On November 23, Guelph City Council approved an Operations Dept. plan to remove 52 mature trees from Royal City Park. GUFF and Sierra Club Canada made delegations explaining why some of the trees should be retained. 

Read the GUFF presentation

Read the Sierra Club Canada presentation

At the council meeting, Councilor Piper requested that the citizens be encouraged to buy trees for planting in the park next spring. Our response is below.

If you have concerns about the reduction of our urban forest canopy, please contact  your councilors and request that some of our tax base go to maintenance and protection of our trees. The budget is being discussed December 8 at City Council.

Dear Councillor Piper:

Regarding your suggestion for GUFF to support citizen donations of trees for Royal City Park .

The goal of GUFF has always been to advocate for tree maintenance and protection, as well as increase, through having an urban forestry department with a forester. This person, as head of a separate, dedicated department could also coordinate the public education for the value of our mature canopy which is so necessary in the face of extreme climate events in our future. Of course, there would be a strong protective bylaw for delivery of this vital service.

That said, many Guffers do enjoy planting trees with the wonderful Speed River Project every year. Many also take part in the annual Rotary sponsored tree planting outside the city at Guelph Lake. Although the thousands of trees planted in the township contribute to our benefits of greening, we do need more trees inside the city to counter the heat island effect that comes from a busy city with its grey infrastructure and  transportation corridors. I wonder if Guelph Rotary would be interested in planting in the city next spring.

GUFF has listed many benefits of trees in our new powerpoint on Sustainable Guelph. We hope that you will look at it and pass it on…. and will support Guelph’s canopy with a strong protective tree bylaw, an urban forestry department and a forester.

Thanks for sharing GUFF’s concern for our ‘upstanding residents’, the trees.

Respectfully yours,

Guelph Urban Forest Friends

Contacting Guelph City Council

Mayor Farbridge: mayor@guelph.ca

Ward 1: Bob Bell bob.bell@guelph.ca, Kathleen Farrelly kathleen.farrelly@guelph.ca
Ward 2: Vicki Beard vicki.beard@guelph.ca, Ian Findlay ian.findlay@guelph.ca
Ward 3: Maggie Laidlaw maggie.laidlaw@guelph.ca, June Hofland june.hofland@guelph.ca
Ward 4: Gloria Kovach gloria.kovach@guelph.ca, Mike Salisbury mike.salisbury@guelph.ca
Ward 5: Lise Burcher lise.burcher@guelph.ca, Leanne Piper leanne.piper@guelph.ca
Ward 6: Christine Billings christine.billings@guelph.ca, Karl Wettstein karl.wettstein@guelph.ca

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