City of Brandon Receives Funding to Plant 470 Trees at Canada Packers Sports Complex
Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon is proud to announce that it has received $67,470 in funding from the Government of Canada through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative to support tree planting at the Canada Packers Sports Complex (CPSC).
Funding for this project is provided by the Government of Canada and delivered through FCM’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative. Announced in May 2024, GCCC 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.
The CPSC is one of Brandon’s premier outdoor recreation destinations, featuring soccer fields, a cricket pitch and practice cages, an ultimate frisbee field, a lacrosse field, pathways, and other amenities that serve residents and visitors from across the region.
Approximately 470 trees will be planted throughout the complex, enhancing the community's urban canopy and creating a greener, more welcoming recreation destination, enhance the visitor experience, and contribute to Brandon’s long-term environmental sustainability goals.
The tree planting project will enhance the site’s natural beauty, increase shade and comfort for users, and further strengthen the complex as a community gathering place and recreational hub. This project also aligns with National Forest Week, an annual celebration that highlights the importance of forests and trees in building healthy, sustainable and resilient communities across Canada.
“FCM is proud to support the City of Brandon’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 like Brandon enhance and expand their green spaces, providing lasting environmental and community benefits. The trees being planted at the Canada Packers Sports Complex will provide greater shade and comfort, strengthen Brandon’s urban canopy, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable community.”
“Trees play an important role in building healthy, vibrant and resilient communities,” said Deputy Mayor Glen Parker. “This investment will help transform the Canada Packers Sports Complex into an even more welcoming and sustainable space for residents and visitors while providing lasting environmental benefits for future generations. We are very grateful for this federal investment and for the support of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.”
About FCM’s Green Municipal Fund
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is a globally unique organization providing funding and education to municipalities to help 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.
The Green Municipal Fund’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies is a $291M initiative, ending in 2031, funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the FCM. Capacity building is enabled through a partnership with Tree Canada.
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Media Contact: Merrilea Metcalf / m.metcalf@brandon.ca / 204-729-2590