The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is underway again for 2020.
This charity, in its fourth year, aims to plant one tree in Ontario for every life lost while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Campaign Director Mike Hurley tells Quinte News this amounts to a total of 2 million trees along Highway 401, from Windsor to Cornwall.
Hurley says, “The goal is simply to create a living memorial to all Canadians that have served, and especially those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces.”
Hurley points to a key intersection in the campaign.
He notes, “The intersection of (Highways) 412 and 401 in Whitby holds tens of thousands of our trees on both the north and south sides of the highway. Just a couple of many such places.”
He says private land owners can participate as well.
Hurley added, “We’ve planted about 45,000 trees to date, directly on the highway (edge) and we’re aiming to get about another 30,000 planted before the end of 2020. Spring planting season hasn’t been quite as busy as it normally is due to some of the current challenges (COVID-19) but we do expect we’re going to make up for that later on this fall.”
