On October 7, ACER (Association for Canadian Educational Resources) held its inaugural installation of Project Crossroads community tree planting event, for climate change research. Knightsbridge residents of diverse ages and backgrounds were drawn from schools, faith, and community organizations.
“We braced against stormy weather today and difficult times over the past 18 months, to move our concept through to launch and lift-off, ” said Alice Casselman, founder of ACER.
“Today, the sun broke through – and we even saw a rainbow suspended over the playground!”
In the same vein as sun and the promise of rainbows, Project Crossroads supports urban reforestation under the Bramalea Sustainable Neighbourhood Action Program (SNAP) underway in Brampton’s E, F and K sections. ACER collaborated with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and City of Brampton Parks and Forestry.
A total of four community tree planting events are funded by Arbor Day Foundation under the TD Green Space program. The target sites are located in low tree canopy areas where many residents facing unmet needs endured worsened conditions as a result of the COVID pandemic.
“Our Knightsbridge residents were exuberant today, to get our first Project Crossroads trees planted for climate change research,” says Alice Casselman, founder of ACER, the Association for Canadian Educational Resources.
The planting day held October 7 fell in Mental Illness Awareness Week, October 4-10, and ahead of Thanksgiving Weekend.
Three additional planting events are scheduled, for October 17, 20 and 24, with a priority invitation to Knightsbridge residents.
With community agencies, faith groups and public schools not yet fully reopened, the challenge to connect with residents is met via printed notices and a digital invitation: http://bit.ly/ACER-invites-Knightsbridge-residents. The invite includes ACER’s map of schools located within Bramalea SNAP.
For schools not eligible for Project Crossroads, ACER has developed a digital Outdoor / Online Carbon Capture Kit that residents and students can use to prepare school yard trees for winter, and capture data to assist in climate change research, and carbon capture. Demonstration videos are available online, https://www.acer-acre.ca/resources/training-videos.
Since 1987, ACER has developed outdoor, on-line and remote volunteer opportunities to promote outdoor education that connects curriculum to the environment. ACER’s signature Planting for Change native species tree suites for climate change research has been established more than 60 school yard sites across the Greater Toronto Area. It is recognized under the City of Mississauga – One Million Tree initiative.
For further information about ACER, contact Alice Casselman via e-mail at alice.casselman@acer-acre.ca.
