Mayor to plant first ‘Birthday Blossoms’ tree in March
3,000 cherry trees will be planted this spring in celebration of Vancouver’s 125th birthday, with Mayor Gregor Robertson planting the first Birthday Blossoms tree at City Hall at 10am, March 2nd, 2011.
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival (www.vcbf.ca) and the David and Dorothy Lam Foundation are offering Metro Vancouverites a very special opportunity to purchase affordable cherry trees and plant them on private property including gardens, school grounds and company lawns.
By actively participating in the Birthday Blossoms Tree Planting Program, citizens are helping to keep Vancouver beautiful while also helping the city reach its “Greenest City Initiative” goal. Since the Festival’s inception in 2006, Metro Vancouver has seen approximately 1,000 new cherry trees planted at locations in Richmond such as the YVR Airport Authority, the Richmond Oval and Steveston. In the City of Vancouver the cherry trees have been planted by the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation at VanDusen Botanical Garden and David Lam Park among others.
Mayor Gregor Robertson says: “The annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is a popular tradition in our city, bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate this quintessential symbol of spring. As we prepare for Vancouver’s 125th anniversary, please join me in congratulating the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival on this year’s event and the 3,000 new flowering Birthday Blossom cherry trees being made available to property owners throughout the city. These commemorative trees will serve as a legacy for Vancouver residents and visitors to enjoy for the next 125 years.”
Linda Poole, the Festival’s director, says, “I am delighted with the enthusiasm people have for renewing our city’s beautiful cherry tree heritage which began with a generous gift of friendship from Japan 80 years ago. While supplies last and until March 29th, I encourage you to buy your commemorative cherry tree for $40 at www.vcbf.ca/birthdayblossom.”
The fifth annual Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival will run from March 26 to April 22, 2011.
- Haiku Invitational: the 2010 winning haiku is presented by Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel and will be celebrated with the unveiling of Jane Durante’s Haiku Installation in VanDusen Botanical Garden on April 2. The winning poems will be read by Christopher Gaze at the VSO Pacific Arbour Tea & Trumpets concert on April 7th.
- The Man Who Planted Trees: this Oscar award winning animated film will be screened March 7, at 7pm in Floral Hall VanDusen Botanical Garden with a pre-film discussion with noted horticulturalist, Douglas Justice, Associate Director and Curator of Collections at UBC Botanical Garden.
- Cherry Jam Downtown: a free outdoor noon-hour concert on March 31st featuring Spakwus Slulum – Eagle Song Dancers, Chibi Taiko, Jou Tou and the eclectic Carnival Band inside the Burrard SkyTrain concourse.
- Birthday Blossoms: Metro Vancouverites can order their commemorative cherry trees online by March 29th. The cherry trees will be ready for pick-up on April 2nd and 3rd.
- Sakura Days Japan Fair: a family friendly contemporary Japanese Street Festival at VanDusen Botanical Garden on April 2nd and 3rd from 10am to 5pm with a PayPal receipt.
- Cherry Jubilee with VIOLINPOWER: a world premiere featuring Toni Stanick inspired by the cherry for string orchestra on April 9t at CBC’s Studio 700.
A complete list of programming and sponsors can be found at www.vcbf.ca
