Toronto Names First 'Tree of the Year' Amid Canopy Goals
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
A Sugar Maple was selected by youth voters as part of a civic engagement initiative, reflecting the city's broader target for urban forest expansion.
The City of Toronto is introducing its first-ever Tree of the Year, a Sugar Maple, which will be planted during a celebration on November 3 at Elm Park, located at 230 Gosford Blvd., as the City of Toronto first reported.
The selection was the result of more than 10,000 ballots cast by children and youth during the 2026 municipal election's Kids Vote Weekend. The City of Toronto reports that the program is designed to educate children on local democracy and the voting process while introducing them to the elements of civic engagement.
Beyond the symbolic nature of the event, the City of Toronto states that the initiative aligns with its broader environmental objectives. Specifically, the city is working toward expanding its urban forest to reach a 40 per cent tree canopy by the year 2050.