The queue of people to pick up a tree voucher in early 2017, which was several times larger City officials expected. (Dominic Abassi/NanaimoNewsNOW) 
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE

Hugely popular tree voucher program returns to Nanaimo

Nov 4, 2019 | 1:15 PM

NANAIMO — The second of two tree voucher offerings hopes to satisfy everyone looking to spruce up their yard and also keep the air clean.

The tree voucher program, costing $25 and redeemable for a tree of up to $90, returned on Monday, Oct. 4.

A total of 400 vouchers are available on a first come, first serve basis. Two are available to each property.

Earlier this year, 220 vouchers were provided by the City.

Urban forestry coordinator Patrick McIntosh told NanaimoNewsNOW at the time the popularity of the program shows how environmentally-minded the Nanaimo community is.

“If a tree grows to maturity, a large canopy tree can produce the oxygen required for a family of four,” he said. “It can save on cooling and heating costs, provides habitat for birds…and it’s an important measure in fighting the effects of climate change.”

When the program was offered in 2017, 200 vouchers were bought within 30 minutes.

McIntosh said roughly 200 people were turned away from the initial sale, which is why they brought the program back and run it twice a year.

The tree voucher offering is funded by developers, who are required to pay $300 per tree removed and not replaced during land development.

Vouchers are available between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday, Nov. 8 at the Service and Resource Building on Dunsmuir St.

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