The grounds at St. Vincent’s: Langara just got a little greener, thanks to the launch of Providence Health Care’s Trees for Health campaign.
The initiative officially took root on April 29 with the planting of an “Eddie’s White Wonder” dogwood tree at the long-term care home’s front roundabout. Supported by the national organization Trees for Life and its Trees for Heroes program, the campaign aims to plant up to 50 native tree species across various Providence sites through donations, promoting sustainable environments, providing health and wellness benefits and honouring health care workers, patients and residents.
Campaign roots in environmental stewardship
The idea to partner with Trees for Life was sparked in 2024 by Aggie Black, then-co-lead of Providence’s Environmental Stewardship Team (ESTeam), a cross-disciplinary green team of staff from across the organization working to advance planetary health. Black was inspired after attending a national webinar hosted by a representative from Trees for Life.
“I thought to myself, what a wonderful way to promote a healthy environment and honour health care workers. We should do this at PHC,” she recalls.
Supported by Trees for Life’s Trees for Heroes program, Trees for Health is a coalition of passionate organizations partnering with health facilities, municipalities and conservation authorities to plant trees in honour of health care workers and create more green spaces at health facilities across Canada.
The campaign at PHC marks one of Trees for Life’s first partnerships in British Columbia.
With full support from the Environmental Stewardship Team, including co-lead Theresa McElroy, Corporate Director of Strategic Planning & Management, the idea quickly grew into a formal initiative. With help from St. Paul’s Foundation, a donation page was created to support the project’s growth across PHC sites, and the organization’s facilities management team, led by Executive Director Anthony (Tony) Munster, got to work scouting locations for the first trees to be planted.
First tree planting brings campaign to life
Residents, staff and community partners gathered at St. Vincent’s: Langara for a ceremonial planting that began with a land acknowledgment and reflections from a Musqueam Knowledge Keeper on the significance of restoring growth to the area, once home to his ancestors’ village.
Langara resident Betty Higgins, 93, spoke to the group about the new tree’s meaning to all at the site. “On behalf of the residents, I know we will all enjoy this tree,” said Higgins. “It’s not just about the tree; it’s about Langara and the staff here.”
Raluca Radu, PHC Planetary Health Lead, described the planting as part of a broader effort to bring nature into care settings and promote planetary health. “Trees give life, but they also connect us,” she said. “Oftentimes, it is said that the roots under the trees connect and speak with each other in protecting the lands that surround us.” A Trees for Life spokesperson noted that over one million nature prescriptions were issued last year, reflecting the growing recognition of nature’s role in health and wellness.
The ceremony concluded with residents and attendees adding soil to the newly planted dogwood, the first of many trees planned across Providence sites.
Branching out
Sustainability is a foundational principle of Providence Health Care’s Mission: Forward Strategic Plan. The Trees for Health campaign is one of the many ways Providence is advancing this priority, cultivating greener settings that support well-being and reduce environmental impact while recognizing those who provide and receive care.
Each donated tree can be planted in honour of a health care worker, patient, resident or care team, with donors receiving a personalized certificate to recognize the individual or group they’ve chosen to celebrate.
To learn more or donate, visit the campaign fundraising page.
Learn more about Sustainability at Providence and read the Planetary Health Strategic Plan.
