Across Canada, trees bolster biodiversity, enhance local green spaces, and increase resilience to climate change.
But trees in our communities can also be play structures for neighbourhood kids, landmarks on a long drive, and reminders of memorable moments in time.
Every year from September to October, TD Friends of the Environment runs TD Tree Days, where employees and their friends, families and community members get the chance to take part in volunteer tree planting events.
The goal? To work together to improve green spaces in Canada by helping to plant trees and shrubs.
To celebrate the annual return of TD Tree Days, TD Stories asked colleagues from around the Bank to share what their favourite tree is and to tell us why.
Here's what they said:
Tuckamore tree
"Tuckamore is a distinct name used in Newfoundland and Labrador to describe evergreen trees like spruce and fir, which have been bent and twisted due to strong, persistent winds along the coastline and even in some alpine areas.
Tuckamores are a symbol of the resilience and ruggedness of the people of Newfoundland. They thrive in harsh, rocky terrain, and weather any storm with ease. As a child living along the shore, I was fascinated by their bent frames, full of green needles, leaning over almost in an embrace of the ground below and the other trees beyond.
It's a symbol of home for me, as I've never seen them anywhere else."
— Kimberly Duffy
Horse chestnut tree
"The horse chestnut tree holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of my early childhood in Kyiv, Ukraine. Where we lived, the streets were lined with these trees, and I thought they were the most beautiful trees in the world.
I used to spend my days climbing them and playing with the leaves and seeds, making elaborate bouquets. The horse chestnut tree is a historical and cultural symbol of the city of Kyiv and every time I walk by one in Toronto, it takes me back to Kyiv and makes me smile."
— Ana Ostapchuk
Tulip tree
"I spent my childhood in the part of Ontario that's home to Carolinian Forests, so the unique trees of that ecosystem have always held a special place in my heart. Among these lush, quiet forests, it’s the Tulip tree – rare and very beautiful – that’s my favourite.
They require patience, not starting to flower until they are around 15 years old. But when they do, they have these yellow and orange tulip-shaped blooms that are completely unexpected in a tree.
Their leaf shape is also fairly distinctive, which made them easy to identify when I was young and just learning about trees. To this day, whenever I see one, I lean in close and just admire."
— Carolyn Scotchmer
Cherry tree
"Every year, I eagerly look forward to cherry blossom season. It's such a magical reminder that even after the brown, bare branches of winter, something new and beautiful always emerges.
Living in Vancouver, I feel incredibly lucky to be surrounded by some of the most stunning cherry blossom-lined streets. In fact, my own neighbourhood comes alive with soft pink blooms, making daily walks feel like stepping into a dream. Beyond their beauty, I’m drawn in to the story behind cherry blossoms and how they represent renewal, the fleeting nature of life, and the promise of brighter days ahead."
— Jyoti Banga
TD Tree Days is a volunteer program of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF), and is supported by TD through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank's global corporate citizenship platform.