Retired from the Municipality
After 21 years of public
service, I left my position as
City Forester with the City
of Thunder Bay, Ontario in
the fall of 2016. It was with
a heavy heart that I left my
urban forestry practice, but
I found that the job had
become too stressful; my
family convinced me that
it was in my—and their—
best interest to find a new
one. I needed a job where
I could make most of the
people happy most of the
time ... and I found it.
I now work full-time as a
Program Coordinator for
the Forestry Futures Trust
Committee, whose job it is
to allocate funds from the
Ontario Forestry Futures
Trust. Generated through
stumpage fees, these monies are
applied to silviculture projects
through a competitive applica-
tion process. My job is to vet
applications for the Committee
and administratively manage
those successful silviculture proj-
ects, along with others in forest
genetics and forest inventory.
Having been out of traditional
forestry for many years, this posi-
tion presented a steep learning
curve that I found to be both
scary and exciting. I pretty much
have it down now, though, and
I really enjoy chatting with for-
esters from across the Province
and hearing the passion and ded-
ication they have for their work.
Now that I no longer work eve-
nings and weekends, I have time
to pursue other passions, such
as sewing. I have studiously built
up my stash of fabric and sewing
gadgets and even bought two
vintage Singer sewing machines
that I plan to refurbish. I have
no idea how I am going to
do that, but I'm counting on
Google to help me through it.
I joined a gym that provides
High-Intensity Interval Training
workouts that I enjoy doing with
my husband, I take weekly yoga
classes, and I'm reading more
fiction than I have in years. Now
I'm just waiting for grandkids
to come along. All in all, I'm
healthy, happy, and loving life!
—Shelley Vescio
urban-forestry.com 19
Vescio (right) with Forestry Futures Trust Committee
Anastasia Frisby on a forest genetics field tour.
