Residents in St. Thomas can pick up free tree seedlings on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as part of the city’s annual Earth Day event. The giveaway takes place at 1Password Park starting at 9 a.m., with trees available until the supply runs out, which typically occurs by noon.
The City of St. Thomas Parks and Forestry Division is providing 350 trees representing 27 different native species. To ensure as many people as possible can participate in the local greening initiative, the city has limited the giveaway to one tree per resident.
This event serves as part of the city’s commitment to environmental stewardship, which recently earned St. Thomas recognition as a Tree City of the World. The program, operated by the Arbor Day Foundation and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, identifies cities that meet high standards for managing urban forests, including maintaining a tree inventory and dedicating resources to tree care.
The scale of the city’s tree giveaway has grown significantly since its inception, moving from 165 trees in 2023 to the current allotment of 350 trees. According to city data, the local urban tree canopy currently covers 915 hectares, or 26 percent of the total land area in St. Thomas, with additional space identified for future planting. These efforts are designed to support local biodiversity, improve air quality, and enhance the character of neighbourhoods across the city.
For those looking for further support in planting native trees, the city also works with the Kettle Creek Conservation Authority to administer the Greening Communities Program, which provides seedlings to landowners at affordable rates.
