www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 14, 2016 | 16 TreeKeepers Program to encourage residents to keep Oakville green Residents dug in at a recent public tree planting event to help restore Pelee Woods and launch Oakvillegreen Conservation Association's TreeKeepers program, which encourages residents to become stewards of the land. By providing free trees, invasive species removal, stewardship training and hosting neighbourhood events, the program aims to educate and empower residents to carry out on-the-ground stewardship activities in their own neighbourhoods, acting as "urban TreeKeepers." Oakville is losing many of its ash trees because of the infestation of the emerald ash borer (EAB), which is causing great damage to the urban forest, according to Oakvillegreen Urban Forest Stewardship Co-ordinator Christen Dschankilic. "Pelee Woods is one site where many ash trees were damaged and their removal affected the woodlot as a whole," he told the Oakville Beaver. Planting new trees and educating residents about the importance of caring for urban greenspaces is one way to combat the effects of EAB and other invasive species. "The TreeKeepers program is a "fantastic Pelee Woods is one site where many ash trees were damaged and their removal affected the woodlot as a whole. Oakvillegreen Urban Forest Stewardship Co-ordinator Christen Dschankilic way to help protect and grow the green canopy in your community," stated Oakville Mayor Rob Burton in a press release. "Through engagement and education, Oakvillegreen is helping make Oakville a more livable, sustainable place for everyone," he said. The TreeKeepers program is open to all Oakville residents. To get involved, contact oakvilletreekeepers@gmail.com. Oakvillegreen hopes participation in the program will increase Oakville's tree diversity and support the Town of Oakville's 40 per cent urban forest canopy coverage goal. It's being funded by the Oakville Environmental Fund and The Alma Fund. For more information, visit oakvillegreen. org/programs/oakville-treekeepers. Oakvillegreen recently hosted a tree planting in Pelee Woods Park, one of the many Oakville parks hit hard by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). At the park, volunteers planted new trees to replace the ash trees that were damaged and removed. Pictured, Sammy Kansal, 3, looks through the handle of his shovel, alongside one of the two replacement trees he and his mom planted on a Sunday afternoon. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www.facebook.com/ HaltonPhotog) Did you take a Payday Loan from The Cash Store or Instaloans in Ontario on or after September 1, 2011? Collect money owed to you from class action settlements totaling more than $10 MILLION. A $50 minimum for borrowers depending on claims volume: Simple Claims Process likely not required. Documentation O Thursdays 1:00 6:30 pm P E Saturdays 10:30 am 1:30 pm N Sundays 10:00 am 12:00 pm www.TakeBackYourCash.ca 1-866-840-2631 (toll-free) Homemade Ukrainian Food terrace take-away all prepared and easy to warm up CANADA POST STRIKE? It's easy to find all the great Summer sales at Canadian Tire each week: Check our online flyer at canadiantire.ca NO WORRIES... or Pick up your copy of the weekly flyer in-store 905.337.1400 ext. 116 orders@terracetakeaway.ca cafe@sjucc.ca www.terracetakeaway.ca St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church 300 River Oaks Blvd. East (at Trafalgar) Oakville ON Look in Today's paper.