Every year the City of Hamilton locally sources and cuts down 3 mature (40ft min. height) spruce trees for seasonal display at City Hall, Gore Park, and Memorial Square in Dundas.

The practice of using dead trees for display reduces our urban canopy, which contradicts the City's Urban Forest Strategy, and wastes precious city funding and resources.

This affects all Hamilton residents' health, well being, and the bottom line.

City Council has the power to change this practice and plant permanent trees in those 3 locations for year round enjoyment.

Please contact the City of Hamilton and your City Councillor to show support for the planting of permanent spruce trees for the benefit of all.

Facts:

• Ward 2 (City Hall & Gore Park) has some of the lowest canopy cover in the city (16.2%); the City’s goal is 30% canopy cover (Urban Forest Strategy Draft Report, pg. 12);
• Mature trees provide the most benefit. One large tree provides enough oxygen for 4 people (Tree Canada). A Norway Spruce sequesters over 300,000 tonnes of carbon per year (Urban Forest Strategy Draft Technical Report, pg. 77);
• Hamilton has few full-grown, large trees (greater than 22.9 cm diameter; 14.1% of tree population) in comparison to small, juvenile trees (2.5-7.6 cm diameter; 51.1% of tree population) (Urban Forest Strategy Draft Technical Report, pg. 21).

The perfect tree is a planted tree fulfils the City’s strategies:

• Clean and Green Hamilton Strategy
• Climate Change Action
• Our Future Hamilton
• Urban Forest Strategy