Lowe's Canada to hand out 2,000 free trees to support Ontario communities devastated by Ice Storm

"Project Replant" initiative helps Ontarians rebuild tree canopy in some of the hardest hit areas

TORONTO, April 22, 2014 /CNW/ - On Saturday April 26^th, Lowe's Canada will be giving away 2,000 free starter trees at five of its store locations across Ontario. This is part of an initiative called "Project Replant", designed to help rebuild some of the tree canopy lost in Ontario communities devastated by the ice storm. With such visible scars left on the natural landscape the goal is to provide households with a replacement starter tree (valued at $30 each) to encourage replanting this spring.

Toronto City officials estimated 20 per cent of the tree canopy was lost with some streets losing as much as 50-80 per cent. There are 10 million trees in public and private spaces of the city; that means we are at risk of losing up to 2 million trees not including the loss in other Ontario communities.

Residents who wish to pick up their free tree which will be a 1 gallon red maple (4-5 ft. tall, container grown) will also receive a Project Starter card that offers $10 off a $100 Lowe's Garden Centre purchase, and is valid from April 26^th to May 7^th. Lowe's will be offering complimentary hot beverages and treats on site for participants lining up.  The event is a first come first serve and trees will be given away while quantities last – no purchase required.

Media are invited to attend this event for photo and interview opportunities with customers getting their free tree and to speak with Lowe's store managers about the initiative and spring planting tips. For more information, please visit www.lowes.ca/projectreplant.

What:	"Project Replant" initiative to support Ontario communities devastated by the ice storm. Lowe's will be giving away 2,000 free starter trees to residents across five locations to help rebuild the tree canopy in some of the hardest hit areas.
When:	Saturday April 26, 2014
	9-9:30 a.m.  Customer line up underway
	9:30 a.m.      Tree giveaway begins
	For best photos and interview opportunities, media should plan to arrive at 9 a.m.

Where: (in Lowe's store parking lots)	Who:
Toronto (500 trees) 1300 Castlefield Avenue Toronto, ON M6B 4B3	Derek Briggs, Store Manager – Toronto Lowe's Toronto residents
West Scarborough (500 trees) 800 Warden Avenue Toronto, ON M1L 4T7	Robert McLaughlin, Store Manager – West Scarborough Lowe's Scarborough residents
Hamilton (350 trees) 1945 Barton Street East Hamilton, ON L8H 2Y7	Lucy Mullin, Assistant Store Manager – Hamilton Lowe's Hamilton residents
Burlington – North (350 trees) 3270 Harrison Crescent Burlington, ON L7M 0W4	Ramona Paul, Store Manager – Burlington North Lowe's Burlington residents
Cambridge (300 trees) 575 Conestoga Boulevard Cambridge, ON N1R 7P5	Chris Hawkins, Store Manager – Cambridge Lowe's Cambridge residents

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2013 sales of $53.4 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE^® 100 company that serves approximately 15 million customers a week at more than 1,830 home improvement and hardware stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Lowe's Companies Canada, ULC first opened Canadian stores in December 2007 and now operates 37 stores in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia with more than 5,000 employees company-wide. For more information, visit www.lowes.ca.

SOURCE: Lowe's Canada

For more information or to confirm attendance, please contact: Sandy Indig, Lowe's Canada, 416-730-7475 (office), 647-236-6926 (cell), [email protected]; Tonique Bedeau, Lowe's Canada, 416-730-7504 (office), 416-988-0144 (cell), [email protected]