Community Canopy
Help to expand our urban forest by planting more trees in Kitchener and Cambridge neighbourhoods with the greatest need!
What is Community Canopy?
In many areas, trees and the benefits they provide are inequitably distributed. This means that some neighbourhoods are missing out on the many benefits that trees can provide to help communities thrive, like shade in the summer, climate change resilience, cleaner air and water, a sense of wellbeing, habitat for wildlife, and more.
Community Canopy is a program that partners with municipalities to enable property owners to increase tree canopy in equity-deserving areas. This program is currently available in certain neighbourhoods in Kitchener and Cambridge.
The cities of Kitchener and Cambridge are prioritizing tree planting on public property in these neighbourhoods! Learn more about Kitchener’s Tree Equity Analysis.
Two residential neighbourhoods with very different levels of tree canopy cover.
What Does the Program Include?
Personalized Property Consultation
One Native Tree
Delivery & Full Planting Service
Care and Maintenance Guide
For eligible participants, this free program includes:
- On-site consultation in your yard with an arborist
- 5-8 foot tall native deciduous tree and/or 2-4 foot tall native evergreen tree with warranty.
- Mulch and staking if necessary
- Full-service delivery, planting, and care guide.
- A follow-up visit to check on tree health and correctively prune.
Costs associated with this program are covered by our funding partners. If you’re interested in more than one tree, additional trees can be purchased for a price ranging from $160-$230 per tree (+tax). Cambridge residents are eligible for up to three free trees.
Who is Eligible for the Program?
Check the map below to see if your property is eligible for free tree planting through Community Canopy! We will be contacting people on a first come, first served basis.
If you represent a condominium, place of worship, school or other property type in Cambridge, you are eligible to apply to determine if the program is suitable for your property, provided you have obtained approval from the property owner. Please note that we are unable to accept applications of this type in Kitchener for the 2026 season.
For further questions or if you are interested in bringing this program to your community, please contact [email protected].
Apply for the Community Canopy Program
Please fill out the form below and we will contact you to schedule a consultation at your property.
Which Trees Are Available?
All of the trees that are available to be planted, both deciduous and evergreen, are native to Ontario. It’s important to plant native trees because they require less maintenance than exotic species and provide essential habitat for wildlife. Our focus is to help you get the right tree for the right place to ensure your tree(s) will thrive and become an amenity in your yard for years to come.
FAQs
Neighbourhoods are assigned a tree equity score, which combines the percentage of tree canopy cover in the area and census data. Neighbourhoods can have low tree equity scores because not enough trees have been planted, existing trees have died, neighbourhoods have been developed more recently, property types haven’t traditionally provided planting space, and other factors.
This program encourages property owners to plant trees on private properties in areas that need them most. To remove barriers to participation, our municipal partners have fully funded the program to ensure everyone can participate, regardless of financial means.
The first tree planted is free, and if you’re interested in more than one tree, additional trees can be purchased for a price ranging from $160-$230 per tree (+ tax). Cambridge residents are eligible for up to three free trees.
Trees will only be planted if the available space in your yard meets with the following conditions:
- 5 feet from property lines or fences
- 7 feet from hard surfaces (paving, interlocking, decks)
- 10 feet from buildings with foundations
- 20 feet from existing trees (or more depending on species), including trees in neighbouring yards
- 8 feet from stumps
- 5 feet from swales
- Medium trees require at least 15 x 15 feet of soft ground surface (free of paving, stone, interlocking, etc.). Large trees may require more. Small trees require at least 10 x 10 feet of soft ground surface.
Reep Green Solutions guarantees that, with proper care, trees will produce leaves by the first July 15th after planting.
Trees planted or delivered in spring (between April 1 – June 30)
If your tree does not produce leaves by July 15th of the same year*, you must contact us by that same date in order to be considered for a replacement.
Trees/shrubs planted or delivered in fall (between September 1 – November 30)
If your tree does not produce leaves by July 15th of the following year*, you must contact us by that date in order to be considered for a replacement.
Animal damage, weather damage or other damage that occurs to your tree after planting is not covered.
*Reep will not consider replacing plants when concerns are received after this deadline, or when proper care, including twice-weekly watering, has not been provided.
Yes! Our Backyard Tree Planting program offers subsidized tree planting for homeowners in Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo, and Guelph.
Get Involved
Please consider donating to help support our project to plant trees in neighbourhoods that have below average tree canopy cover.
Contact us at [email protected] for other ways to get involved.
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