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Time for reflection...
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The year 2008 is almost at an end. At Tree Canada, we're reflecting on a year of great success in attracting new sponsors and launching new programs.
This edition of Mïstïk features a summary about President Michael Rosen and Tree Canada Associate Adrina Bardekjian Ambrosii's trip to Armenia, where they worked with foresters to promote sustainable forestry practices in a country facing major deforestation. Hopefully this trip will be the first of many international experiences, where Tree Canada can share its expertise to preserve the world's forests.
The next issue of Mïstïk will be available in March 2009. Until then, I wish you a happy holiday season!
Melissa Nisbett
Writer & Editor Mïstïk
mnisbett@treecanada.ca
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Armenia: Michael and Adrina's Story
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During the two week trip, Tree Canada's Michael Rosen and Adrina Bardekjian Ambrosii visited government and non profit environmental organizations to learn about the environmental challenges facing Armenia.
They met with the Minister of Nature Protection to learn about the government's role in conservation in a country where virtually 100% of the forested land is state owned. They visited the beautiful Khosrov Forest Preserve and the Botanical Gardens of Yerevan where they became familiar with the lasting effects of the Soviet collapse and how this has impacted environmentalism in Armenia.
Rosen and Ambrosii met with representatives from the Armenia Green Cross, World Wildlife Fund Armenia and the Armenia Tree Project. These organizations are similar to Tree Canada and with whom Tree Canada will partner with in the future.
During the trip, they managed to identify the best practices to that could be customized to address deforestation in Armenia. These strategies will be applied in Tree Canada's follow up activities in Armenia.
This trip also had personal relevance for Adrina, who is Armenian-Canadian.
"I did not expect to feel such a profound closeness to the land. Diasporans learn about the history, landscape of the country throughout their lives," she explained. "But to see it first-hand in that context was profound and incomparable to any other trip I've been on."
Phase 3, Tree Canada's first international project will begin in 2009 between Canada and Armenia. A rural reforestation project, an urban forest program and a cooperative program with U of T's Masters of Forest Conservation graduate students and the Agrarian University of Armenia will take place. Depending on funding, the program will be formally launched in 2010.
"Canadian forestry students do travel to different countries every year to study but this partnership would make Armenia the first developing country on that list," said Ambrosii.
For more information on the trip visit http://www.adrina.ca/project_buildinginternationalbridges.htm. |
Michael Rosen and Adrina Bardekjian Ambrosii in front of Yerevan City Hall during their recent trip to Armenia.
Watching urban forestry in action in downtown Yerevan.
Our visitors come across traditional dancers while exploring the Botanical Gardens of Yerevan.
Members of the Armenian Green Cross tree plant near the city of Vanadzor.
Taking in the local history at Khor Virap, a 17th century monastery.
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Celebrating Trees with Home Hardware
Hundreds of volunteers, Home Hardware staff and school children took part in tree planting events from coast to coast on Maple Leaf Day, the country's national day to reflect on the benefits of trees and green spaces.
Tree Canada and Home Hardware organized events in 23 communities from Kaslo, B.C. to Charlottetown, PEI. More than 700 trees were planted in parks, near shorelines, on soccer grounds to beautify communities. Adding to the day's national profile, five cities declared September 24, 2008 Maple Leaf Day — Ottawa, Ont.; Oshawa, Ont.; Cold Lake, Alta.; Regina, Sask.; and Saskatoon, Sask.
"This is our third Maple Leaf Day and we are proud that participation keeps growing every year," said Michael Rosen, President of Tree Canada. "More and more people want to get involved and show their appreciation for the natural beauty of trees."
The next Maple Leaf Day will take place on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. |
Mayor Cathy Olesen plants a Silver Maple with Michael Rosen and Home Hardware staff on Maple Leaf Day, during the 8th Canadian Urban Forest Conference. |
Canadian Urban Forest Conference — A big success
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Tree Canada helped host the 8th Canadian Urban Forest Conference in Strathcona County, Alta., from September 23 - 26. The theme was "Healthy Trees, Healthy People" and more than 300 arborists, foresters, municipality planners, community and health groups attended to learn strategies and management practices on how to protect and promote healthy urban forests.
The conference was chaired by Sheila Flint of Strathcona County Parks and Recreation with great participation by over 15 Strathcona County staff, ISA members and Tree Canada staff.
Dr. David Suzuki opened the conference. His speech "Good News for a Change" highlighted how Canadians need to shift their thinking from seeing the environment as a separate and less important entity than the economy. He referred to the attributes and importance of urban forests and had some choice words for the Oil Sands project.
An urban forest strategy workshop, a mainstay of the conference, took place under the leadership of Dr. Andy Kenney, University of Toronto and Michael Rosen. With the demise of the National Forest Strategy Coalition, there was a resolve amongst the urban foresters, arborists and planners present to continue to build the Canadian Urban Forest Network (http://www.treecanada.ca/cufc) under the Secretariat of Tree Canada.
This was the first urban forest conference held during an election campaign and the organizers took advantage of it including a Welcome Address by Michael Rosen urging more federal involvement in urban forests. (http://www.treecanada.ca/news/2008-10-06-2.htm)
During the Awards night, Tree Canada received special recognition from the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) for our Greening Canada's School Grounds program. Tree Canada handed out awards to its sponsors TELUS, Shell and Lifford Wine Agency to congratulate them on their contributions to the environment.
Tree Canada is looking forward to working with the winning community who will host the CUFC9 in 2010. Read about our selection in the upcoming spring issue of Mïstïk.
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David Suzuki opens the 8th Canadian Urban Forest Conference in Strathcona County, AB — our most successful conference to date!
Visit the CUFC8 web site for more photos.
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New faces at Tree Canada
In September, Tree Canada welcomed four new Board members and appointed a new Chair and Vice-Chair to the organization.
Dorothy Dobbie is now Chair of Tree Canada. Dorothy was the M.P. for Winnipeg South from 1988 — 1993 serving as Parliamentary Secretary in a number of portfolios. Currently she is the President and founder of Pegasus Publications Inc., the publisher of Manitoba Gardener, Ontario Gardener, Alberta Gardener, SMART Connections and a number of magazines, journals and directories. She broadcasts a weekly gardening show on the Winnipeg radio station, CJOB.
Timo Makinen is the Green House Gas Advisor — Shell Sulphur Solutions. He was previously a manager of Shell Canada Oil Sands' GHG offset portfolio and is also involved with GHG management strategies. Prior to joining Shell in 2005, he held positions with Vizon SciTech Inc., B.C. Gas Utility Ltd., and BC Hydro. He has been a member of Tree Canada's Board of Directors for several years. He has co-authored numerous papers and frequently presented on issues related to energy and environment linkages and sustainable development.
Our new Board members — Gary Bull, Bill Vander Zalm, Jean Boudreault and Roger St. Louis — have a range of experience in the worlds of finance, politics, academia and consulting. Tree Canada is excited to have these individuals on the Team to promote a greener Canada.
To view the full biographies of our new Board Members, visit http://www.treecanada.ca/news/2008-10-01.htm |
New faces at Tree Canada
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Tree Canada Represents in the South
Tree Canada was invited to participate in two urban forest activities in the southern U.S. as the only Canadian member of the U.S.-based Association for Community Trees (ACT)( http://actrees.org/site/index.php ). Tree Canada represents the urban forest community of Canada at ACT's Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia in November, 2008. At the same time, Tree Canada's Michael Rosen spoke at the 5th annual Center for Forest Ecosystems Assessment lecture series at Alabama A & M University in Normal, AB. Michael spoke on, Diversity in Canada: Training for a Forest Nation and its Urban People. Alabama A & M has the only professionally accredited forestry degree program at a historically Black university.
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(l-r) Dean Robert Taylor, Michael Rosen and Dr. Rory Fraser at Alabama A&M University, November 2008
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Being glamorous, being green
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television invited Tree Canada as part of the 2008 Gemini Awards Eco Lounge in November
(http://www.geminiawards.ca/gemini23/sponsorecolounge.cfm). The Gemini Award gives recognition to the very best in Canadian film and television. The Eco Lounge is an invite only gift lounge for the hosts, presenters and performers for the Gemini Broadcast Gala, as a way of thanking them for contributing their time and talent to the event. The gala took place on November 26. Tree Canada sent tree seed kits and information on tree planting for the lounge. Our organization thanks the Academy for giving Tree Canada this opportunity. |
Tree Canada at the Gemini's
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Update: Mountain Pine Beetle Coupon
| The deadline for Tree Canada's Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf coupon has been extended. The coupon is provided to qualifying B.C. homeowners to replace trees on their property which have been damaged by the beetle. Originally the deadline was March 31, 2009 but has been changed to June 30, 2009. The change reflects the possibility of a late Spring in northern B.C. To see if you are eligible for the coupon, visit our website at: http://www.treecanada.ca/mountain-pine-beetle/index.htm |
Get your Mountain Pine Beetle ReLeaf coupon |
Green Gift Ideas for the Holidays
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Plantatree™ wine makes a great gift for your host or hostess. It's the world's first carbon neutral wine, produced by Lifford Wine Agency in Toronto. For every bottle purchased in Ontario, Tree Canada receives a donation to plant trees to offset Lifford's carbon footprint. More than 40,000 trees have been planted so far. Be part of a good cause that supports Canadian products and our environment! http://www.plantatreewine.com/flash.html
Planting a tree also makes a good gift for families wanting to show their children the importance of caring for our natural world. It provides a lasting legacy for all Canadians to enjoy the oxygen it produces to make our air cleaner. Donate to Tree Canada by visiting: www.treecanada.ca/aboutus/donations.htm
For more gift ideas, visit Tree Canada's online store at: http://www.treecanada.ca/shop/index.htm |
Plantatree™ wine makes a great gift for your host or hostess |
Happy holidays from Tree Canada!
Everyone at Tree Canada — our Board members, staff and advisors — wishes you a safe and happy holidays and a great new year!
Looking back on 2008, our organization has been very successful with our projects and events. Our message about the benefits of tree planting is gaining traction every year with new sponsors and volunteers.
Our success could not have been made without you. All the best!
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