IKEA Co-workers Dig In to Green Communities

This year marks the 18^th annual tree planting event

BURLINGTON, ON, May 21, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, IKEA co-workers across Canada will show their commitment to sustainability by partnering with Tree Canada to plant trees and shrubs for the 18^th annual Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree event.

"The Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree event highlights our co-workers' long-standing commitment to contributing positively to the communities where we do business," says Kerri Molinaro, President, IKEA Canada. "I am proud of their commitment to improving the urban environment in the communities around our stores."

Since 1996, IKEA Canada has supported Tree Canada by donating a portion of the proceeds from Christmas Trees, sold during the holiday season, towards planting trees and shrubs in the urban communities surrounding its stores. Since the program began, IKEA Canada co-workers have planted enough trees to offset the carbon footprint of 3,500 cars for an entire year.

"For most of our 22 years, IKEA has stood with Tree Canada in helping promote the value of urban forests in Canada" says Michael Rosen, President, Tree Canada. "This year, the trees that we will plant with IKEA will not only help green our communities, but will also help raise the awareness of the importance of trees for every employee who takes part in the event."

The Pick a Tree, Plant a Tree event is one of many sustainability initiatives that have led IKEA Canada to be recognized as one of Canada's Greenest Employers for six years in a row by Mediacorp.

The event supports IKEA's sustainability strategy, People + Planet Positive, which outlines aggressive sustainability goals for IKEA to reach by 2020. One of the cornerstones of People + Planet Positive is to create a better life for people and communities.

Local event details taking place on May 21^st, 2014:

IKEA Etobicoke/ IKEA Vaughan/ IKEA North York
Centennial Park, Parking lot 1
10:00am-12:00pm
Contact: Carlo Franco, 416.642.4339 x2321

IKEA Burlington
Earl Court Park, 801 Francis Rd., Burlington, ON
10:00am-12:00pm
Contact: Maja Boricevic, 905.681.5531 x 2332

IKEA Ottawa
185 Corkstown Road, Ottawa, ON
9:00am-12:00pm
Contact: Chelsea Murray, 613.721.4532 x2334

IKEA Boucherville
845 rue de Brouages
Parc du bois de Brouages à Boucherville
8:30-11am
Contact: Annie Colangelo, 450.449.6755 x2334

IKEA Montreal
Maison de l'Enfance, 1075 avenue Ste-Croix, St-Laurent, QC, H4L 3Z2
9:00am-11:00am
Contact: Francesca Tancredi, 514.738.5556 x2334

IKEA Winnipeg
Fort Whyte Centre, 1961 Mc Creary Rd, Winnipeg, MB, R3P 2K9
9:30-11:30am
Contact: Daevid Ramey, 204.475.4532 x2334

IKEA Calgary
Sue Higgins Park
9:00-11:00am
Contact: Darren Mcarthur, 403.538.2400 x2335

IKEA Edmonton
8812 18th Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6K 2A7 (near berm of 91^st Street)
10:30am - 12:30pm
Contact: Jessica Jones, 780.495.9686 x2335

IKEA Coquitlam
Marguerite Park, 1480 Marguerite St, Coquitlam, BC, V3E 0A7
11:00am-1:00PM
Contact: Jen Knight, 604.540.8337 x2334

About IKEA
IKEA is a leading home furnishings retailer with 325 stores in 40 countries worldwide, which are visited by 734 million people every year. IKEA Canada has 12 stores which are visited by over 25 million people every year. Last year the IKEA.com websites attracted over 1 billion visitors. Founded in 1943, IKEA's business philosophy is to offer a wide range of products of good design and function at prices so low, the majority of people can afford them. For more information on IKEA, please visit: www.IKEA.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. 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 77 million trees have been planted, more than 450 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has organized 9 national urban forest conferences. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca

SOURCE: IKEA Canada

Madeleine Löwenborg-Frick
Public Relations Manager
IKEA Canada
[email protected]