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    May, 2008: Schools, businesses help green the Rouge

FRW plantings continued at a furious pace in May. Six thousand (6,000) native trees, shrubs and wildflowers were added to the 18,000 planted in April. More than a dozen schools, two businesses, community groups and FRW staff and volunteers did their part.


William Armstrong students planting
at Bob Hunter Memorial Park

May featured several major planting events involving over 1,000 volunteers from schools, community groups and corporations.

  • The annual Scout & Guides Planting took place on May 3.
  • The Tamil community supplied volunteers for a planting on May 25.
  • Toyota's annual planting took place on May 26.
  • A planting for the Telus Day of Service was held on May 31.
  • Many schools participated in weekday plantings.

The Toyota planting attracted between 150 and 200 people. A total of 400 trees and 800 wildflowers were planted. In addition to a monetary donation, Toyota Canada President Mr. Yoichi Tomihara announced that a new Toyota Hybrid vehicle would be made available to FRW. City TV, CTV, and Global were all on hand to cover the event.

Sites in Bob Hunter Park, and in the Scarborough portion of Rouge Park (south of Steeles) were the focus of the planting activity including a large portion of the old Beare Landfill Restoration site. Both wetland and upland flower species were planted.

School Plantings in May

Classes School Address 
1 class from Bliss Carmen PS Scarborough
2 classes from Dr. Marion Hilliard PS Scarborough
2 classes and an env. club from Grey Owl Junior PS Scarborough
11 classes from Hillside Outdoor Education School Scarborough
1 class from John G Diefenbaker Scarborough
2 classes from Joseph Howe PS Scarborough
1 class from JS Woodsworth Sr Scarborough
2 classes from Little Rouge PS Markham
2 classes from Maplewood HS Scarborough
1 class from McGregor PS Manitoba
4 classes from Rouge Valley PS Scarborough
1 class from St. Norbert PS Manitoba 
2 classes from Tecumseh PS Scarborough
2 classes from William Armstrong PS Markham

A few planting groups (including our new friends from Manitoba) were lucky enough to see the sometimes elusive coyotes that roam our restoration sites. Other exciting sightings made by students included a salamander in the Beare Wetland Restoration site (probably an Eastern Red-Backed), seven Common Merganser ducklings (with their parents) and six Wood duck ducklings (with their parents), Also, several students found freshly hatched painted turtles (each was about the size of a toonie).