New Westminster – The City of New Westminster has received a $25,000 TD Green Space Grant from TD Bank Group (TD) and the Arbor Day Foundation to support innovative urban greening and tree planting projects. This is in addition to another TD Green Space Grant received earlier this year to fund the planting of 50 new tress in the Brow of the Hill neighbourhood.

For this project, the City has identified 18 Maple trees along Sixth Avenue (between Sixth Street and Eighth Street) designated for removal that were determined to be dead or dying following a number of summer droughts.  The trees were removed in August 2021 and chipped for mulch for use in city gardens.  Due to new road work planned for this portion of Sixth Avenue, an interim solution to beautify the street has been implemented.  Twenty-five large red planters will house the new trees for approximately three years before they are transplanted to their new permanent homes in sidewalk planting sites along this newly-improved area of Sixth Avenue.

 “With this grant, we are excited to get a head start growing new trees along Sixth Avenue in temporary planters,” said Mayor Jonathan Coté. “Once they are transplanted into the ground and grow into a mature size, they will improve the livability of the bustling Uptown retail area by improving air quality, providing shade, reducing the heat island effect, and creating a comfortable and attractive environment for transit users, cyclists and pedestrians. This project is another example of how the City is actively strengthening resilience to climate change while creating more sustainable and desirable places to work, shop and live.”

The existing tree planting locations were also investigated and recommendations were made for enhancements to the underground site conditions and tree species selection.  These identified site improvements will also inform the design of other sidewalk planting sites throughout the City as part of future developments and designs. 

"Green spaces provide long-lasting environmental benefits, but they also play a vital role in creating more vibrant, livable cities by providing social, health and economic benefits for individuals and families," said Andrea Barrack, Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD. "TD is proud to work with the Arbor Day Foundation to help create a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow by supporting critical green space programs in New Westminster."

The removal and replacement of these street trees aims to improve air quality, provide shade, reduce heat-island effect and create a more comfortable and attractive environment for pedestrians in the Uptown retail area.

About the Arbor Day Foundation: Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest non-profit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Their vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

About TD Global Corporate Citizenship

TD has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. As part of its corporate citizenship platform, the TD Ready Commitment, TD is targeting CDN $1 billion (US $750 million*) in total by 2030 towards community giving in four areas critical to opening doors for a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow – Financial Security, Vibrant Planet, Connected Communities and Better Health. Through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident - not just about their finances, but also in their ability to achieve their personal goals in a changing world. For further information, visit www.td.com/tdreadycommitment.

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Media Contact:

Erika Mashig
Manager, Parks and Open Spaces Planning, Design and Construction
City of New Westminster
604-527-4530 or