Reep Green Solutions brings Tree Trust to Waterloo Region
Reep Green Solutions celebrated the launch of the Waterloo Region Tree Trust on Arbor Day 2022 with St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School (C.S.S.) joined by the students of their Grade 12 graduating class, members of the school community, and Cambridge community including Mayor Kathryn McGarry.
A ceremony was held on Arbor Day to induct the first Waterloo Region Tree Trust tree into the program. This tree was affectionately named Florere by St. Benedict’s 2022 graduating class.
As the community partner, Reep will coordinate care for Tree Trust trees in Waterloo Region, fundraise and review new trees to bring into the trust.
Started by the Elora Environment Centre in 2019, the Tree Trust seeks to preserve mature trees that offer a tremendous environmental value to both our community and the world at large. Mature trees are climate heroes – it takes 269 saplings to do the work of one mature tree.
“The legacy trees in our community are time machines to the past and a vital link to our future. Stewardship of these trees helps to provide an important bridge to future generations and will ensure they continue to play a big part in the fight against climate change,” said Patrick Gilbride, Reep’s associate director.
Reep Green Solutions is an environmental charity that has been helping people live sustainably for more than 20 years. Our programs help people reduce their impact and adapt to climate change through: healthy hards, urban forest stewardship, home energy and water efficiency, and waste reduction. We believe that by empowering our community to take action today, we can leave our children a community that is more resilient, vibrant, caring and sustainable.
Supporting legacy trees in your community
Tree Trust launched in Waterloo Region in the fall of 2021 with Reep Green Solutions in an effort to preserve our urban forest canopy and natural heritage through the care of our mature, legacy trees.
Your donations will go directly to funding specialist care for old trees in Waterloo Region for years to come. Contribute to protecting and caring for these legacy trees here.
If you know of a mature tree in our community that could use care, nominate it here. We are looking for mature, legacy trees located on private property such as schools, places of worship, and long-term care homes. Selected trees will be assessed and maintained by certified arborists to extend their life in addition to planting new trees to take its place once the tree has reached its end of life.
Community support
Meet Waterloo Region’s Tree Trust coordinators
Patrick Gilbride, Associate Director & Manager, Green Infrastructure Programs
Patrick is passionate about working with homeowners, businesses and institutions to implement nature-based solutions that provide benefits to them and to the wider community.
Sara Clark, Customer Service Lead
Working with Reep Green Solutions since 2019, Sara has guided participants through our programs and services. Most recently, her work has taken a particular focus on our Healthy Yards programs aimed at reducing flood risk and maintaining the urban tree canopy within our community.
To learn more about Tree Trust Waterloon Region, you can contact Sarah at:
[email protected]
(519) 744-9799 x221