Tomorrow Starts Today:
Tree Planting 2023


Ready to get your hands dirty?
Action Speaks Louder Than Words!

Join us, and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to plant trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, and help grow Toronto’s urban forest.

When?

Date:
May 6, 2023 (Saturday)

Time:
9:00 am – 3:30 pm

Where?

Planting location:
Phyllis Rawlinson Park
(11715 Leslie St, Richmond Hill,
ON L4E 3R7)

Parking and washrooms:
There is a parking lot in front of the Robert Holland Interpretive Centre near the park’s main entrance. Washrooms available inside.

Meeting location:
Field in front of the parking lot

Who?

Across U-hub Volunteer and Community

How Much?

Free

Capacity: 50

Registration Deadline:
May 1, 2023 (Monday), 12:00 nn

Thank you for your support, Tomorrow Starts Today: Tree Planting 2023 is FULL and the registration is closed.

What are the objectives?

  • Develop a stronger sense of belonging and ownership by placing our footprint and roots in the city
  • Ignite our sense of wonder by taking practical, ground-level action to help the local environment
  • Appreciate the spring season

What will you learn?

  • Learn more about native trees, shrubs and invasive species
  • Learn how to plant a tree
  • Take part in environmental stewardship activities
  • Meet new people with a shared passion for conservation
  • Refresh ourselves through connecting with nature
  • Strengthen our connection to the natural world that coexists with Toronto’s urban environment

Who are the instructors?

Staff from Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), Volunteer & Staff from Across U-hub

What to wear and bring?

  • Long pants
  • Closed toed shoes
  • Sun and rain protection
  • Gardening gloves (if you have them)
  • Full personal water bottle
  • Packed cold lunch
  • Snacks if needed
  • Masks if necessary

Activities

  • Planting 125 trees and shrubs, mulching, monitoring newly planted trees, removing invasive buckthorn, picking up litter
  • Measure plants and collect data as part of TRCA’s Young Tree and Shrub Monitoring and Maintenance Program (YTMP)
  • Remove litter from the site to protect sensitive ecosystems
  • GUIDED HIKE to monitor local streams and EXPLORE the property by hiking to LEARN about plants and animals

Event General Guidelines & Reminders

  • Maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from others whenever possible; If not possible, then a non-medical mask is required
  • Wearing a mask or face covering is required in indoor public spaces
  • Maintain good hand hygiene, including washing or sanitizing hands regularly
  • Avoid physical contact (e.g. high five, shake hands) unless absolutely necessary
  • Where physical distancing cannot be maintained, appropriate PPE and hygiene protocols will be utilized
  • Encourage proper respiratory etiquette (e.g. cough into sleeve)
  • No sharing of equipment will be allowed
  • Avoid touching face, nose and mouth with unwashed hands or while wearing work gloves
  • If you begin to feel sick during the event, please advise TRCA staff prior to leaving
  • TRCA will provide hand sanitizer and gardening gloves to participants
  • TRCA will undertake equipment cleaning/sanitization before and after the event

Health Screening & Procedures

  • All participants must pre-register with TRCA as well. This includes sharing your contact information for contact tracing purposes, a waiver and self-assessment for COVID-19. You should receive an email next week to complete TRCA’s online registration.
  • All participants must do the self-assessment for COVID-19 on the Ontario Ministry of Health website and if you do not pass the assessment, you will not be permitted to join the event.
  • Onsite staff and participant health screening using the COVID -19 screening tool will also take place at the start of the event. Anyone who answers yes to a screening question or who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, has traveled in the last 14 days or has had close contact with a confirmed case will not be permitted to participate.

Cancellation Policy

The event will run rain or shine. It will be cancelled if there is a greater than 70% chance of thunderstorm or if hazardous weather arises. We will email registrants by 8:00 am the morning of the event if there is a cancellation.