Grande Prairie Arbor Day Society established in 2002 and is made up of representatives from Swan City Rotary, City of Grande Prairie, Grande Prairie and Area Environmental Science Educational Society, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, West Fraser and Canfor

● Our Mission: To create a legacy of beauty and awareness of trees and their value through development of groves in the community, ceremonial tree plants and delivery of seedlings.

● Each year a school is chosen to receive the ceremonial tree on the Thursday of the first full week in May.

● St. Catherines School was the choice for 2020 however was postponed due to COVID restrictions

● The tree is donated and planted each year by Greenblade

● Volunteers from West Fraser, Canfor and Weyerheauser (in 24 hours) individually bagged and delivered 2500 seedlings to Grade 1 and 2 students from Spirit River to Grande Cache before students went home for virtual lessons.

● International Paper provided informational posters and bookmarks to all registered classes.

● Our new video presentation will be sent to teachers this week for students to access the presentation from home.

Arbor Day 2021Photo Courtesy: Grande Prairie Environmental Science Educational Society (GPESES)

History of Arbor Day

● Julies and Caroline Morton moved from Michigan to Nebraska and upon arrival noticed the lack of trees. They began planting trees around their home and encouraged others to do the same.

● 8 years later, in 1872 Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture to set aside a holiday for tree planting. It was adopted and spread across the USA as Arbor Day.

● By 1884 Canada began celebrating Arbor Day as well.

● Arbor is latin for tree

Information provided by Grande Prairie Environmental Science Educational Society (GPESES)