Latest News:
Ontario Contributes 880,000 Trees to Living Tribute
June 28, 2021 - Milton, Ontario More than 880,000 new trees have been planted across Ontario this spring in honour of Canadian veterans, thanks to the combined efforts of the Highway of Heroes (HOH) Tree Campaign and Forests Ontario. These newly planted seedlings are adding to an existing green monument along Canada’s busiest highway.
Ontario Honours Fallen Soldiers
Friday July 31, 2020 - Trenton, Ontario The Ontario Government announces $1,000,000 towards the planting of memorial trees along the Highway of Heroes.
Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign Expands Efforts with $500,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation Grow Grant
Earlier this year, we received a two-year $500,000 Grow Grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation. The grant will allow us to expand our successful highway plantings within the City of Toronto.
The Highway of Heroes
During the war in Afghanistan, Canada lost 158 servicemen and servicewomen. Once repatriated at CFB Trenton, their bodies traveled to the coroner’s office in Toronto.
A very Canadian thing happened during those years: hundreds of people turned out to stand on bridges along Highway 401 to quietly reflect on the meaning of this sacrifice, hold flags and salute the fallen heroes passing by in hearses.
Since then, the 170-km route has been known as the Highway of Heroes.
The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign
In 2014, this spirit of unity inspired a group of tree-loving people to transform the Highway of Heroes into a living tribute to Canada’s veterans. The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign was born.
The campaign will plant a total of two million trees, a tree for every Canadian service person since Confederation. Of those, 117,000 trees will be planted directly along the highway as a living memorial to each soldier who died during wartime.
A Living Tribute
“They have fought to protect our land and our freedom. It is now our collective duty to protect what they’ve fought for.”
-Mark Cullen,
Co-Founder & Volunteer Chair
"But the freedom that they fought for, and the country grand they wrought for, is their monument
today, and for aye."
—Thomas Dunn English
Trees for Life is a national charity with a mission to plant trees where Canadians live, work and play. GrandTrees Climate Solutions and The Highway of Heroes Campaign are projects of Trees for Life.
GrandTrees Climate Solutions currently supports 25 groups planting native trees and shrubs in the Greater Toronto Area whose efforts are getting tree canopy cover closer to 40% of the city. The campaign has raised $1 million since it launched in October 2019.
The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is on track to complete the planting of 2 million trees, a tree for every Canadian service person since Confederation. Of those, 117,000 trees will be planted directly along Highway 401. HoH has raised nearly $10 million since 2014.