Ayr, ON (October 30, 2024) GrandBridge Energy employees dug deep to plant 100 trees and shrubs to create a Microforest at Cedar Creek Public School in Ayr on Monday, October 28. The planting was a team effort that included GrandBridge Energy, Sustainable Waterloo Region and the Waterloo Region District School Board.
GrandBridge Energy funded the planting in Ayr as part of the Sustainable Waterloo Region Microforest Program launched in the fall of 2021. The program encourages organizations across the Waterloo Region to donate land for tree planting. The Waterloo Region District School Board provided the land for the recent planting.
Microforests are small areas of land that are returned to their natural state through planting native trees and shrubs. Microforests have great ecological benefits, allowing the natural land to thrive in urban areas. They also bring social and economic advantages, improving the aesthetic environment of neighbourhoods and removing damaging air pollutants. The Microforest at Cedar Creek Public School consists of nine species and will provide beauty, outdoor education and shade for the schoolyard.
“GrandBridge Energy has been a proud member of Sustainable Waterloo Region for many years. We have enjoyed supporting the Microforest Program since it began in 2021. The planting at Cedar Creek Public School is the fourth Microforest planting event that GrandBridge Energy has funded and our employees have rolled up their sleeves to participate in all four events. We were especially pleased to have Sue Foxton, Mayor of North Dumfries, join us for the tree planting, as she is a valued member of our Board of Directors,” said Sarah Hughes, President & CEO of GrandBridge Energy.
The planting of a Microforest and its overall social and environmental benefits to our community is appreciated. Involving the youth at Cedar Creek Public School in planting the Microforest and its longer-term maintenance represents another key component behind this initiative. Projects like this Microforest represent part of the overall objective of responsible stewardship, environmental awareness, and a caring community. All of North Dumfries benefits from projects like this. Thank you so much GrandBridge Energy, Sustainable Waterloo Region and Cedar Creek Public School,” said Sue Foxton, Mayor of North Dumfries.
“Our participation in the MicroForest planting and GrandBridge Energy’s ongoing partnership with Sustainable Waterloo Region reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship and our Strategic Goal to Enable Community Ambitions. We are grateful to Sustainable Waterloo Region and the Waterloo Region District School Board for the opportunity to plant a vibrant Microforest in Ayr, a community we are proud to power,” added Hughes.
“The Cedar Creek school community is very grateful for this project’s partnership. Our students learned about a Microforest and participated in the planting and mulching. We look forward to reaping the rewards and benefits of another green space in our schoolyard for future generations of students,” said Stephanie Morris, Principal of Cedar Creek Public School.
“We are so excited to work with GrandBridge Energy in this Microforest Program and this specific planting at Cedar Creek Public School. We can only do this work with the support of sponsors and planters and the amazing at GrandBridge Energy came alongside us to make this possible,” said Tova Davidson, Executive Director of Sustainable Waterloo Region. “Planting forests in school yards helps shade natural areas, slow down the wind and absorb rain. It also provides a space of refuge and an eco-learning opportunity.”
GrandBridge Energy has participated in other planting sites since 2021, including Avenue Road Public School, Manchester Public School and Centennial Public School in Cambridge.
Sustainable Waterloo Region is a social enterprise nonprofit committed to helping the local business community and Waterloo Region become environmentally and economically sustainable and strong. Visit www.sustainablewaterlooregion.ca to learn more about the Microforest Program.
To learn more about GrandBridge Energy, visit grandbridgeenergy.com.
