CN EcoConnexions community tree planting program to double number of 2017 recipients, award 50 grants

Communities to receive commemorative plaque, ceremonial tree in honour of Canada's 150^th

OTTAWA, Sept. 26, 2016 /CNW/ - CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) today announced that 50 communities across Canada will be awarded grants of $25,000 to fund local tree planting projects in honour of the nation's 150^th anniversary. 

The 2017 grant awards, the sixth year of the CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program launched in partnership with Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom, double from 25 to 50 the number of communities that have been awarded grants in previous years.  

Selected communities will each receive a $25,000 grant from CN, and a commemorative plaque and ceremonial tree to be planted in celebration of Canada's 150^th anniversary. 

CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up program promotes community sustainability through the greening of municipal and community properties across Canada.  CN and its partners, Tree Canada and Communities in Bloom, assist Canadian municipalities and community groups in establishing tree planting and green space enhancement initiatives in a sustainable, environmentally responsible manner.

Since CN launched From the Ground Up in 2012, more than 60,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, helping to enhance the environmental and social health of 150 communities across Canada. Through its various tree planting initiatives, including From the Ground Up, CN has planted 1.2 million trees across North America since 2011.  

"CN remains committed to making a positive impact on the cities and towns along our network, and we are proud to be part of a program that helps to make them better places to live, work and play," said Sean Finn, CN Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services, and Chief Legal Officer. "We're not only helping beautify these communities, we're positively contributing to a sustainable future one community at a time, as planting trees improves air quality and offsets carbon emissions."

"Tree Canada is excited to continue our partnership with CN and Communities in Bloom to bring CN EcoConnexions - From the Ground Up to deserving communities across Canada," said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "With this program, CN is creating a lasting legacy of sustainability for present and future generations, providing funding and much-needed awareness to the value of trees and green spaces to our health and wellbeing as well as the environment."

"Communities in Bloom is proud to partner with CN and Tree Canada in celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation through the 2017 edition of the CN EcoConnexions – From the Ground Up program," said Raymond Carrière, Founding President of Communities in Bloom. "We are looking forward to witnessing projects throughout Canada made possible by community engagement, environmental awareness, civic pride and dedication to the natural environment.  CN's contribution enables these communities to enhance their green spaces and their urban forests for generations to come."

About CN
CN (TSX: CNR)(NYSE: CNI) is a true backbone of the economy, transporting approximately C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network spanning Canada and mid-America. CN – Canadian National Railway Company, along with its operating railway subsidiaries -- serves the cities and ports of Vancouver, Prince Rupert, B.C., Montreal, Halifax, New Orleans, and Mobile, Ala., and the metropolitan areas of Toronto, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Calgary, Chicago, Memphis, Detroit, Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis., and Jackson, Miss., with connections to all points in North America. For more information, visit www.cn.ca.

About Tree Canada
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments.  Tree Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees. Since 1992, more than 80 million trees have been planted, over 580 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has helped organize eleven national urban forest conferences. The next Canadian Urban Forest Conference will take place in Laval, QC in 2016. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.

About Communities in Bloom
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, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces.  The pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment generated through participation are visible in communities across Canada. The 2017 Symposium and Awards will be held in Ottawa-Gatineau, National Capital Region from September 13 – 16, 2017.  For more information about the Communities in Bloom program, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca. 

SOURCE CN

Nuria Pérez de León, Manager Community Partnerships and Events, Tel: [phone], [email protected]; Richard Walker, Director of Communications & Program Development, Tree Canada, Tel: [phone] ext. 224, [email protected]; Vivian Shum, Marketing & Communications, Communities in Bloom, Tel: [phone] ext. 2, [email protected]