This is a long-awaited, much anticipated conference and promises to be educational, fun and a great opportunity for women across arboriculture professions to come together.

ISA CEU credits approved for 12.75 CEU's

Workshops

Conference sessions will run Wednesday, March 21st from 1:00 PM – 5:15 PM, with an evening program. On Thursday, March 22nd we will begin at 8:15 AM, break mid-morning, lunch and mid-afternoon. The evening will find us enjoying a Grotto Spa Night (at group rates). Friday, March 23rd we will begin at 8:45 AM, concluding at 3:00 PM.

Keynote Speaker Dr Kathleen Wolf's presentations:

Creating Better Human Habitat: The Evidence Says It All

Yes, of course, urban trees and greening provide environmental benefits. Another important stream of research has addressed the role of urban greening in human health and well-being - for nearly 40 years! This rich collection of research will be summarized, providing highlights of the evidence for why we need trees in cities. More green means more livable cities and better human habitat. Women have been key contributors to this research tradition - what draws women to learn more about social benefits in our urban environments?

Investing in Trees is an Investment in Your Community

A range of social science research indicates that the return-on-investment for city trees and nature is substantial. Community economics is one aspect – how the urban forest and urban greening positively affects a variety of economic outcomes. Another green payback is human and social capital as people and communities come together to steward their natural resources. This presentation will share the latest research on volunteers and civic ecology.

The Sustainable Sites Initiative: Professional Opportunities in Sustainability

The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES) is a sustainability certification program that is under development. SITES will be a companion certification within the LEED framework and promises to elevate awareness of and best practices for responsible site design, construction, and management. This presentation will describe SITES, its current status, and how urban resources professionals can use the groundwork of the project to market their sustainability sensibility.

Dr. Brenda Callan's presentation:

Tree Decay and Root Disease Recognition, and Our Roots: Canadian Women Research Pioneers and World Authorities on Wood Decay

Dr. Callan will discuss tree decay and root disease recognition, and will tell us of Canadian women who were research pioneers and world authorities on wood decay and forest pathology in the early 20th century, including Clara Fritz, Ruth Arnold, Irene Mounce and Mildred Nobles.

Karen Cummins' presentation:

Organic and Sustainable Landscape Practices

Karen Cummins' session will be an exploration of sustainable landscape principles and practices that work with nature to create attractive landscapes that reuse and recycle as many resources as possible and require less control or intervention than traditional designs and maintenance regimes. Planning and care for trees are at the heart of any holistic strategy. This will be a pictorial celebration of who in our industry is doing what, from large project installations to maintenance gardeners at work.

Tracy Ferreira's presentation:

One Woman's work at The Butchart Gardens

Tracy's session will discuss how her job evolved from gardener to IPM coordinator with an emphasis on what is involved in the Pest Management Program. She will introduce the audience to friends and foes, challenges and successes in a few seasons of pest management at The Butchart Gardens.

Sheila Flint's presentation:

Sheila's first presentation is entitled "Kids Talking Trees". She will emphasize the importance of getting children of all ages interested and passionate about trees: how important it is to teach them about tree care, tree planting, tree respect, tree science and the fun of trees. Sheila will share the success of their long running Arbor Day program and a newly introduced Children's Tree Conference and the difference it has made to children over the last 25 years.

Sheila's second talk will be "Keep Your Skirt Down and Hold Your Head High". She will give a light hearted but vitally important insight into some widely held ideas on tree 'care' and the need for the industry to dispel and resist these common malpractice. Sheila will share some of the tree 'bloopers' she has come across in her career in trees.

Susan Murray's presentation:

Preventative Tree Maintenance and Repair, a look at historical and current practice

In this presentation, we will take a look at the way cavities were repaired in the not so distant past and how they continue to be repaired in other parts of the world. We will examine current and historical practice with regard to tree propping. Cabling and bracing will be addressed with a discussion of the current techniques used to repair a significant crack in a co-dominant trunk, for example. A wide variety of situations around the world and many different tree species provide us with interesting examples for this presentation about Preventative Tree Maintenance and Repair.

Theresa Kishkan's presentation:

The Leafy Groves of Memory

Theresa Kishkan, award winning author will present the topic of "The Leafy Groves of Memory".

Nancy Turner's presentations:

Celebrating Cedars: Iconic Trees in the Lives of First Peoples in Northwestern North America

Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) and yellow cedar (Cupressus nootkatensis) are two iconic species of our northwestern North American forests. They are similar in many ways, but each has its own unique ecological characteristics, history, distribution and cultural applications. They are trees of immense importance for Indigenous Peoples of the region, and feature in virtually all aspects of peoples' traditional lives: not only their in technologies, but in their ceremonies, stories, dances and discourse. The relationships Indigenous people have developed with cedars in fact symbolize an entirely different connection with the natural world and the other species that live there – one of relationality, or kincentricity. These trees – and all other plants and animals for that matter – are our relatives, and as such they must be treated with deference and respect, even as they provide for us. The traditional teachings associated with cedars are as relevant today as ever before; cedars should not be regarded as mere commodities, to be cut and sold on a massive industrial scale. Each cedar, especially the big, old cedars, should be regarded as priceless, holding cultural and ecological values far beyond those often attributed to them by those in industrial forestry. Hopefully this will be realized before all the Old Growth cedars are destroyed.

"Lessons from the Birch Tree": Importance of ecological and genetic diversity in resource use and management

The late Dr. Mary Thomas, Secwepemc (Shuswap) elder and plant specialist, spent much of her childhood days with her grandmothers, learning about the foods, materials and medicines of the lands and waters of the Neskonlith lands around Shuswap Lake. Like her grandmothers before her, she became an expert basketmaker, and was especially skilled at making birchbark baskets of various kinds. The knowledge required to make these baskets is immense. The Birch Tree is symbolic of the wonderful gifts bequeathed to humans from the natural world. These gifts require great skill and wisdom to use appropriately, including reciprocity, or "giving back," as well as gratitude and respect to the birch and other lifeforms that provide for us. Following the lessons provided by the birch tree can lead us to live more sustainably and can enhance the quality of our lives.

Nancy McLean's presentations:

Tree Selection: No, Not The Katsura Again!

How many times have you been asked to advise on tree selection? And how many times have you heard landscape architects, planners, engineers and other clients tell you that they've seen trees that they want, no matter what your advice? There's a language that is needed in these discussions, and we all need to use it, difficult as it may be at times. Finding the Rosetta Stone for tree talk, after years of speaking only in landscape architecture dialect, I’m prepared to share the secret.

Strength in Synergy: Urban Forest Strategies

How can we convince the non-believers that tree canopy is critical? Despite extensive research into the health and environmental benefits of trees, some politicians and government staff remain unconvinced. Budgets and constituents' reactions rate more highly than working on urban tree canopy. Tackling the issues from a political perspective reinforces the arborists' goals. See how arboriculture and landscape architecture work synergistically to change the urban landscape.