by 
The day was founded by Sir George W. Ross, later the Premier of Ontario, when he was Minister of Education in Ontario. Ross established both Arbour Day and Empire Day – “the former to give the school children an interest in making and keeping the school grounds attractive, and the latter to inspire the children with a spirit of patriotism.”
In Canada, National Forest Week is the last full week of September, and National Tree Day (Maple Leaf Day) falls on the Wednesday of that week.
