Project type: Park Naturalization
Year: 2016
Season: Fall
It was wonderful for Kaitlin and Brad to see 104 volunteers from London’s faith groups come to Westmount Lions Park to plant 450 native trees and shrubs. What an impact these trees have already made! It was a perfect weekend weather-wise.
The fourth annual interfaith tree planting was the group’s largest to date and brought together 16 different faith organizations representing many faiths including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Wicca.
Participating groups included:
- Al-Mahdi Islamic Community Centre
- Christ the King University Parish / King’s University College
- Congregation Or Shalom
- Greening Sacred Spaces
- HSS Canada and Srishti Foundation
- Islamic Centre of Southwest Ontario
- London Korean Antioch Church
- London Muslim Mosque
- Muslim Association of Canada
- St. James Westminster Anglican Church
- St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church
- St. Luke the Evangelist Anglican Church
- St. Peter’s Cathedral
- Temple Israel Synagogue
- Trinity United Church Community Centre
Rev. Paul Browning, Christian Leader at Trinity United Church Community Centre, commented, “Our sacred writings begin in a garden and end in a city with gardens throughout. At a time when Mother Earth is straining under the weight of expanding cities and environmental degradation, planting trees together redeems our city and makes us partners with God, to help fulfill the Divine desire for a healthy, flourishing creation.“
This event was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Government of Canada (through the EcoAction and Inter-Action programs), the participating faith groups, and the City of London. All trees planted at this weekend’s event will be counted towards London’s Million Tree Challenge (www.milliontrees.ca).
For the fourth consecutive year, we take part in the Annual Interfaith Tree Planting Event as stewards of God’s Earth, the multi-faith nation, with the intent of fortifying the goodness of its local soil that nourishes and houses us.
– Dr. Salam Al-Attar, Board President at Al-Mahdi Islamic Community Centre