Home Hardware Dealers Plant Trees from Coast to Coast to Celebrate Maple Leaf
Day

ST. JACOBS, ON, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - Home Hardware Dealers across the country are celebrating Maple Leaf Day today by planting trees in 19 communities from coast to coast to coast as part of the company's longstanding relationship with Tree Canada. 

"With 1,070 stores across Canada, Home Dealers are proud to give back to their communities," said Paul Straus, President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "Trees help to conserve energy, improve air and water quality and provide wildlife habitat.  This project aligns perfectly with our company's ongoing efforts to be environmentally responsible."

Maple Leaf Day, celebrated annually on the last Wednesday in September during National Forest Week, is a day that Canadians take the time to reflect on the link between their lives and the maple leaf — a symbol of the Canadian historical, economic and environmental link to trees. Maple Leaf Day is celebrated across the country with tree dedications, plantings, educational workshops, outdoor education walks, interpretive days, schoolyard plantings and seminars.

"Home Hardware's generous and longstanding sponsorship has helped Tree Canada plant thousands of trees across the country," said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada.  "It's fantastic to see Dealers in communities large and small, urban and rural, doing their part for the environment, and setting a great example for all Canadians."

Home Hardware has partnered with Tree Canada for 11 years, improving green spaces across the country. In 2010, the following Home Hardware stores will participate in tree plantings:

• Home Hardware - Belle River, Belle River, ON, October 3, 2010
• Beach Builders Supplies, Wasaga Beach, ON, September 22, 2010
• Simcoe Home Hardware, Simcoe, ON [Date TBD]
• Casselman Plywood Centre De Renovation Home Hardware Building Centre, Casselman, ON September 20, 2010
• Countryside Home Hardware, Windsor, ON [Date TBD]
• Carleton Place Home Hardware, Carleton Place, ON, September 22, 2010
• Craig Home Hardware Building Centre, Hudson Bay, SK, September 22, 2010
• Hauser Home Hardware Building Centre, Camrose, AB, September 21, 2010
• Athabasca Home Hardware Building Centre, Athabasca, AB, September 22, 2010
• Duncan Home Hardware Building Centre, Duncan, BC, September 29, 2010
• Invermere Home Hardware Building Centre, Invermere, BC, September 22, 2010
• Snow Lake Home Building Centre, Snow Lake, MB, September 22, 2010
• Simms Home Hardware Building Centre, Fredericton, NB, October 6, 2010
• Toner Home Hardware, Grand Falls, NB, September, 22, 2010
• Home Hardware - Charlottetown, Charlottetown, PEI, September 23, 2010
• North Rustico Home Hardware, North Rustico, PEI, September 22, 2010
• Ingersoll Home Hardware Building Centre, Ingersoll, ON, October 24, 2010
• Port Hood Home Hardware, Port Hood, NS, September 23, 2010
• Winchester Home Hardware, Winchester, ON, September 22, 2010

About Home Hardware Stores Limited
Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest independent hardware, lumber and building materials and furniture retailer with 1,070 stores across Canada, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners.  Dealers have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products and the company has annual retail sales of $4.85 billion. The cooperative was founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers.

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. A winner of the Canadian Environmental Award (2007), 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. To date, more than 76 million trees have been planted, more than 450 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has organized 8 national urban forest conferences. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.

For further information:

Rob Wallace, Public Relations & Promotional Events Manager Home Hardware Stores Limited at 519-664-4710 or [email protected].