Over the past four years in direct-
ing the Engagement and Research portfolio at Tree
Canada, I have had the opportunity to watch the
organization grow, contribute to designing pro-
grams that move beyond tree planting efforts, and to
create a network of knowledge sharing for Canada's
urban forests. I am pleased to share that our prog-
ress has made a significant impact in urban for-
estry nationwide by fostering comprehensive and
interdisciplinary dialogue, by engaging in innovative
projects, sharing knowledge, and convening commu-
nities. Specific programs in this portfolio include the
Canadian Urban Forest Network (CUFN),
Strategy (CUFS), and Conference (CUFC).
In Canada, we typically see that the curation and
maintenance of urban forests is the responsibility
of municipalities. Communities often seek direc-
tion from peers as well as look to provincial and
federal level support. Tree Canada offers oppor-
tunities for communities to get involved through
tree planting events, urban greening initiatives and
grants, networking, and engagement. The outcomes
of initiatives conducted within the Engagement
and Research pillar strengthen overall leader-
ship in urban forestry at the national scale and
bridge communication across communities to
foster collaboration and encourage diversity.
Participants of the 2017 Peter Wall International Roundtable at
the University of British Columbia on the theme, "Do Rainbows
Come in Green? Urban Forests and Multicultural Citizenship."
Over the Years
We Grow:
National Scale Progress in Engagement
and Research at Tree Canada
By Adrina C. Bardekjian, MFC, PhD
Adapted from an article originally published
in The Nature of Cities
16 CityTREES
