On Saturday September 27, join community volunteers – including TD employees and their families – and the City of Courtenay to help plant native species along the Piercy Creek Greenway, adjacent to the Comox Valley Parkway.

Part of TD Tree Days, this will be the second year in a row  the City works with TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) to enhance and establish native vegetation within the greenway.

The event will take place rain or shine from 10 am until 1pm. Some gloves and shovels will be provided, although people are encouraged to bring their own and to dress for the weather. City staff will be in attendance to show proper planting techniques. Planters are to assemble at the greenway entrance at the southern end of Piercy Avenue. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate in the planting and are invited to register at www.tdtreedays.com .

“Similar to last year, this has been a partnership. The City, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, the Broombusters, the Millard Piercy Watershed Stewards and neighbours have each contributed to the project at different phases,” said Nancy Hofer, the City’s environmental planner. “By working with community groups early in the season to remove invasive species, we have created spaces where new native plants can now be established in the fall planting season. Re-vegetation is essential to effective invasive species removal and prevention.

“We’re so thankful to all these organizations for helping enhance the natural environment in our City.”   The Piercy Creek Greenway is an important link in the overall trail network for West Courtenay, connecting the Arden Corridor neighbourhood, the Rotary Trail along the railway corridor, and eventually to the Rotary Riverside Trail and Puntledge River Greenway.

TD Tree Days, TD’s flagship volunteer program, brings TD employees and their families, customers and community partners together to support local forest stewardship. TD Tree Days is part of TD Forests, a major TD conservation program aimed at growing and protecting forested areas and reducing paper use.

Since 1990, TD FEF has provided more than $60 million in funding to more than 20,000 environment projects across Canada. In 2012, TD FEF provided more than $4.8 million in support of over 1,000 projects. Thousands of donors give to TD FEF on a monthly basis and TD Bank Group contributes in excess of $1 million annually. TD also covers the management costs of running TD FEF, which guarantees 100 per cent of every dollar donated funds local environmental projects. For more information on how to donate, visit www.tdfef.com.