New Westminster, B.C. – The City of New Westminster has been awarded up to $1,051,940 in funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative to continue expanding its street tree canopy and combat the effects of extreme heat in the community. GCCC, which was announced in May 2024, will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031 while offering funding, resources and coaching to communities. In New Westminster, the funding will support the planting of 1,050 trees in Phase 2 of the City's Urban Biodiversity Enhancement Initiative (URBEI).

“As experts have shared, the 2021 heat dome demonstrated the very real risks extreme heat poses to our community. Expanding shade and natural cooling in New Westminster neighbourhoods is an important part of preparing for future events,” said Donnie Rosa, Chief Administrative Officer. “This funding will allow the City of New Westminster to accelerate the work to grow our urban forest, particularly in areas that are most vulnerable to extreme heat, while also supporting biodiversity and building a more resilient community.”

URBEI’s Phase 2, which commenced at the end of last year, targets planting a total of 6,000 new street and boulevard trees by 2030, alongside hardscape (e.g. paved sidewalks) improvements to foster long-term tree health. Planting locations will strategically prioritize neighbourhoods with low tree canopy cover that are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat. The City assesses vulnerability by mapping factors such as residential density, concentrations of seniors, existing tree canopy, and historical heat-related emergency calls for service.

“Growing a healthy urban forest involves much more than planting trees. We need to put the right trees in the right locations and create the conditions that will allow them to thrive for decades,” said Dean Gibson, Director of Parks and Recreation. “Building on the success of Phase 1, which saw 2,300 trees planted across 40 parks and public open spaces, we're now expanding our focus to street and boulevard trees, with an emphasis on improving planting conditions to support healthy, long-term growth.”

In September 2026, the Government of Canada and FCM announced $67.8 million in funding for urban forestry projects across the country through Growing Canada’s Community Canopies.

“FCM is proud to support the City of New Westminster’s transformative tree-planting project,” said Tim Tierney, FCM President. “Through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative and with the support of the Government of Canada, we’re helping municipalities of every size get the right trees in the ground in the right places, creating cooler streets, cleaner air, and healthier neighbourhoods for decades to come.”

“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), the Honourable Nathalie Provost. “Together, we are helping communities expand their green spaces, providing lasting environmental and community benefits. The trees being planted will provide greater shade and comfort, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable community.”

Learn more about New Westminster’s urban forest.

About FCM’s Green Municipal Fund

FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is a globally unique organization that leverages investments from the Government of Canada to provide funding and education to municipalities, helping them both reach net-zero and build resilient communities, while also delivering economic and social benefits such as jobs, housing and infrastructure. Since inception in 2000, it has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.02 million tonnes, funded nearly 60,000 person-years of employment and contributed $5.6 billion to the national GDP via the more than 2,850 approved projects. GMF manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada.

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Media Contact:

Melissa Nilan
Communications Coordinator
City of New Westminster