In early July, TEA held a tree walk in South Etobicoke in Colonel Samuel Smith Park which brought out 45 community members.

The guided tree walk was led by Todd Irvine of City Forest and joined by special guest and local councillor Amber Morley. The walk offered participants an opportunity to explore one of the city’s many beautiful parks while gaining a deeper understanding of the important role trees play in creating healthier and more resilient communities.

Todd talked about the heritage of the park, noting that it was home to the Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital in the late 1800’s, and that many of the apple orchard trees still standing in the park today were planted by the hospital’s patients centuries ago. It was a great reminder of the heritage and cultural roots that these trees hold and the importance of protecting them.

During the walk local councillor Amber Morley highlighted Toronto’s Private Tree Bylaw which protects trees on private properties. This spring, City Council supported changes to this bylaw to make it stronger, adding more enforcement, steeper fines, and supporting a plan to eventually protect younger trees from being cut down, dropping the size threshold from 30 cm diameter to 20 cm, with a report back in 2027. These changes will help protect many more trees across Toronto, protecting important future shade and green space as our city gets hotter. 

Our tree walks reflect TEA’s commitment to empowering communities with the knowledge and tools to advocate for stronger environmental policies and greener neighborhoods. By bringing residents together with decision makers, TEA continues to foster action to protect and expand Toronto’s unique urban forest. 

Please make sure to follow TEA’s e-newsletters and socials for opportunities to join future walks and take action to support new investments in our urban forest!