reveals, sales programs, and customer service programs for consumer auto shows. Lisa joined the CN Tower in 1993, and has held a variety of positions in the last 12 years - in the Sales Department, as Director of Guest Services, heading up the Human Resources team, and currently as Director of Marketing and Communications.

Lisa sits on a number of volunteer committees, including as a Director on the board of the Halliburton Highlands Health Services Foundation. She is proud to be a Director of the Board for Communities in Bloom, and to be the Chairperson of the National WinterLights Celebrations committee.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theatre from Queen's University in Kingston ON.

Bob Lewis
Bob has recently retired from the National Capital Commission in Ottawa where he was the Director for Capital Urban Parks & Green spaces. Bob oversaw the management of more than 160 hectares of urban parks including urban forests, naturalized areas, the Parliament Hill grounds, the Rideau Canal Skateway (the longest skating rink in the world), public outdoor recreational facilities, and 16 acres of flower beds including more than 500,000 tulips and 200,000 annuals.

Bob has been associated with Communities in Bloom for over ten years and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Communities in Bloom.

Bob likes to explore Canada and the ever increasing communities in bloom.

Students To Beautify VIA Station As A City Gateway
Local Businesses Support Communities In Bloom Initiative

Starting 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 24, students will be planting 28 planters to beautify the VIA Rail station to make this gateway to the city more warm and welcoming to visitors.

Folks traveling through the VIA Rail Station in Kingston are in for the show of colour thanks to a partnership between Rona Home and Garden (Princess Street), Frontenac Secondary School. Elginburg and District Public School, The Cataraqui Cemetery Company, VIA Rail (Kingston Station), the City of Kingston and Communities in Bloom Kingston.

"What started out as a beautification initiative to enhance our gateways has blossomed into an amazing community project," says, Sue Hitchcock, Communities in Bloom Program Coordinator.

The cement planters were made by students in the Arts and Technology program at Frontenac Secondary School, the plant material is being donated by Rona Home and Garden, the planters are being beautified by Grade 1 and Grade 8 students from Elginburg and District Public School ,and the seasonal watering will be done compliments of the Cataraqui Cemetery Company. City of Kingston Public Works staff delivered and installed the planters and delivery of the plant material.

"We believe in the benefits of working with the community to ensure projects that enhance the municipality are realized," says Damon Wells, Director, Public Works.

Planting will take place on Thursday, May 24th beginning at 9:30 am at the VIA Station on John Counter Blvd.

Celebrity Plant-Off To Launch Communities in Bloom
Mail carriers to let residents know if they have bloom-worthy gardens during this year's competition.

KINGSTON, ONT. / May 1, 2007 - A celebrity plant-off will launch the fifth year of Kingston's Communities in Bloom gardening competition 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 5 at Canadian Tire Cataraqui.

Seventeen local celebrities - including Mayor Harvey Rosen, Peter Milliken, MP, John Gerretson, MPP, city councilors, civic and business leaders, journalists, and horticultural big-wigs - will try to win "blooms" by planting the most charming rain barrel. The barrels will then be placed at selected locations around the City.

Last year, Kingston received the highest possible score - a five bloom rating - at Communities in Bloom's National Awards, and Elginburg Public School won the Ontario Schools in Bloom Championship. The winning students have been invited to use their beautification skills to paint panels that will be placed on cement planters at the CN Tower (VIA Rail is paying train fares for students).

This year, Communities in Bloom will enlist the help of Canada Post carriers in identifying the City's best blooming gardens.

"Who better than mail carriers to help us track down Kingston's most gorgeous gardens?" says Sue Hitchcock, Communities in Bloom Kingston co-ordinator who helped arrange this year's partnership with Canada Post.

15 and the competition's national judges will visit Kingston July 25-27.

That is also the date for nominations for the Bill Robb Visionary Award, given to a volunteer who has made a lasting and meaningful contribution to the community through municipal beautification.

Beautiful gardens are just one of the criteria used to evaluate a City's "bloom-worthiness". Other factors considered to make a community bloom include: cleanliness, dedication to composting, recycling, picking up after pets, car pooling, using transit and supporting arts and cultural festivals.

For more information on this year's Communities in Bloom Kingston competition, go to City Of Kingston.

Media contact: For more information contact Sue Hitchcock, Department of Community Services, at 613-546-4291, ext. 1716.

Or call the City of Kingston's media hotline at 613-546-4291, ext 2300.

City of Kingston - one of Canada's
"Best Bloom'n Communities"

Sept. 27, 2006 - The results are in and the citizens of Kingston can be proud that their city is one of the "best bloom'n" communities in Canada.

The City of Kingston received the highest possible score - "5 Blooms" - for achievements in tidiness, community involvement, environmental awareness, natural and cultural heritage conservation, landscaped areas, turf areas, urban forestry and floral displays. Our highest category scores were in Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation and Tidiness.

The National Awards were handed out in Brandon, Man., on Saturday, Sept. 23, during the 2006 Communities in Bloom National Awards and Symposium on Parks and Grounds.

The national judges Ken O'Brien and Ed Lawrence made the following comments: "The City of Kingston has cultivated its partnerships with community groups, volunteers, the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce, the Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO), and others-this is the way forward to sustainability."

Plans are underway for Kingston's participation in the 2007 Communities in Bloom National Program. The 2007 National Awards will be held in Metro Moncton, NB in September 2007.

For more information on the Communities in Bloom Kingston Program, please call Sue Hitchcock, Communities in Bloom Program Coordinator 613-546-4291, ext. 1716.

For further information contact Sue Hitchcock at 613-546-4291, ext. 1716;

The City of Kingston's media hotline is 613-546-4291, ext. 2300

Pitch-in and Clean Up Your Community

PITCH-IN CANADA is a national non-profit organization founded in 1967 by several volunteers concerned about the proliferation of packaging and its effects on the land and marine environments. They recognized that personal action, with assistance from, but not dependent on, governments and other stakeholders, is needed to conserve, enhance and protect the environment and to reduce and reuse waste.

Today, PITCH-IN CANADA involves millions of volunteers in various action programs, from initiating recycling and composting programs to cleaning up and beautifying streams, wilderness and urban areas.

Pitch-In Kingston!

The Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce and its community partners invite you to help us clean up the community!

Friday, April 27, 2007

Join us at our 6th Annual Pitch-In Kingston day!

Pitch in with your family, your neighbours, your business, school or club to clean up Kingston neighbourhoods, streets and parks.

Pitch in all year round to reduce, re-use and recycle household items.
On April 27th, we'll supply the garbage bags and you supply the volunteers! Together, we can make a big difference for the Kingston community. Complete the register form on-line at:

http://www.kingstonchamber.on.ca/events/details/pitchIn/index.cfm

Communities in Bloom Kingston Honours
Local Green Thumbs

Communities in Bloom Kingston will honour local green thumbs who received five "Blooms" for their gardens in the Kingston Blooms Program held earlier this summer.

This year 35 recipients out of a total of 222 entries will be honored for their efforts in municipal beautification during the 5 Bloom Awards and Volunteer and Sponsor Appreciation event being held at the Colonnade Golf and Country Club on Wednesday, Aug. 30 from 2 to 4p.m.

Kingston Blooms gives local residents the opportunity to assist with the City of Kingston's participation in the National Communities in Bloom Program by beautifying their property and enhancing the overall appearance of our city.

Gardens are evaluated by local volunteer judges on design, use of plant material, condition and special features. The top gardens receive between 43-50 points for their efforts. Gardens are entered into one of the following categories: residential; rural residential; residential complex; organizations, commercial and downtown floral beautification.

Kingston Blooms 2006 Five Bloom Winners:

Residential
Bill and Paula Allen
Martha Bartels
Pam Benson
Ray and Carmen Boudreau
Wendy Bryant
Elizabeth Reid and Adrian Cooper
Stephen Crafts
Joe Dark
Lynda Dennie
Manuel De Sousa
Linda Dumbleton
Eunice Francis
Grant and Debbie Gilliland
Barbara Guerin
Lori Ketchen
Douglas Knapp
Diane Knight
Tammy Robinson
Zuby Saloojee
Secret Garden Bed and Breakfast
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
Leslie and Steve Vollick
Inge Wells

Rural Residential
Marilyn Corbett

Commercial
Aunt Lucy's Dinner House
Best Western Fireside Inn
McDonald's Restaurant - Division Street

Residential Complex
Cataraqui Ridge Apartments - 111 Van Order Drive

Downtown Floral Beautification
Le Chien Noir Bistro
Kingston Brewing Company
Tir Nan Og Irish Pub

Organizations
Cataraqui Cemetery Company
Colonnade Golf and Country Club
Elginburg & District Public School

Communities In Bloom: What's Growing On?

Invitation to 2006 Nationals in Brandon, Manitoba

On behalf of Communities in Bloom, we are pleased to invite the City of Kingston, following its performance in the 2005 National Edition, to participate in the 2006 National Edition of Communities in Bloom. The invitation is extended to the two best municipalities, in each category, from each province, from the 2005 National Edition and the two best municipalities from each 2005 Provincial Edition in each population category.

The 2006 National Awards Ceremonies, hosted by Brandon, Manitoba will be held on September 22nd and 23rd and the Symposium on Parks and Grounds on September 20th to 22nd, 2006.

Communities in Bloom National Judges, Ed Lawrence and Ken O'Brien will be arriving in Kingston on July 25 th and will spend 2 days evaluating the City of Kingston on our efforts in:

• Tidiness
• Environmental Awareness
• Community Involvement
• Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation
• Tree/Urban Forest Management
• Landscaped Areas
• Floral Displays
• Turf and Groundcovers

This is the City of Kingston's 4 th year participating in the Communities in Bloom Program. We are extremely proud of our accomplishments in the Communities in Bloom Program and thank the citizens of Kingston for their tremendous efforts, involvement and support.

There are countless ways in which you can be part of this very exciting program. Enter the local gardening competition, plant a tree, pitch-in, clean up or volunteer. We want to know what you are doing to make Kingston a more attractive community. You are the “community” in Communities in Bloom.

Ed Lawrence

Although Ed Lawrence grew up in downtown Toronto , he spent much of his time exploring nearby parks and green spaces. He translated this love for all things green and growing into a career in horticulture, getting his two horticultural diplomas from Humber College in Toronto . Ed now resides in Almonte , Ontario . http://www.almonte.com/

Lawrence has worked in both public and private sectors—his experience ranges from independent landscape contracting to working with Dutch Elm disease to heading up the 12,000 square feet of greenhouses at the Governor General's residence, Rideau Hall. From 1997 until 2001, he oversaw the grounds and the greenhouses for the six official residences in the National Capital Region, including those of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. He retired from his position as the horticultural specialist for the National Capital Commission (NCC) in January of 2006.

For the last 23 years, Lawrence has been the highly popular and award-winning gardening expert on CBC radio's Monday noon phone-in http://www.cbc.ca/ontariotoday/story_archive.html and has done gardening segments on such television programs as The Hobby Garden, From a Country Garden, the Canadian Gardener, and Radio-Canada's French program, Vie de chalet. He also wrote a gardening column for newspapers throughout the Ottawa Valley and for the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) edition of the Globe and Mail. In the spring of 2000, he earned the prestigious Award of Merit from the Ontario Horticultural Association. In the summer of 2001, he was the host of a new television gardening series called “The Gardener,” produced in partnership with WPBS TV in Watertown , New York and the NCC. The 13-part series began airing in April 2002.

At the 9 th National Forest Congress, Ed was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal by the Canadian Forestry Association. It is awarded to persons who have made a significant contribution to Canada , to their community, or to their fellow Canadians.

His new book, “Gardening Grief and Glory,” has been a long time coming. It will be a compilation of the many excellent and most common questions of clients, readers and listeners over his more than 30 years as a professional horticulturist.

Lawrence is well respected in the field of horticulture for his down-to-earth, practical advice and his environmentally friendly solutions to gardening problems.

Ken O'Brien

Ken is an urban planner with 10 years at the City of St. John's Department of Planning, as well as experience with the provincial Department of Municipal Affairs as a planning consultant. Ken was attracted to Tidy Towns Newfoundland and Labrador because the program stimulates community pride, especially in smaller communities that may be losing population.

• Master's degree in urban and regional planning from Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, 1991
• Experience in land-use planning, land development, rezoning, land-use impact assessments, built-heritage issues, environmental protection, and public consultation
• Project manager for the Downtown St. John's strategy for Economic Development and Heritage Preservation, which won a 2002 Canadian Institute of Planners National Awards for Planning Excellence
• Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners. Active in the Atlantic Planners Institute, Newfoundland and Labrador Branch; coordinator of the Planners Plate lunch speaker series
• Occasional short articles published in Plan Canada magazine and the Planner's Pen newsletter
• Long-time volunteer with Amnesty International, Group 60, St. John ‘s (human-rights organization)
• Canada World Youth International exchange participant, 1984 (3 months in Saint-Nazaire, Québec, 3 months in Togo, West Africa, living with families and a Togolese counterpart)
• Enjoy hiking, camping, squash, cross-country skiing, and sea kayaking
• Ken lives in St. John's, Newfoundland-Labrador one of the oldest European settlements in North America. www.stjohns.ca
• St. John's is a seaport town sitting at the eastern edge of the Atlantic Ocean.
• The oldest continuous sporting event in North America is the St. John's Regatta, held on the first Wednesday of August (weather permitting)
• St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador is the centre of business, education, and government for the province.
• St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador is the site of the Newfoundland Museum now known as the Rooms, Memorial University, and the College of the North Atlantic.

GreenUp! Festival

April 8, 2006
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
St. Lawrence College - Kingston Campus

Come celebrate with us at GreenUP!, a free, hands-on environmental festival for people who care about our local environment. Spend the day with us and discover how easy it is to live greener!

• Numerous practical workshops on a wide range of topics, e.g. how to save energy in your home, how to vermicompost, how to garden with native plants to attract butterflies, biodiesel for farmers, etc.
• Demonstrations on renewable energy technologies for homes, cottages, and farms
• Engaging displays from environmental businesses and local groups
• Renowned author and renewable energy guru Bill Kemp will give the key note speech
• Speakers will illuminate the “Big Picture”, e.g., local wind projects, a panel on how to “green” our community, etc.
• Great entertainers
• Children's activities
• Organic food
• We'll give away birdhouse kits and prizes

You'll be amazed by all the environmental projects, groups and products. You'll leave with great earth-friendly ideas and activities for your home, garden, and life. Plan to be there - Saturday, April 8, 2006

http://www.greenupfestival.ca/

GreenUP! A celebration of earth-friendly living

The Composting Council of Canada is a national non-profit, member-driven organization with a charter to advocate and advance composting and compost usage. It serves as the central resource and network for the composting industry in Canada and, through its members, contributes to the environmental sustainability of the communities in which they operate.

National Compost Week is May 7 - May 13, 2006.

For more information on the Composting Council of Canada please visit their website at http://www.compost.org/englishoverview.html

You can also visit the City of Kingston website to learn more about local composting.

http://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/waste/composting/

National Volunteer Week

April 23 - 29, 2006

With great pleasure, Volunteer Canada launches its 2006 National Volunteer Week (NVW) campaign!

National Volunteer Week, April 23 to April 29, pays special tribute to Canadian volunteers across the country who give of themselves to better their communities and the lives of others. Volunteers Grow Community remains the theme for NVW this year as so many of you have commented on its appropriateness for this springtime celebration!

For more information visit Volunteer Canada at www.volunteer.ca

Communities in Bloom Kingston welcomes volunteers from all walks of life. Just click on “Volunteer” on our website to download a 2006 Volunteer Registration Form.

Arbor Week

April 28 - May 7, 2006

Arbor Week began over a hundred years ago with a simple purpose; the planting and preservation of trees. Originating in Nebraska in 1872, Arbor Day, as it was then known, was set aside to care for trees; to beautify neighbourhoods and to replace forests cut down in clearing agricultural land. Still widely celebrated in communities throughout North America , the tradition has been adapted and changed to suit local customs and needs.

As the reasons that prompted the establishment of Arbor Day in 1872 are even more important and relevant today, Arbor Week assumes new significance due to our heightened awareness of environmental issues. Just a few years ago environmental problems were considered to be the concern of a relatively small group of activists. Today environmental issues are consistently high on the public agenda. We have all become environmental activists.

For more information on Arbor Week please visit:

http://www.arborweek.com/

Are you or someone you know taking part or planning an Arbor Day activity? We would love to hear about it.

Please contact:

Sue Hitchcock, Communities in Bloom Program Coordinator sueh@cityofkingston.ca

Tree Canada Foundation

Tree Canada is a charitable organization which partners with local volunteers to improve our quality of life by planting and caring for trees. In your neighbourhhoods, schoolyards, parks and in the countryside, Tree Canada leaves a living, breathing legacy for generations to come

It's no secret: our activities at home, work and play produce greenhouse gases. As the climate changes and air quality declines, more of us face drought, forest fires and hotter summers with more smog and respiratory illness.

You can help Tree Canada plant enough trees to offset the main greenhouse gas you produce - carbon dioxide - and become carbon neutral. Growing trees compliments your other efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (such as car pooling or re-insulating your house). It also creates many other benefits such as more wildlife habitat and more beautiful communities.

Trees naturally take carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it as wood. New, growing forests can store tones and tones of carbon dioxide. On average, 98 trees capture and store 1 tonne of airborne carbon dioxide every year.

Greening Canada's School Grounds

Greening Canada 's School Grounds is a common sense grassroots movement whose time has come. There is a need to protect the health of school children by sheltering them from harmful UVB rays. Trees strategically placed on school grounds offer students some reprieve from the sun's rays.

The neighbourhood school ground is the heart of a child's community. Children deserve an interesting, aesthetically pleasing environment.

The Greening Canada's School Grounds Program has been largely supported by Shell Canada who have contributed $350,000 over the last three years. Other environmentally-conscious companies who support the program include: GAP, Telus and Home Hardware.

For more information on Greening Canada's School Grounds please visit:

http://www.tcf-fca.ca/programs/school/index.htm

Tree Canada Donates 165 Trees

ROOTED IN HISTORY - Tree Canada donates 165 trees in celebration of Kingston as first capital of Canada

April 27, 2006 - Not unlike the 1840's Kingston pioneers that established our community as the First Capital of a United Canada, the Tree Canada Foundation has a mandate to leave a legacy for generations to come.

On Wednesday May 3 they'll do just that when 165 white pine, birch and ash trees are planted in Meadowbrook Park by local high school students to mark the 165 years that have passed since Kingston was first named Canada 's first capital in June 1841.

“We are delighted with the generosity offered by the Tree Canada Foundation,” said John Coleman, Chair of the Kingston First Capital Day committee who produce the annual June 15 th First Capital Day celebrations each year. “Our hope is that 100 years from now citizens of Kingston will indeed have a community that continues to bloom and one that continues to recognize its unique place in Canadian history,” he added.

"We at Tree Canada our proud to help the people of Kingston keep their history and innovation alive through the planting and caring of one of the things which makes Kingston so memorable - its trees" , said Jeff Monty, President of Tree Canada.

Coleman says the idea to plant trees in recognition of Kingston as the First Capital of Canada was the brainchild of Mary Elisabeth Poirier who volunteers with Communities in Bloom Kingston. That organization involves students in tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement and urban forestry.

Kingston Mayor Harvey Rosen will join students from LCVI and Frontenac High Schools on May 3 to plant the trees in Meadowbrook Park - a newer park located behind the Frontenac Mall off Kingsdale Avenue .

This year First Capital Day is Thursday June 15 and organizers will soon unveil various community wide activities associated with the celebration.

Each year on June 15, the community acknowledges the short space of three years when Kingston , a small village incorporated as a town in 1838, served as the capital of a United Canada from 1841 through 1844.

The first Parliament of Upper and Lower Canada met on June 15, 1841 in the newly converted Kingston General Hospital Building and set the framework for the government of Canada . What had been a patchwork of government became, under the new union here in Kingston , an integrated system - the basis for much of today's government.

Information Contacts:

John Coleman - Chairman, First Capital Day Committee
Tel: (613) 545-8666 extension 106
Sue Hitchcock - Communities in Bloom Coordinator
Tel: (613) 546-4291 extension 1716
Michael Rosen - Vice-President, Tree Canada
Tel: (613) 567-5545

Communities In Bloom Kicks It Into 4 th Year
Saturday, May 6

May 2, 2006 - Communities in Bloom Kingston along with our partners and many volunteers invite you to spring into action. Join us on Saturday, May 6 as we “kick off” the 2006 edition of Communities in Bloom.

Garb a shovel and container and make your way to the Cataraqui Town Centre or the Memorial Centre to dig into” free” compost compliments of Waste Management. The compost give away begins at 8:00 a.m. at both locations. Come early as quantities are limited. No trailers please!

The dirt will start flying at 10:00 a.m. as Canadian Tire Cataraqui hosts the 4 th Annual Celebrity Plant Off. Local dignitaries and celebrities, including The Honourable John Gerretsen, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, The Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of House of Commons, Mayor Harvey Rosen and Glen Laubenstein, CAO, City of Kingston will be planting barrels. The barrels will be placed outside City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce and Portsmouth Olympic Harbour.

Councillors Kevin George, George Beavis, Beth Pater, George Stoparczyk, Sara Meers, Steve Garrison, Ed Smith, Floyd Patterson, Rick Downes, and Leonore Foster will also be putting their green thumbs to the test.

“I am delighted with the number of people taking part in the plant off this year,” says Lance Thurston, Commissioner of Community Development Services (who is also participating). “What a great way to “kick off” the Communities in Bloom Program and the 2006 gardening season, adds Thurston.”

Communities in Bloom Volunteers will be on hand to take registrations for the 2006 Kingston Blooms Program. Residents who register at the Kick off Event will have their name entered into a draw to win a $50.00 Canadian Tire Shop Card.

James Kuhns of the Composting Council of Canada will join us as we kick off the City of Kingston 's involvement in the Plant a Row Grow a Row program. James will be available to answer all your questions about the program and how to get involved.

Local radio personality, Jay Scotland of 96.3 JOE FM (Oldies 960) will be along, broadcasting all the play-by-play action from 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Visit the Kingston Blooms official site at:

www.kingstonblooms.com

For further information contact:
Sue Hitchcock, 546-4291 x 1302

Please click below to view (.pdf document):
Poster
Storing Vegetables and Fruit (Sept 05)
Plant a Row 2006 Ontario Brochure

Plant a Row - Grow a Row builds on the long-standing tradition of gardeners loving to share their harvest with others. It is a people-helping people program to assist in feeding the homeless and the hungry in our own community.

A handful of seeds, a method to link donations with those in need and a love of gardening are some of the features that make this program work. And while dollars are always nice, the most important currencies in this program are energy, a connect-the-dots attitude and the involvement of our community.

Plant a Row - Grow a Row has a number of objectives:

• To encourage everyone to plant, grow and harvest and extra row of vegetables for local food banks and agencies;
• To support the continued development of a positive relationship between the community and its food banks and agencies; And very importantly,
• To have fun…by doing something that you love to do anyways and sharing your talents and harvest with others!

Types of veggies to plant:
Squash, Carrots, Parsnips, Turnips, Beets, Potatoes, Beans, Peas, Corn, cucumbers, Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Onions. For a complete list of vegetables accepted by local agencies and delivery times please contact the participating agencies listed below.

Participating agencies in Kingston:

• Partners in Mission Food Bank
  contact: Sandy Singers, Executive Director
  Tel: 613-544-4534
  Fax: 613-544-4709

• Martha's Table, Chalmer's United Church
  contact: Al Parker, Kitchen Coordinator
  Tel: 613-546-0320
  Cell: 572-1771
  
  Hours of operation:
  Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

• The Kingston Youth Shelter
  
  contact: Jason Beaubiah, Director
  Tel: 613-544-3400 x 2246
  Email: Jason@kingstonyouthshelter.com
  
  Types of veggies: Potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers are preferred, but will accept all donations.
  Note: Please call ahead
  Deliver to: 234 Brock Street, Kingston, Ontario K7L 1S4

• Katarakwi Native Friendship Centre
  contact: Liz Strange
  Tel: 548-1500
  Email: knfc@kos.net
  Deliveries can be made Monday-Friday 9am-5pm at
  50 Hickson Avenue

• St. Vincent de Paul Society of Kingston
  contact Deb Greer, Administrator
  Tel: 544-3333 (warehouse)
  Tel: 544-7372 (home/office)
  Email: debgreer@cogeco.ca
  Summer hours: Tuesday mornings only
  After Labour Day: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
  Will accept all vegetables - Deliver to 85 Stephen Street or call for pick up

• Food Sharing Project
  
  (Food program which provides breakfast, snack, and/or lunch for school children)
  
  Contact: Pam Richmond, Coordinator
  Tel: 530-3514
  Email: fsp@kingston.net
  Operate during school months (September to June)
  Will accept the following veggies: Carrots, Peppers, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Broccoli and Celery
  Located at: 140 Hickson Ave. (same building as Partners in Mission Food Bank)