The City of Lloydminster is expanding its urban tree canopy, with plans to plant 208 trees in 2027 after putting 77 in the ground in 2026.
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The work is backed by an $83,520 grant from the Government of Canada, with the City also contributing funding toward the project.
Where the federal money is coming from
The grant flows through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative, a $291-million national program announced in May 2024.
The initiative aims to plant at least 1.2 million trees across Canada by the end of March 2031 and is delivered by FCM in partnership with Tree Canada.
FCM president Tim Tierney said the program is designed to help municipalities of every size get the right trees into the right places.
“Whether they are providing shade on a hot summer day, improving local green spaces, or bringing people together outdoors, trees make our communities better places to live,” said Secretary of State (Nature) Nathalie Provost.
Where the new trees will be planted
The 2027 plantings are set for Highways 16 and 17, Bud Miller All Seasons Park and six other community parks across the city.
Additional trees are planned for the Lloydminster Cemetery, the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre and neighbourhood boulevards.
Species under consideration include ash, mountain ash, alder, spruce, poplar, buckeye, elm, oak and maple.
The City says a larger tree canopy can ease the effects of extreme heat, improve stormwater management and make parks and public spaces more welcoming, a message that echoes earlier efforts to beautify the Border City with new foliage.
New Adopt-a-Boulevard program launching in 2027
Lloydminster also plans to launch an Adopt-a-Boulevard Tree Program in 2027, giving residents a direct role in growing the city’s canopy.
Under the program, residents will be able to help grow and care for trees planted along neighbourhood boulevards.
About 100 trees are expected to be made available for adoption, similar in spirit to community plantings like those seen when students planted trees at College Park.
The City says details on how residents can take part will be released closer to the program’s launch.
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