One tree for every ticket
Maple Project will keep forests growing
Thanks to selling 22,107 tickets to Celtic Colours events in 2017, a similar number of maple trees will be planted around Cape Breton.
As part of Canada 150 celebrations last year, Celtic Colours International Festival partnered with the provincial communities, culture and heritage department, Strathlorne Forest Nursery, the Department of Natural Resources and community partners across the island to develop the Maple Project, an initiative which will see one tree planted for each Celtic Colours concert ticket sold in 2017.
As a result, 22,107 maple tree saplings have been nurtured through the winter and spring by the folks at Strathlorne Forest Nursery in Inverness and the festival is now preparing to make these saplings available to be planted.
Non-profit organizations, community groups, educational facilities and individuals are welcome to participate in
planting these iconic maple trees across the island, but the deadline to sign up is fast approaching.
Those interested in applying are asked to visit celtic-colours. com/mapleproject to complete the application form by Friday.
Communications officer Dave Mahalik says Celtic Colours operates on a decentralized model making it necessary to travel around the island for concerts and events.
“While the planting of these trees will help ensure the island’s spectacular fall foliage continues for generations to come, it will also help to offset any impact this travel has on our environment.”
And planting maple trees, in particular, makes a lot of sense as they are extremely hardy, grow well in our climate, and as a symbol so strongly associated with Canadian identity, they will be a lasting tribute to Canada’s first 150 years.
The 22nd Celtic Colours International Festival is scheduled for Oct. 5-13 in communities all over Cape Breton Island. Tickets can be purchased online through celtic-colours.com, by phoning 888-355-7744 (toll free in North America) or 902-567-3000 (local/overseas), and in person at the Celtic Colours box office, 37 Nepean St., Sydney.
For all of the latest Celtic Colours information, visit celtic-colours.com.