City getting ready to commemorate some of its youngest citizens with Birth Forest

Chestermere families are being invited to grow their connection to the community as they grow their families by sponsoring a tree in Chestermere’s Birth Forest.
“I think it’s such a great program,” said Chestermere resident Janelle Sandboe.
She planted a tree last year for her 18-month old daughter Rory.
“Every time family comes into town we take them to go and see which is kind of fun,” she said.
Run in partnership between the Streetscapes Committee and the city, one of the goals of the Birth Forest is to educate residents about the importance of trees in an urban environment while building community connections.
Sandboe said that the Birth Forest gives children an anchor in the community.
“I think that’s really important,” she said.
The city seems to be succeeding in their goals if last year’s record high participation of 18 families is anything to go by.
“I think people look forward to it,” said Chestermere Parks Department Gardening Lead Hand Alison Ciupa.
In addition to sponsoring the tree, participants in the Birth Forest get to come out on Sept. 27 to plant their tree.
“It’s actually quite a fun event,” said Ciupa.
“We provide juice and cookies to the kids.”
The city does prepare the site in advance to keep the evening more fun and less work.
“All they do is pick out a tree, plunk it in the hole and everybody’s got shovels and dirt,” she said.
Sandboe highly recommends the program to Chestermerians.
“It’s…probably the easiest investment you can make into both the spirit of the community and the beauty of the community,” she said.
The deadline to register for this year’s Birth Forest is on Sept 15. Ciupa said there is still plenty of space in the program.
Registration forms are available online at www.chestermere.ca/198/Birth-Forest. Completed forms as well as the $40 fee can be dropped off at either city hall or the public works building.
For the second year in a row, the Birth Forest trees will be planted at the Bike Park.
Previous Birth Forests are located at Founders Park, Sunset Park, in two small parks on West Chestermere Drive, and in the park to the north of city hall.