St. Pat’s gets new white spruce on Arbor Day

Grade one students at St. Patrick’s Community School in Red Deer were given a special treat on Wednesday.
 
The school was chosen by the City of Red Deer as this year’s recipient of a new white spruce tree as part of Arbor Day.
 
Susan Katzell, an urban forester with the City, says promoting tree awareness is important to do at a young age.
 
“The curriculum begins the teaching of tree awareness with grade ones and we’re just piquing their interest, as well as getting them aware of how to care for trees and the importance of trees in the environment,” she says.
 
In addition, the approximate 1500 grade one students across the city will all receive seedlings today to plant in their own backyard.

City council approved $130,000 in this year’s budget for the Parks department to do tree replacement work.

In 2017, the City will plant 525 new trees around throughout Red Deer.

Parks Superintendent Trevor Poth says there are currently 2400 trees that need replacing, for which there is an eight year plan. He adds there is reclamation work going on in areas around McKenzie Trails and Kin Canyon.