The Rotary Club of Kelowna presented the City of Kelowna with $10,000 in recognition of the Club’s 80th anniversary. The money will be used to purchase 80 trees; one tree for every year of the club’s existence.

“We are thrilled that the Rotary Club has chosen this initiative to help celebrate its 80th year,” says Mayor Sharon Shepherd. “Kelowna is definitely a better place thanks in large part to the club’s ongoing efforts.”

“We wanted to provide the city with a significant investment in trees,” said Michael Loewen, President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna. “With the concern that Kelowna could lose up to 80 per cent of its ponderosa pines due to the mountain pine beetle, these funds will purchase a variety of trees to help green the south slopes and to replenish the urban forest.”

The first of the trees was planted by Mayor Shepherd and Member of Parliament Ron Cannan in South Mission Powerline Linear Park on Windsong Crescent.

The Rotary Club of Kelowna has partnered with the City on several projects over the years including Rotary Marsh, Rotary Beach Park, Maude Roxby Sanctuary and Rotary Centre for the Arts.