Front Cover A tree for every hero.

Our big idea is about to become an historic reality.

With your support we can complete this incredible journey by the end of this year. Inside Front Fold

A Message from the Chair With your support, what started as a big idea has quickly become an historic reality. We are a small team of passionate people, It’s only with your help that we have been able to do so much. When I take a look back at the success we’ve had together, I am overcome with gratitude. On behalf of our team, please accept our thanks and congratulations. Our accomplishments are truly your accomplishments. It is said that the hardest part of a marathon isn’t the first 42km, it’s the final .2km. As you can see, our campaign has crossed that 42km mark and we are headed towards the finish line. We hope you’ll help us as we conquer this final stretch and realize our ultimate goal; a tree for every hero. Sincerely,

Mark Cullen, Leadership Chair & Co-Founder Inside Spread Honouring our Silver Cross Families Campaign Updates

A Lasting Tribute Funding Announcements Breaking New Ground By Barbara Johnson, Silver Cross Mother The 2019 Federal Budget included a three Over the last year we have seen a rapid increase in year commitment totalling $3 million through our success. As a result, we have expanded our area of Veterans Affairs Canada beginning in our impact to encompass the entire 401 corridor. As a Silver Cross mother I am 2019/20 fiscal year. intensely touched by the recognition From Windsor to the border, now, more that Highway of Heroes gives to our Canadians can have a piece of this amazing tribute in veterans, both living and deceased. Earlier this year, the Trillium their own back yard. To me, they are our true heroes, Foundation awarded the campaign with a who above all deserve our respect. two-year $500,000 grant to expand our work As Canadians, we need to be aware along the Highway of Heroes within the City Right: (left to right) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Tree of the tremendous sacrifice they Above: (left to right) Lt.Col Comeau, Ron & Barbara Johnson, of . Work began September 1st and will Campaign Co-Founder & Chair Mark Cullen, Veterans Affairs make for us. Silver Cross Mother & Father, Mark Cullen Minister Lawerence McCauly - Official Federal Funding continue until the summer of 2022. Announcement in Whitby, Ontario, June 2019. When my husband and I lost our son Andrew in 2004 we had a tree planted in the military cemetery in in his memory. It stands tall and proud on his behalf. As he was a young man we felt it fitting to see something green and growing as an appropriate symbol to his memory. And this July, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, announced a new I feel that the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is an outstanding undertaking. With their commitment of $1 million towards support, we will never forget the sacrifices of our soldiers, both past and present. I feel so our Hero Trees, planted along the 401 very proud to be a Canadian citizen. Highway of Heroes in honour of those Canadians who gave the ultimnate sacrifice to our country.

Private Andrew David Johnson Born: April 23, 1980 $9.5 million Markham, Ontario, Canada Above: (from left to right) Col. Ryan Deming, Commander, 8 Wing, MCpl Trevor January 29, 2004 Vautour (ret.) and current Provincial Constable for Ontario Provincial Police, Barbara Died: and Ron Johnson, Silver Cross Mother and Father, parents of Pte. Andrew Johnson, Cape Town, South Africa Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and MPP for Army, The Royal Canadian Regiment Quinte West, Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation of Ontario, Mark Cullen, Campaign Chair & Co-Founder and Mayor Jim Harrison, Quinte West - Offi- Citation(s): Canadian Peacekeeping Service cial Provincial Funding Announcement, Trenton, Ontario, July 2020. Medal, Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans, Sacrifice Medal The Journey Ahead Private Johnson was born April 23, 1980 in Markham, Ontario. During his time in the Army, serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment, he received multiple citations, including the Canadian The Homestretch Peacekeeping Service Medal, Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans, and the With the majority of our funding now secured, we are now able Through a combination of funds received and future to shift our focus even more to tree planting activities on the Sacrifice Medal. commitments in place, we have now secured over highway itself. 95% of our $10 million multi-year fundraising goal. Andrew was killed in an accident on January 29, 2004 in Cape Town, South Africa at the age of 23, while on leave during a deployment to Bosnia on a Peacekeeping mission. A tribute to Private This year alone, we will add over 500,000 new trees to the Together, we can achiecve this fundraising goal by the Johnson on a Canadian Army forum reads, “Andy was a great soldier and even better friend to all of 150,000 we’ve already planted. This means that by the end of end of this year. And that means, we will be able plant Bravo and everyone he served with.” 2020 we will be closing in on the first1 million trees! our last tree by the end of 2022. Back Middle Panel

Our Thanks Our campaign has benefited from the dedication and generousity of our sponsors, benefactors and individual Campaign Leadership: donors like you. Mark Cullen Valerie Pringle On behalf of our entire team, thabn you for helping us Michael de Pencier Donna Cansfield create the world’s largest living tribute! Tony DiGiovanni Elaine Solway

We couldn’t have done it with you! Honorary Patrons: David & Sharon Johnston Sincerely,

Mike Hurley Executive Direcrtor Founding Sponsors

Benefactors, Foundations & Sponsors Government

media partners

Don Johnson - GH Wood Legacy Fund Marjorie & Joseph Wright Memorial Foundation Inside Spread - Left Honouring our Silver Cross Families

A Lasting Tribute By Barbara Johnson, Silver Cross Mother

As a Silver Cross mother I am intensely touched by the recognition that Highway of Heroes gives to our veterans, both living and deceased. To me, they are our true heroes, who above all deserve our respect. As Canadians, we need to be aware of the tremendous sacrifice they Above: (left to right) Lt.Col Comeau, Ron & Barbara Johnson, make for us. Silver Cross Mother & Father, Mark Cullen When my husband and I lost our son Andrew in 2004 we had a tree planted in the military cemetery in Ottawa in his memory. It stands tall and proud on his behalf. As he was a young man we felt it fitting to see something green and growing as an appropriate symbol to his memory.

I feel that the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is an outstanding undertaking. With their support, we will never forget the sacrifices of our soldiers, both past and present. I feel so very proud to be a Canadian citizen.

Private Andrew David Johnson Born: April 23, 1980 Markham, Ontario, Canada Died: January 29, 2004 Cape Town, South Africa Army, The Royal Canadian Regiment Citation(s): Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans, Sacrifice Medal

Private Johnson was born April 23, 1980 in Markham, Ontario. During his time in the Army, serving with the Royal Canadian Regiment, he received multiple citations, including the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal, Non-Article 5 NATO Medal for Operations in the Balkans, and the Sacrifice Medal.

Andrew was killed in an accident on January 29, 2004 in Cape Town, South Africa at the age of 23, while on leave during a deployment to Bosnia on a Peacekeeping mission. A tribute to Private Johnson on a Canadian Army forum reads, “Andy was a great soldier and even better friend to all of Bravo and everyone he served with.” Inside Spread - Middle Campaign Updates

Funding Announcements The 2019 Federal Budget included a three year commitment totalling $3 million through Veterans Affairs Canada beginning in our 2019/20 fiscal year.

Earlier this year, the Ontario Trillium Foundation awarded the campaign with a two-year $500,000 grant to expand our work along the Highway of Heroes within the City Right: (left to right) Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Tree of Toronto. Work began September 1st and will Campaign Co-Founder & Chair Mark Cullen, Veterans Affairs Minister Lawerence McCauly - Official Federal Funding continue until the summer of 2022. Announcement in Whitby, Ontario, June 2019.

And this July, Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation, announced a new commitment of $1 million towards our Hero Trees, planted along the 401 Highway of Heroes in honour of those Canadians who gave the ultimnate sacrifice to our country.

Above: (from left to right) Col. Ryan Deming, Commander, 8 Wing, MCpl Trevor Vautour (ret.) and current Provincial Constable for Ontario Provincial Police, Barbara and Ron Johnson, Silver Cross Mother and Father, parents of Pte. Andrew Johnson, Hon. Todd Smith, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services and MPP for Quinte West, Hon. Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation of Ontario, Mark Cullen, Campaign Chair & Co-Founder and Mayor Jim Harrison, Quinte West - Offi- cial Provincial Funding Announcement, Trenton, Ontario, July 2020. The Journey Ahead The Homestretch With the majority of our funding now secured, we are now able to shift our focus even more to tree planting activities on the highway itself.

This year alone, we will add over 500,000 new trees to the 150,000 we’ve already planted. This means that by the end of 2020 we will be closing in on the first1 million trees! Inside spread - Right

Breaking New Ground Over the last year we have seen a rapid increase in our success. As a result, we have expanded our area of impact to encompass the entire 401 corridor. From Windsor to the Quebec border, now, more Canadians can have a piece of this amazing tribute in their own back yard.

$9.5 million

Through a combination of funds received and future commitments in place, we have now secured over 95% of our $10 million multi-year fundraising goal.

Together, we can achiecve this fundraising goal by the end of this year. And that means, we will be able plant our last tree by the end of 2022.