An American sycamore now grows outside Halton Hills Public Library's Acton Branch at 17 River Street, where a sugar maple stood for more than a century until it came down earlier this year, the library said on Facebook.
It says it picked the species because it thrives in Halton Hills' climate and soil. Sycamores are native from Southwestern Ontario to the Toronto area, with pockets as far north as Collingwood and Thornbury.
The tree was planted with help from Growing Canada's Community Canopies, a program of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the national group for cities and towns. Its grant of over $280,000 covers half the cost of the Town's plan to plant more than 2,600 trees in parks, along streets and around Town buildings over the next two years.
The Town reported 32% tree canopy cover in 2021, but communities range from 7.2% to over 40%. Through Let's Talk Halton Hills, the Town is asking residents, schools and businesses to point out low-canopy areas that could use more trees.
