Tree Planting Recognizes Stanley Park Donors and Anniversary of Storm

December 15, 2007 (No. 64) - Vancouver Park Board Chair Korina Houghton was joined today by Mayor Sam Sullivan, the Honourable Barry Penner, Provincial Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Gary Lunn, Federal Minister of Natural Resources, and local community leader Jim Pattison, at a special tree planting ceremony in Stanley Park. The event was held to recognize their role as lead Stanley Park donors and to mark the one year anniversary of last December's windstorm that devastated the park. The City of Vancouver, the Provincial Government and the Federal Government each contributed $2 million and Mr. Pattison contributed $1 million toward the $9.5 million Restoration Plan for the park.

Park Board Chair Houghton said, "We have made significant progress in restoring Vancouver 's beloved park and it is fitting that we recognize the support and generosity of our major donors through the planting of these four trees as symbols of their contribution to the park's renewal."

"On behalf of City Council, I want to thank our government partners, the businesses and residents of Vancouver - and across Canada - that contributed to help restore this national treasure," said Mayor Sullivan. "I also want to pay special tribute to the staff at Global Television for the unique role they played in helping to pull our community together by organizing such a successful fundraising event."

On behalf of the Provincial Government Minister Penner added, "As minister responsible for our incredible provincial parks system, I know how important parks are to British Columbians. That's why the Government of British Columbia contributed $2 million from the province's LocalMotion Fund to assist in the restoration effort."

Minister Lunn said "Our Government understands the special place Stanley Park holds in the hearts and minds of British Columbians. That's why, as one of his first acts as Minister of Environment, Minister Baird came here to deliver $2 million dollars to help with the restoration of this park. As we stand here today I am very pleased to see first hand how much restoration progress has been made in Stanley Park since last year's devastating wind storm."

Mr. Pattison's remarks echoed those of many park restoration donors: "Stanley Park is a special place for me and a lot of other folks - family picnics, fish & chips, swimming, church picnics - it's like part of the family!"

With the help of biologists, archaeologists, engineers, environmentalists and forest specialists, the Park Board has mapped and protected the environmental and cultural features of the park, cleared many of the blowdown areas, removed hazardous trees weakened by the winds, completed most of the tree thinning work that will help protect the forest from future storms, stabilized the damaged cliffs between Prospect Point and Third Beach, allowing for the temporary reopening of the Seawall and began replanting the blowdown areas. The remainder of the work outlined in the Restoration Plan will continue through 2008.

Tree planting ceremony marking one year anniversary of Stanley Park windstorm. Pictured left to right: Park Board Chair Korina Houghton, Park Board General Manager Susan Mundick, Community Leader Jim Pattison, Federal Minister of Natural Resources Gary Lunn, Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, Provincial Minister of the Environment Barry Penner, and City Councillor Peter Ladner.

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For more information, contact Carol DeFina, Communications Coordinator, at 604-257-8440
or 604-377-3950.
www.vancouverparks.ca

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation maintains 200 parks and 40 major facilities throughout the City of Vancouver. The Park Board's mission is to provide, preserve and advocate for parks and recreation services to benefit people, communities and the environment.