Environment

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  Our Approach

  After consultation with our stakeholders, we developed criteria to help focus our environmental giving. Going forward, we will target our funding to support projects that:

  • Green our urban environment and enhance biodiversity
  • Promote energy conservation; and
  • Promote environmental education and community engagement

  
  

  The new criteria are a natural extension of what we see as important issues for our own business: energy, paper (trees) and education.

  TD Friends of the Environment Foundation

  TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2010. Since its inception in 1990, we have contributed $53.9 million in support of 19,300 grassroots environmental projects. TD matches all donations from customers and employees up to $1 million; TD also funds the salaries and operating costs of the foundation.

  TD FEF operates through 93 local chapters across Canada who work to ensure that funds raised are directed back into local environmental projects. It has proven to be an effective model of collaboration between community partners, TD customers and employee volunteers.

  In 2010, we distributed $3.5 million to 970 community environmental projects through TD FEF and other corporate giving initiatives.

  TD Green Streets provides funding to Canadian municipalities and First Nations communities to plant and maintain tress. Grants of up to $15,000 are provided to support tree planting, maintenance and educational activities.

  “Living in Kelowna and having experienced the huge forest fires in 2003, it felt great to plant new trees in one of the burnt-out areas. I live near this area and I look forward to once again seeing "TD green" on the hillside rather than black.”

  Kathy Stone
  TD employee, B.C.

  TD Tree Days is a national volunteer event with a focus on adding more trees to our local communities. In 2010, TD FEF proudly launched its first annual TD Tree Day initiative, resulting in the successful planting of nearly 20,000 trees in 50 communities across Canada in just two weeks. Almost 300 employees pitched in to enhance their urban canopies. Working with expert partners, including Tree Canada, TD FEF ensured that volunteers planted trees native to the area and climate of each site.

  Go Green Challenge is a national competition that invites university and college teams to compete for cash prizes. This year’s teams had to submit proposals on changes that could be made in a Canadian community to reduce Canada’s ecological footprint. TD FEF awarded the four winning teams $25,000 each.

  Project Webfoot is a wetland education program run by Ducks Unlimited in Atlantic Canada. Grade 4 students have an opportunity to learn about local wetland habitats and get involved in bird watching, nature hikes, minnow trapping and ecological games. TD FEF provided funding for 64 schools across Atlantic Canada to participate in the program.