City of Lloydminster expanding community tree canopy through 2027
Lloydminster, AB/SK – The City of Lloydminster is expanding its urban tree canopy through a series of tree planting projects across the community, with 77 trees planted in 2026 and another 208 planned for 2027.
This project was made possible by an $83,520 grant funded by the Government of Canada through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) initiative, with additional financial contributions from the City of Lloydminster. Announced in May 2024, GCCC will support the planting of at least 1.2 million new trees across Canada by the end of March 2031 while offering funding, resources and coaching to communities.
The project will see trees planted in several locations across Lloydminster, including along Highways 16 and 17, within Bud Miller All Seasons Park, six additional community parks, the Lloydminster Cemetery, and the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre. The project will also include neighbourhood boulevard plantings.
The plantings aim to strengthen Lloydminster's tree canopy while providing long-term environmental and community benefits. Increasing tree cover can help reduce the impacts of extreme heat, improve stormwater management, enhance public spaces, and create more welcoming parks and green spaces for residents to enjoy.
A variety of tree species will be considered for planting, including ash, mountain ash, alder, spruce, poplar, buckeye, elm, oak, and maple.
As part of the initiative, the City also plans to introduce an Adopt-a-Boulevard Tree Program in 2027, giving residents an opportunity to help grow and care for trees planted along neighbourhood boulevards.
Approximately 100 trees are expected to be available through the program, encouraging residents to take an active role in expanding Lloydminster's tree canopy. Additional details about the program, including how residents can participate, will be available closer to its launch in 2027.
“FCM is proud to support the City of Lloydminster's transformative tree-planting project,” said Tim Tierney, FCM President. “Through the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies initiative and with the support of the Government of Canada, we’re helping municipalities of every size get the right trees in the ground in the right places, creating cooler streets, cleaner air, and healthier neighbourhoods for decades to come.”
“Whether they are providing shade on a hot summer day, improving local green spaces, or bringing people together outdoors, trees make our communities better places to live,” said Secretary of State (Nature), the Honourable Nathalie Provost. “Together, we are helping communities expand their green spaces, providing lasting environmental and community benefits. The trees being planted will provide greater shade and comfort, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable community.”
Through these projects, the City aims to work alongside residents and community partners to support healthy tree growth, strengthen local green spaces, and expand Lloydminster's tree canopy for future generations.
About FCM’s Green Municipal Fund
FCM’s Green Municipal Fund (GMF) is a globally unique organization that leverages investments from the Government of Canada to provide funding and education to municipalities, helping them both reach net-zero and build resilient communities, while also delivering economic and social benefits such as jobs, housing and infrastructure. Since inception in 2000, it has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.02 million tonnes, funded nearly 60,000 person-years of employment and contributed $5.6 billion to the national GDP via the more than 2,850 approved projects. GMF manages approximately $2.4 billion in programs funded by the Government of Canada.
The Green Municipal Fund’s Growing Canada’s Community Canopies is a $291 million initiative, ending in 2031, funded by the Government of Canada and delivered by the FCM. Capacity building is enabled through a partnership with Tree Canada.