LEAF began nearly 30 years ago, and the last visioning exercise we held was around 2014. In the ten years since, we have evolved considerably as an organization and so in 2024 we decided it was time once again.
Vision is what connects our hearts and passion to our actions. It’s the reason we dedicate our careers, free time, skills and expertise to this work. It also provides a broad scope for us to map our role relative to other organizations and entities, enabling us to find partnerships, collaborations and joint opportunities with those who share our vision.
Mission sits under the vision. A clear mission ensures that all of us – Board of Directors, employees and volunteers – are aligned on what we are going to do and for whom. With limited resources, we need a way of deciding what activities to prioritize and what to let go. Ensuring that everything we do can be traced back to our mission is a way for the whole team to stay focused and cohesive.
A committee of staff and Board members mapped out a plan, with the help of a consultant. Input was gathered from volunteers, staff and Board members through a survey. Responses shed light on the strengths, resources and assets of the organization, including many successful programs, passionate and dedicated staff, connections to research and academia and strong institutional knowledge. A collaborative approach and municipal government partnerships were also identified as strengths. Folks were also asked to imagine what would define success for LEAF thirty years in the future.
The survey results informed the design of two virtual sessions, one for the staff team and one for the Board. With the guidance of our consultant, our respective groups drilled down into the survey results to form a picture of how we collectively understand our organization and what we do. We also asked ourselves, what other sectors/groups exist in the ecosystem within which we work.
In January of 2025 we held an all day, in-person gathering of Board and staff to further explore the inputs, and to begin to formulate our vision and mission statements, as well as identify our strategic priorities. The results from that day made it clear that we were also operating with a set of guiding principles, that should be articulated and shared along with our vision and mission. Central to these principles were the value of nature, and the importance of equity, diversity and reconciliation.
Through these discussions we also realized that perhaps the best way to visually represent these concepts was with a house. Our Land Acknowledgement forms the foundation of all that we do and reflects our commitment to learning the truth of the past, listening to Indigenous teachers and collaborators and carrying out our responsibilities as treaty people. Ensuring we have the necessary systems, people, culture and resources in place will ensure our organization thrives. Our strategic priorities, the pillars of the organization, determine what we do, and our principles must be present throughout our house, guiding how we do it. Our mission, just under the peak of the roof, articulates exactly what we will focus on, in pursuit of our ultimate vision for the future.
As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2026, we are pleased to share our ‘house’ as our strategic plan. With renewed commitment and passion, we are excited to be part of the broader ecosystem working toward a healthy urban forest for all.
Janet McKay is the Founder and Executive Director of LEAF.
LEAF is a not-for-profit organization that envisions vibrant communities where everyone benefits from a healthy urban forest. Our mission is to engage communities in nurturing the urban forest through planting, stewardship and education, fostering connections between people and nature.