Blogs

The Young Urban Forest Leaders (YUFL) Program provides hands-on training and mentorship for Toronto youths. As Education Coordinator at LEAF, I, Lam Tran, am in charge of running and delivering this amazing program. But, not too long ago, I was lucky enough to be a program participant myself. At the time, I was full of hope, curiosity and a bit of anxiety. Little did I know, becoming a YUFL would turn out to be a defining moment in my life. Today, I want to share my story.

I was hired as the spring 2019 Lead Planter at LEAF for the 2019 spring planting season. At the time, I was looking to expand my field experience and was excited to get involved with an organization that has been doing such great work in urban forestry for over 20 years! Now, a year later, I am sharing with you what a typical day might look like as a LEAF planter and why the work we do is so important!

Winter is a great time to prune mature trees because the cooler weather makes them less vulnerable to diseases and infections. Improper pruning can result in serious, long-term damage to your tree and endanger wildlife inhabitants so selecting a qualified and responsible tree care company is essential for ensuring both are well-protected. When choosing a company, you’ll need to be prepared to research, ask questions and identify misleading tactics.

Eleven Toronto Community Housing communities across Toronto welcomed 150 new trees as part of the TCHC Planting and Stewardship Initiative over the past two years. The TREE-rific neighbours not only make the communities greener, but also add unique flare.

In 2019, LEAF volunteers and stewardship event participants gave over 4,200 hours of their own time to LEAF programs, such as: community tree planting events, Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens, community events, Tree Tours and so much more! With so many programs and projects to celebrate, we’re taking a moment to acknowledge the contributions made by our TREE-rific volunteers and LEAF community.