Championing our Canopy: Proud to Sign the 2026 “Trees Please” Pledge

September 20, 2026 | Fort Rouge - East Fort Garry

Brook meets with Jane Altemeyer of Trees Please Winnipeg to discuss

Yesterday, I had the privilege of sitting down with Jane Altemeyer from Trees Please Winnipeg to discuss one of the defining features of our ward and city: Winnipeg’s incredible urban canopy.

From the historic, leafy avenues of Fort Rouge to the expansive green spaces of East Fort Garry, our trees do far more than offer shade on summer days. They clean our air, reduce stormwater runoff, lower energy costs, and give our neighborhoods the distinct character we all love. But keeping our urban forest healthy requires active protection, intentional planning, and solid political commitment.

That is why I was proud to officially sign The 2026 Trees Please Pledge.

Why The Urban Canopy Matters Now

In 2023, City Council approved Winnipeg’s Urban Forest Strategy, marking a vital turn forward. Thanks to strong partnerships between the City and dedicated community groups, local planting initiatives have expanded to over 6,400 trees annually—nearly balancing the 6,508 trees lost in 2024 to disease, storms, and aging infrastructure. While that progress is significant, we cannot stop at replacement alone. The ultimate goal is to grow Winnipeg’s tree canopy coverage from 17% to 24% by 2065 using targeted, equity-based planting and enhanced care. Achieving that vision requires leaders on City Council who will treat our trees as vital public infrastructure.

My Commitment to Fort Rouge – East Fort Garry

As your City Councillor, I am pledging to take concrete action on three key fronts to safeguard and expand our urban forest:

• MAINTAIN | Protect and Grow the Forestry Budget: I will advocate to maintain and enhance the Winnipeg Urban Forestry budget so our team has the resources required to meet our 24% canopy target through dedicated protection, maintenance, and tree replacement.
• PROTECT | Mandatory Construction Standards: I will push to require tree protection best practices across all commercial and residential construction projects in Winnipeg, ensuring healthy trees aren’t needlessly damaged during development.
• ENACT | Smart Tree Preservation Bylaws: I will support enacting bylaws recommended by Urban Forestry to regulate the removal and severe pruning of mature trees (over 15 cm in trunk diameter) across the city.

Looking Ahead to October

Advocating for our urban forest isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s a community health and quality-of-life priority for every resident in Fort Rouge – East Fort Garry. Grassroots organizations like Trees Please Winnipeg show what is possible when citizens organize around a shared vision for a greener city.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to Jane Altemeyer and the entire team at Trees Please Winnipeg for their tireless advocacy. As we head toward Election Day this October, I look forward to working alongside you to ensure Winnipeg stays green, resilient, and thriving for generations to come.

What are your thoughts on tree protection and green spaces in our ward? Drop a comment below or reach out directly—I’d love to hear from you.