PHOTOS: ‘Lasting environmental benefits for years to come’: 130-plus new trees for Port Hope’s Rapley Park

Aliyah Jamal (left) and Ada Rouw work together to plant a tree at Rapley Park in Port Hope. /Tim Burgess photos

By editor/reporter Sarah Hyatt

Port Hope’s Rapley Park is blossoming with the addition of more than 130 new trees.

Last Sunday, Oct. 17, the Port Hope community came together to plant the new trees – including local native species such as oak, maple, linden, serviceberry and more – as part of a Port Hope environmental advisory committee and TD Tree Days’ team-up.

Attendees heard the event served as a great reminder of the responsibilities all share to care for the places around us.

“Community-led initiatives like this help strengthen our commitment to a sustainable future,” said Mayor Olena Hankivsky. “The addition of these trees at Rapley Park will provide lasting environmental benefits for years to come while helping to create a greener community.” 

The tree planting event rallied volunteers of all ages and even folks from neighbouring communities who dedicated their afternoon to digging in and learning from certified arborist and environmental advisory committee member Josh Bobyk.

Arborist and member of the Municipality of Port Hope’s environmental advisory committee Josh Bobyk is seen with trees ready to be planted at Rapley Park.

The benefits of the plantings don’t just mean enhancing the local greenspace at the park. Officials said there will be long-term health and environmental benefits, including improving local biodiversity, enhancing the wildlife habitat, and contributing to cleaner air, all the while growing Port Hope’s urban forest.

Annie Campoli, vice-president and region head for TD Bank’s Ottawa-401 corridor, said Port Hope’s response Sunday helped make the event a huge success for TD Friends of the Environment and TD Tree Days. This year marks the 16^th anniversary for TD Tree Days, a flagship volunteer greening program under the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF), explained Campoli.  

“Since 1990, TDFEF has supported over 30,000 environmental projects across Canada, providing (more than) $121 million in funding to help create and enhance greenspaces, protect wildlife habitats and connect communities together,” noted Campoli, adding that last Sunday, Port Hope joined thousands of volunteers across North America working towards the goal of planting 30,000 trees and shrubs, adding to the 590,000 trees planted since 2010.

Rodney Pinto, district vice-president with TD Bank, is seen here at last Sunday’s tree planting event at Rapley Park. More than 130 trees were planted.

Campoli said this all serves as a shining example of what can be accomplished when people work side-by-side towards a common goal.

Every year, TD reportedly works with local not-for-profits, municipalities, conservation authorities and Indigenous communities, to bring planting events like the one this past weekend to life. Port Hope was among 75 participating communities for the 2026 initiative, noted the municipality.

Arborist and Port Hope environmental advisory committee Josh Bobyk demonstrates the proper planting of trees to volunteers at Rapley Park in Port Hope last Sunday. /Tim Burgess photos

Coun. Claire Holloway Wadhwani, who also serves as chair of Port Hope’s environmental advisory committee, said Sunday’s event marked an important milestone when it comes to advancing goals under the municipality’s climate action plan. She said it’s these types of partnerships and actions that the committee is spearheading that are helping to accelerate progress under investments in greenspaces and the tree canopy in Port Hope, while also bringing more nature into neighbourhoods as part of the plan.

Port Hope officials have extended a huge round of thanks to TD Friends of the Environment, the committee and all volunteers who dedicated their time and energy last Sunday.

-       With files from Tim Burgess