Every Tree Counts: Officials dig in to plant trees for the launch of Citytrees - a tree mapping web tool

TORONTO, June 15, 2015 /CNW/ - As part of the efforts to increase Toronto's tree canopy, the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation and Ryerson University, supported by the City of Toronto and other partners, are launching the Every Tree Counts campaign to encourage the public to use the tree mapping, tracking and counting app called Citytrees.

Everyone in Toronto is invited to use the Citytrees app to map the trees they plant, contributing to our goal of expanding Toronto's tree cover. Ryerson University and Codetuitive developed Citytrees in partnership with the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation as an easy to use tool that is accessible on any device – desktops, tablets and phones.

City of Toronto Councillor Michelle Berardinetti, Ward 35 (Scarborough Southwest) and Glenn De Baeremaeker, City Councillor Ward 38 (Scarborough Centre) will celebrate the launch by planting the first two trees of the Every Tree Counts campaign and entering them into the tree counter. The trees will be instantly mapped for the public to see, monitored and tracked as they grow. We can all register the trees we plant using Citytrees and make – Every Tree Count.

The project was funded in part through Growing Forward 2 (GF2), a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists in the delivery of GF2 in Ontario.

WHAT:	Photo opportunity, web tool unveiling and tree planting. Members of the media are invited to attend.
WHO:	Michelle Berardinetti, City Councillor, Ward 35 (Scarborough Southwest)
	Glenn De Baeremaeker, City Councillor, Ward 38 (Scarborough Centre)
	Andrew Sorbara, Chair, Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation
	Mark Cullen, Trees for Life Canada
	Wendy Cukier, Vice-President of Research and Innovation, Ryerson University
WHEN:	June 17, 2015
	10:00 am to 11:00 am
WHERE:	Confederation Park and Centennial Community Centre
	1967 Ellesmere Rd (enter parking lot off of Dolly Varden Boulevard)

SOURCE Ryerson University

MEDIA CONTACTS: Carla Grant, Executive Director, Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation, 416.435.2349, [email protected]; Suelan Toye, Public Affairs, Ryerson University, Office: 416-979-5000 x 7161, [email protected], Follow us @RyersonU