Tree Planting Earns SAC a Healthy Community Award
St. Andrew’s College received the Healthy Community Award from the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
Angus Murray, Coordinator of Outdoor and Experiential Education and leader of the Willow Farm Reforestation Project, accepted the award on behalf of the school during a ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
“Where once there was just grass, there is now a diverse, growing forest that supports many animals and birds. Hawks, turtles, otters, and deer have all returned to the property,” says Angus.
The Healthy Community Award celebrates individuals or groups in our watershed who have completed a project that increases community connections and engagement through events, fairs, and festivals; tree plantings; clean-ups; and community programs.
Here is why the award was presented to SAC:
Since 2021, Outdoor and Experiential Education Coordinator, Angus Murray, has led tree planting events at St. Andrew’s College. With the help of the Conservation Authority, he has engaged students in hands-on learning and promoted environmental sustainability across the school’s 126-acre campus. As part of their 125th birthday challenge [in 2024], 1,250 trees were planted, including 400 in the fall of 2024 with alumni, students, and staff, and an additional 150 were planted and mulched by Environmental Studies students. In the spring of 2025, 40 more native trees and shrubs were planted beneath the Willow Farm boardwalk, helping to restore local habitats, enhance biodiversity, and stand as a living legacy of stewardship for the school and the wider community.
Since 1951, the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority has been dedicated to conserving, restoring, and managing the Lake Simcoe watershed, a vibrant and diverse habitat and a precious source of water.
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