Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign Has Exceeded Its Goal!
You have helped to build the world’s largest living tribute in honour of people in Canada’s military. Thank you. When we launched the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign in 2015, we could not have imagined the outpouring of support from private donors, governments, corporations and other partners. Over the past 7 years, we have planted 2.5 million trees across the 170 km stretch of the 401 known as the Highway of Heroes honouring all who have served since Canada’s Confederation, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our rights and freedoms.
The initial goal of planting 2 million trees has been exceeded. During Remembrance Week November 2022, we planted our last tree completing this campaign. We are committed to continuing the work to increase the urban tree canopy and continue to honour even more heroes across Canada through our national charity Trees for Life.
In collaboration with key planning partners, Trees for Life will plant even more native trees and shrubs where Canadians live, work and play. These trees will honour all kinds of heroes, like first responders, teachers and loved ones. They will grow our tree canopy and help combat climate change. Together we can do this and leave a healthier Canada for future generations. Let’s build on the momentum created through the Highway of Heroes to make greener communities across Canada! Join us. To learn more and get involved, visit www.treesforlife.ca.
Our commemorative booklet has arrived
Explore the highlights from our November 2 event as well as the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign milestones that led to the creation of the world’s largest living legacy, and those that supported us along the way.
Event Gallery:
It’s official – we have surpassed our goal and planted 2.5 million trees! On November 2, 2022 we held a small thank you event at the Historic Fort York in Toronto, Ontario for our final tree planting.
We would thank you everyone who was in attendance including our community partners and those who came from near and far to share this special moment with us.
To everyone who supported us along the way, we could not have done this without you. Here are some of the moments from our very special celebration.
Canadian Armed Forces
Presence in Absence
The incredible work of Ruth Abernathy shows the silhouettes of a handful of the heroic Canadian Armed Forces members who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of our country, and of those in need around the world.
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.