Now this is how you plant roots in Stroud.
Several youngsters attending ColourInspired Arts Academy summer camps joined academy leadership, Town of Innisfil staff, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin and Spring Tree Farm employees to plant two red maple trees at Dempster Park (2764 Dempster Ave.) on July 19.
It cost about $1,500 for the installation, money covered through ColourInspired’s I Can Change The World exhibition and fundraiser held in April.
“We wanted something Canadian that would hopefully stay for long and be good for the environment,” ColourInspired owner Jane Yegorov said. “We’re just trying to be part of the community and do something helpful.”
ColourInspired has been open in Stroud for about two years. It offers art classes, special events and birthday party experiences. They also have camps throughout the year and often use the park to offer kids ages six to 12 fun outdoor recreation opportunities.
“We’ve been coming here for two years,” Yegorov said. “We wanted to tell the kids ‘these are our trees, we planted them here.’”
Khanjin, who also serves as Ontario’s environment, conservation and parks minister, says action like this does teach a lesson and make a difference.
“It really helps showcase the circular economy and how important it is to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover,” she said. “As a result of that fundraiser, we’re seeing another incredible environmental action. Real environmentalism starts at home and on the ground. They’re showing kids here today that everyone has a role to play, no matter their age, which is beautiful.”
The municipality hopes more awareness is brought to these types of efforts.
“It’s definitely something we like and we’re trying to see more of in town,” parks operations supervisor Wes Chancey said. “Any initiatives that get the kids more out into the park is something we’re on board for. It’s a little piece of them here in the parks. Hopefully over time, it’ll provide some much-needed shade to the area and keep everybody cool. We need some more initiatives like this.”
More information on the academy can be found at colourinspired.com.
