Joining Forces with the Elora Environment Centre Tree Trust to Celebrate Elder Trees

We are pleased to announce our partnership with the Elora Environment Centre, Tree Trust program , a significant step forward in Tree Canada’s mission to plant and nurture trees.

This collaboration expands beyond tree planting to focus on preserving and maintaining the valuable elder trees we already have in urban settings. Tree Canada and the Elora Environment Centre are working together to raise awareness about the need to protect elder trees and ensure that their significant contributions are recognized and preserved for future generations. Together, we are committed to fostering a stronger, more sustainable future for our urban landscapes and the communities that depend on them. Elder trees are invaluable treasures that provide crucial benefits to our cities, communities, and ecosystems. Through this new initiative, we will collaborate to raise awareness of their importance and ensure they receive the care they deserve.

Why Elder Trees are important

Elder trees, often centuries-old, are the guardians of our urban landscapes. They offer countless environmental, social, and ecological benefits that cannot be replaced by younger saplings. From their ability to purify the air and store carbon to their role in supporting local wildlife, elder trees are essential to maintaining healthy, resilient urban environments. Their towering presence and deep-rooted history make them invaluable assets in combating climate change and enhancing the overall well-being of our communities. Despite their importance, these trees are often at risk. As cities expand, the demand for development can lead to the removal of mature trees in favour of new projects.

Empowering Communities and Professionals

Our partnership with the Elora Environment Centre, and support of the Tree Trust program, brings local communities together and equips urban forest professionals with the knowledge and resources needed to protect these essential trees. Through a series of community events, we’re raising awareness of the importance of elder trees and empowering individuals with the skills to nurture them.

Community Event Dates:

• Erin May 24, 2025
• Port Dalhousie June 14, 2025
• Perth July 12, 2025
• Cobourg July 26, 2025

Additionally, this partnership includes a specialized educational training workshop for arborists in the Fall.  By enhancing their skills in mature tree care, we are helping to ensure that elder trees are maintained and preserved, whenever possible, rather than removed. These professionals play a critical role in ensuring that our urban forests continue to thrive.

A Shared Commitment to the Future

At Tree Canada, we believe that large, mature trees are the cornerstone of healthy, vibrant landscapes. Through our partnership with the Elora Environment Centre, we are supporting the protection of elder trees—whose long-established presence offers unparalleled benefits to the environment, from improving air quality to supporting biodiversity, as well as ties to local histories, ecologies, and human geographies.

Learn more about the Elora environment Centre and Tree Trust:

Elora Environment Centre