Symbolic Trees Planted at Island Park

Island Park in Portage la Prairie now has three symbolic trees planted with special meaning that will grow and be a staple of the greenspace for years to come.

Representatives from the City of Portage la Prairie, CN Rail, Tree Canada, Dakota Tipi First Nation and the provincial government were on hand at Island Park in Portage Friday, as a ceremonial tree planting took place in part to recognize a $25,000 Canada 150 grant the city received this year, allowing 400 new trees to be put in the ground.

“This is really, really critical for our community,” says Portage la Prairie Mayor Irvine Ferris. “As many people know, for the past 30 years our urban forest has been under siege. First, from dutch elm disease, we lost 1000s of trees. Now, we have the emerald ash borer (as a future threat) that will attack and take out a lot of our ash trees.”

“Being able to replace those trees is really important to maintain and grow the urban forest.”

CN Rail Public Affairs Manager Kate Fenske says the company's worked to plant trees in more than 150 communities across Canada this year.

“It's really about working with the communities that we travel through everyday,” Fenske notes. “Our employees live in these communities. We work here, live here and play here. So it's really important we get involved in this way.”

The three trees planted yesterday all hold different meanings. The silver cloud maple represents Canada; an autumn blaze maple is spreading its roots as a symbol of Manitoba; and a trembling aspen sits among the maples in honour of First Nations communities. A commemorative plaque will be installed alongside the tree display, just east of Splash Island.