Celebrate Earth Day, Plant a Tree!

Submitted by Jennifer Koskinen, ISA Certified Arborist (Kitchener, ON)



The Stantec team at the site


As a Stantec arborist, to gear up for Earth Day tomorrow I have organized a tree planting with some awesome youth at Lutherwood’s Children’s Mental Health Centre in Waterloo, Ontario. Lutherwood Children’s Mental Health Centre is a not-for-profit health and social service organization that provides quality mental health services to children, youth, and families. Last year Stantec was awarded a project to provide consulting services for the expansion of their facility in Waterloo, which is surrounded by a dense treed area consisting of native mature trees. I was able to provide my arboriculture services to the project, which included a tree management and preservation plan, in order to retain as many of the healthy mature trees as possible.


One of the youth volunteers


Our team of planners, engineers, and arborists worked hand-in-hand reviewing grading and locations for expansion areas in relation to the tree locations. We were able to retain approximately 62% of the trees reviewed in close proximity to the construction. I am very proud of the work by our project team on this project. Through careful planning we were able to achieve the desired building expansion and maintain a healthy mature “mini-forest” that is important to the staff, the children at Lutherwood, and the adjacent residents.

Jennifer at the planting

So now with the construction coming to a close, and Earth Day just around the corner, I felt like planting trees in available areas onsite with the staff and youth would show just how much we appreciate this beautiful site. The kids at Lutherwood have been very patient with all the renovations and construction that have been going on for a little over a year now, so an event like a tree planting would allow them to be part of the positive new face of Lutherwood, Waterloo. We were also lucky to receive generous donations from John’s Nursery and Connon Nurseries, including native species, that will enhance the overall health of the wooded area at the Lutherwood site.

I was onsite on Wednesday along with Daniella Giovanatto, another Stantec arborist, to provide planting tips and guidance and to talk with the youth about the importance of trees to the environment and how to care for their new trees in the coming months. It was an amazing, exiting day for us, the staff at Lutherwood, and the kids to truly take part in the changes at Lutherwood.