Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb Builds Community Bonds Through Therapeutic Garden

Fiskars teams up with Partners for Care, Capital Health and Canadian Tire for a one-day garden makeover

MADISON, WI, June 19, 2013 /CNW/ - On June 19, nearly 75 volunteers are expected to complete a garden makeover outside the QEII Halifax Infirmary - in a single day.

Fiskars, a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors, has joined with Partners for Care, Capital Health and Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited to build a community garden full of fruits and vegetables during a one-day garden installation through Fiskars' community garden initiative, Project Orange Thumb.

"We're kicking off our 2013 Project Orange Thumb garden makeover season at Common Roots Urban Farm in Halifax and we couldn't be more excited," said Fiskars President Paul Tonnesen. "This will be Fiskars' 15^th Project Orange Thumb garden makeover in North America. Each garden we build features elements specifically designed to benefit the local community and this year in Halifax we're looking forward to supporting healthy growing initiatives for local community members, as well as the patients and staff of Capital Health."

The event will take place at the corner of Bell Road and Robie Street, outside of the QEII Halifax Infirmary Emergency Entrance beginning with a first dig at 8:00 a.m. and culminating with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:00 p.m. Nearly 75 volunteers from Fiskars, Partners for Care, Canadian Tire and the Halifax community are expected to participate in the one-day installation.

"Common Roots Urban Farm started off as a small garden with the potential for big growth," said Jayme Melrose, Project Coordinator, Partners for Care. "As a Project Orange Thumb makeover recipient, our project has been given new energy and we're expanding more rapidly than we ever imagined. Restorative landscapes are essential for healthy living and we're looking forward to giving our community members more opportunities to enjoy this beautiful and productive space."

The entrance will be framed with edible landscapes leading into a 4,180 square foot garden containing 13 raised beds and six pedestal beds to make plots accessible for gardeners with varying needs. Four of the wheelchair accessible pedestal beds have canopy covers and will serve as a therapeutic space for Capital Health patients and staff. All of the food grown in these plots will be donated to local food banks.

"Canadian Tire is proud to partner with Fiskars and its community partners to create a sustainable garden and community space for the city of Halifax," said David Mock, Senior Vice President, Merchandising, Canadian Tire Corporation. "Canadian Tire is committed to its communities and to education through gardening. We look forward to building a garden that will continue to thrive and be enjoyed by the community for many years to come."

The day-long installation is facilitated by Fiskars including event logistics, site preparation and a donation of a range of Fiskars garden tools. Canadian Tire is donating the live goods, hardware and additional tools for the garden. Capital Health is providing the land for the garden and Partners for Care is supporting the event through community awareness and volunteer outreach. The garden was designed by local Halifax landscaper Rosemarie Lohnes.

Following the completion of the Project Orange Thumb garden makeover, Common Roots Urban Farm will have expanded to nearly an acre of developed community gardening space. The land will be maintained by Partners for Care volunteers and community members are welcome to help daily from 3-6 p.m.

An additional 2013 Project Orange Thumb garden makeover will take place in Washington DC on July 31.

For more information about the program, visit ProjectOrangeThumb.com.

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ABOUT PROJECT ORANGE THUMB
Established in 2002, Fiskars' Project Orange Thumb^® is a community gardening initiative that provides groups across the U.S. and Canada with tools, materials and resources they need to create beautiful and productive community garden spaces. Project Orange Thumb has provided over $1.3 million to more than 140 community groups. For more information, visit ProjectOrangeThumb.com.

ABOUT FISKARS
Fiskars Corporation is a leading global supplier of consumer products for the home, garden and outdoors. The world famous orange-handled scissors are a registered trademark of Fiskars Corporation. The group has a strong portfolio of trusted international brands including: Fiskars, the World's #1 Scissors Brand, Iittala and Gerber. Founded in 1649, Fiskars has over 360 years of product quality excellence and is Finland's oldest company. Please visit www.fiskars.com and www.facebook.com/fiskars.

ABOUT PARTNERS FOR CARE
Partners for Care is a lean and innovative organization created to support the patients of Capital Health. Originally formed as a volunteer auxiliary, Partners for Care is now operated by a small, knowledgeable and skilled staff and draws upon the expertise of local business people and entrepreneurial volunteer board members. Together this dedicated group focuses on a broad variety of activities which fall into two main categories: activities which further the strategic goal of Capital Health to enhance community health such as Common Roots Urban Farm, Partners for Healthier Weight, and a local Farmers Market, and revenue generation through management of parking services, special projects on behalf of Capital Health, and unique Retail services.

Partners for Care is the operating name of the QEII Health Sciences Centre Auxiliary, a registered Canadian charity.

ABOUT CANADIAN TIRE
Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (TSX:CTC.a) (TSX:CTC) is a Family of Companies that includes Canadian Tire Retail, Partsource, Gas+, FGL Sports (Sport Chek, Hockey Experts, Sports Experts, National Sports, Intersport and Atmosphere), Mark's and Canadian Tire Financial Services.  With more than 1,700 retail and gasoline outlets from coast-to-coast, our primary retail business categories - Automotive, Living, Fixing, Playing and Apparel - are supported and strengthened by our Financial Services division. Over 85,000 people are employed across the Canadian Tire enterprise, which was founded in 1922 and remains one of Canada's most recognized and trusted brands. For more information, visit Corp.CanadianTire.ca.

Image with caption: "Fiskars partnered with Canadian Tire and other Halifax community groups to build the new Common Roots Urban Farm on June 19. Left to right: Dr. Gaynor Watson-Creed, Medical Officer of Health, Capital Health; Nova Scotia Premier, Darrell Dexter; David Mock, Senior Vice-President, Merchandising, Canadian Tire; Superintendent Sean Auld, Halifax Regional Police; Paul Tonnesen, President, Fiskars; Jayme Melrose, Project Coordinator, Partners for Care and Councillor Jennifer Watts. (CNW Group/Fiskars)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130619_C9817_PHOTO_EN_28295.jpg

SOURCE: Fiskars

For further information:

Amanda Weibel
608-294-4730
amanda.weibel@fiskars.com

Lena Wan
416-480-8316
lena.wan@cantire.com