Canadians team up with Tree Canada, Majesta and Telus to help plant 13,000 trees as part of the National Tree Day Challenge

- Canada's official day to celebrate trees is today - September 25, 2013 -

OTTAWA, Sept. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - Canadians were up to the challenge as they came together to help plant 13,000 trees as part of the National Tree Day Challenge. Throughout August and September, Canadians were challenged to organize planting events in their community or show their support by planting a virtual tree online.  For every virtual tree, Tree Canada, MAJESTA and TELUS will plant a real one, bringing the total number of trees planted to 13,000.

The National Tree Day Challenge is part of Tree Canada, MAJESTA and TELUS' efforts to raise awareness for National Tree Day and encourage Canadians to plant trees in their own community.

"We want to thank everyone who showed their support and helped us reach our goal of planting thousands of trees across Canada," said Mike Rosen, President, Tree Canada. "We can't think of a better way to recognize National Tree Day and couldn't have done it without the support of Canadians from coast-to-coast and our great partners at MAJESTA and TELUS."

The official kick-off to National Tree Day is happening today at 10:00 a.m. in Ottawa at Vincent Massey Park. During the event, local schools, families and individuals will take part in games, educational activities and tree plantings to celebrate the day. Local dignitaries will also join in the celebration, including Royal Galipeau, MP for Ottawa-Orléans.

"As you know, National Tree Day is a celebration of our forests and trees — and their importance to the quality of life in cities, towns and villages throughout Canada," said Royal Galipeau, MP, Ottawa-Orléans.

"Trees are a big part of what makes this country - the best in the world - so special."

About National Tree Day
Created in 2011 through a private members motion in the House of Commons, National Tree Day now occurs on the Wednesday of National Forest Week each September. National Tree Day encourages Canadians to get together to celebrate and appreciate the great benefits that trees provide, including clean air, wildlife habitat, reducing energy demand and connecting people with nature. For more information on National Tree Day, please visit nationaltreeday.ca.

About Tree Canada
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit, charitable organization established in 1992. Under the direction of an 11-member volunteer Board of Directors, Tree Canada provides education, technical assistance, resources and financial support through working partnerships to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in rural and urban areas. Learn more at treecanada.ca.

About MAJESTA
MAJESTA, the soft and green choice for household paper products, offers an innovative line of e•z flush bathroom tissue that provides the perfect balance of softness and flushability. MAJESTA e•z flush breaks down quickly in water, making it ideal for homes with low flow and dual flush toilets. Every MAJESTA product is made from trees from J.D. Irving, Limited's forests. As part of its award-winning commitment to responsible forest management, J.D. Irving, Limited plants seedlings every spring and summer to reforest the woodlands. In the past 50+ years, J.D. Irving, Limited has planted more than 900 million trees. Since 2001, J.D. Irving, Limited's forests have been certified by The Sustainable Forestry Initiative Inc. ("SFI"). In the U.S., the company's forests are also certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Part of the J.D. Irving Group of Companies, a family business in operation for more than 132 years, MAJESTA's head office is located in Dieppe, New Brunswick.

About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a leading national telecommunications company in Canada, with $11.2 billion of annual revenue and 13.2 million customer connections, including 7.7 million wireless subscribers, 3.3 million wireline network access lines, 1.4 million Internet subscribers and 743,000 TELUS TV customers. Led since 2000 by President and CEO, Darren Entwistle, TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video. In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $300 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 4.8 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. Fourteen TELUS Community Boards lead TELUS' local philanthropic initiatives. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

Learn more about the 2013 National Tree Day sponsors at majesta.com and telus.com.

SOURCE: Tree Canada

For further information:

Sheri Papps / Andrea Hanft
Paradigm Public Relations
[e-mail] /[e-mail]
416-203-2223

Richard Walker
Director of Communications & Event Planning, Tree Canada
[e-mail]
613-567-5545 ext. 224