Benefitting the community for years to come

Home Hardware sponsors planting of trees in Neepawa

To paraphrase an old proverb ‘A community grows great when you plant trees in whose shade you may never sit’.  Well, it appears as though Neepawa is on that path to greatness thanks to the efforts of Tree Canada, Town administration and our own local Home Hardware. 

A large number of trees are in the process of being planted near the new hospital under construction on Neepawa’s east end. They were purchased through a $2,500 grant provided by Neepawa Home Hardware and installed on Wednesday, Oct. 8 by the Town’s maintenance staff.  

These trees were bought through Tree Canada, a national non-profit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments. To date, the group, along with local community partners, have planted more than 85 million trees.

Tree Canada Forestry Specialist Audrey Dallaire was on hand for the local commemoration of this year’s trees. Dallaire said that Neepawa Home Hardware has been extremely supportive of the program, and that partnering on this new chapter in the community’s development is very gratifying. 

“The planting of trees is enhancing the urban canopy in Neepawa, and we’re very supportive of that,” stated Dallaire. “It’s especially exciting to be a part of this important addition to the community, in the form of the new hospital, and in the future, a new school. To be in on the ground floor of something like this is exciting and we can’t wait to come back in 10, 15 years to see all the construction finished and those trees established and benefitting the community.” 

Home Hardware’s relationship with Tree Canada on a national level began in 1992, and has seen more than 30,000 trees planted. As for Neepawa, our local Home Hardware has been a part of the program for well over a decade. 

Michelle Gerrard, the owner/operator of Neepawa Home Hardware, stated that it’s very exciting to be part of a new project like the hospital and proposed new school area.

“Being able to donate towards the creation of some new greenery in the area, it makes its mean a little bit more.  Tree Canada and Home Hardware has been a great partnership over the years, and we’re happy to be able to apply for those grants to help out our community when we can,” stated Gerrard. “We’re hoping to have more next year. There are lots of trees planned for this area, so we’ll donate to this area again next year , and then maybe for the next few years, until we get a good green space going out here.”

Neepawa’s Manager of Operations Denis Saquet explained to the Banner & Press that the trees will be distributed along several new roads and walkways currently being constructed. He noted this will create a nice visual pathway in the area for local residents for years to come.