Hiram Walker & Sons joins Forests Ontario and the City of Windsor to Plant Trees and take the Green Leaf Challenge

WINDSOR, ON, May 9, 2017  /CNW/ - Today at Windsor's Thompson Park, Hiram Walker & Sons Limited joined Forests Ontario, Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd., and the City of Windsor to plant 200 trees. This planting event is part of the Green Leaf Challenge, an initiative launched by Forests Ontario and the Ontario government inviting Ontarians to plant three million trees in 2017 in celebration of Canada's 150^th birthday.

Thompson Park is located within a densely populated, urbanized area of Windsor, and this planting not only adds vital tree cover within the community, but also beautifies a central and accessible green space. Volunteers from the accounting and finance teams at Hiram Walker & Sons were joined by their colleagues at Corby Spirit and Wine to plant native trees in a section of the park. The two organizations work closely together as affiliates of Pernod Ricard, a global leader in the wines and spirits industry. Corby is the Canadian marketer and distributor of the spirits produced by Hiram Walker & Sons.

The two companies are among the many organizations participating in the Green Leaf Challenge through employee engagement events. Forests Ontario CEO Rob Keen says: "The Green Leaf Challenge celebrates the fact that every tree matters and counts toward the kind of future we want for Ontario, one in which our natural ecosystems are resilient to the effects of climate change and essential benefits like clean air and water are secure."

The partnership between Hiram Walker & Sons, Corby Spirit and Wine, and Forests Ontario emphasizes urban forest and green spaces and the contributions they make to health, well-being, and vibrancy in our neighbourhoods. "We believe that our organization has a responsibility to give back to the communities where we work and live," says Antonio Sanchez, CFO. "We are thrilled to be part of this project, and to make an impact that will last well into the future."

Previously in 2016, Corby joined Forests Ontario and the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority to plant trees in Toronto's Tommy Thompson Park, the largest continuous habitat on Toronto's Waterfront and one that's entirely manmade. The planting was one of several projects carried out within Tommy Thompson to create aquatic and terrestrial habitat.

The Green Leaf Challenge runs throughout 2017 with individuals, community groups, municipalities, and businesses planting across the province. Anyone can participate by visiting greenleafchallenge.ca and adding the trees they plant across Ontario to the online tree counter.

About Forests Ontario
Forests Ontario is the voice for our forests. Working to promote a future of healthy forests sustaining healthy people, Forests Ontario is committed to the re-greening of Ontario through tree planting efforts on rural lands and in urban areas, as well as the renewal and stewardship of Ontario's forests through restoration, education, and awareness. Visit www.forestsontario.ca or follow us @Forests_Ontario.

About Hiram Walker and Sons Limited
Established over 150 years ago, Hiram Walker & Sons Limited's tradition of blending quality ingredients, processes and highly skilled people continues at the Windsor, Ontario based production facility. Hiram Walker produces brands such as J.P. Wiser's®, Lot No. 40®, Pike Creek®, Gooderham & Worts® and Royal Reserve® Canadian whiskies, Polar Ice® vodka, Malibu® and Lamb's® rums, and McGuinness® liqueurs for Canadian distribution by its affiliate, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited. Hiram Walker is a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard S.A., a leading global spirits and wine company with premium international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine's® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob's Creek®, Wyndham Estate®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, Graffigna® and Kenwood® wines.

About Corby Spirit and Wine
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian marketer and distributor of spirits and imported wines. Corby's portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser's®, Lot No. 40®, Pike Creek®, and Gooderham & Worts® Canadian whiskies as well as Lamb's® rum, Polar Ice® vodka, McGuinness® liqueurs, and the recently acquired Ungava® gin. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal® and The Glenlivet® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob's Creek®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, and Kenwood® wines. In 2017, Corby was named one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada by The Great Place to Work® Institute Canada for the sixth consecutive year, and was also listed among Greater Toronto's Top 100 Employers for the third time. Corby is a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B. For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter (@CorbySW), and Instagram (@CorbySW).

SOURCE Hiram Walker & Sons Limited