Distillery donates trees to City

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on September 10, 2022.

Herald photo by Ry Clarke Ken Stanfield, Manager of Environmental Sustainability at Heaven Hill, and Ben Morland. with the City's Forestry Department, plant the first tree Friday at Palliser Park.

The City of Lethbridge Parks and Cemeteries Department partnered with Heaven Hill Distilleries and its local brand Black Velvet Distilling Company to plant 40 trees in Palliser Park through a $6,000 donation on Friday.

Along the intersection of 28 St N and 9 Ave N the trees will line the park adjacent to Black Velvet’s facility. Heaven Hill has a long-standing commitment to enhancing local communities through charitable donations and partnering with neighbouring organizations. This initiative is one of many where Heaven Hill is cultivating thriving communities through environmental sustainability commitments, including conserving ecosystems and business. Heaven Hill has committed to planting 5,000 trees within the next several years.

“What we are doing here (today) is part of a sustainability project,” said Claude Bilodeau, vice president and general manager of Black Velvet. “We are extremely proud to have this investment in our community, we feel it’s an investment for all of us. We have 44 volunteers from Black Velvet who are here and excited to plant some trees and work alongside the city workers.”

“Heaven Hill has a 2030 environmental sustainability strategy. As part of that we’re focused on planting 5,000 trees in our local communities. Trees help with things like absorbing carbon dioxide, helping with climate change and air pollutions,” said Rachel Nally, director of Environment and Sustainability for Heaven Hill. “This is our second year, planting over 1,000 trees so far. This is the next step after planting trees in Louisville Kentucky, which is where our company is based. Now we’re starting to branch out into other communities where our employees live and work.”

Community partnerships and the expansion of the tree canopy cover align with several of the strategic goals identified in the City’s recently adopted Urban Forest Management Plan. The plantings should contribute as a vital asset to the city’s expanding tree cover with benefits including air quality, shade, and aesthetic beauty.

“It’s a huge day for the city. We’re always trying to expand our tree canopy and trying to find corporate partners to work with in expanding our urban forests,” said Chris Witkowski, Parks planning manager with the city. “It’s a great way to build community, and corporate relationships. Not just relying on the city for planting trees, but getting corporate involvement with environmental benefits in our urban forests.”

The City hopes more partnerships like this donation can be achieved in the coming future, noting it’s not just about the financial contribution but the commitment to the communities they live and work in.

“It isn’t just tree planting for them, they are out here on a semi regular basis doing community cleanup and really making this space better for the community,” said Witkowski.

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