Tree Trust
Reep Green Solutions brought Tree Trust to Waterloo Region in 2022 to conserve our urban forest canopy through caring for mature trees, succession planting, and our annual Tree of the Year competition.
Tree Trust - Extending the Lives of Mature Trees
Tree Trust is a 100% donor funded program aimed at supporting mature, legacy trees. Originally started by the Elora Environment Centre, Tree Trust now has 12 chapters and is delivered in the Waterloo Region by Reep Green Solutions.
Mature Tree Care
Extend lifespans through expert arborist care
Succession Planting
Grow the next generation of trees
Tree of the Year
Raising awareness of our local trees
Fundraise for Tree Care
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donations
Mature trees store and sequester more carbon, provide more habitat, intercept more rainwater, and give more shade than any other tree in their neighbourhood! On average, one large mature tree offers the same ecological value as 300 saplings.
Specialized arborist care, such as pruning, removing deadwood, and managing invasive species, helps maintain tree health and extends their life. For every mature tree we care for, we also plant two ‘understudy saplings’, ensuring a future is growing just beneath it. With your help, we’re conserving and planting the long-term vision of our urban canopy.
Select “Tree Trust – Waterloo Region” in the donation form dropdown.
Tree Trust Trees Across Waterloo Region
Since becoming a Tree Trust chapter in 2022, we have cared for 13 mature trees. Together, these trees intercept more than 180,000 liters of stormwater each year and store nearly 60 tons of carbon! We have also planted 23 succession trees, which are expected to provide similar benefits over their lifetimes.
Do you know a mature tree that could use a little help? Nominate it for Tree Trust!
Explore the trees on the map below:
Stories of The Trees We Have Cared For
Read about the remarkable trees we have cared for in our community on our blog and on Tree Trust’s website!
Listening to the Stories of Trees: Tree Trust Oak Conservation in the New Hamburg Arboretum
Da Vinci says that “to see is to know.” Most of us don’t see trees, we drive past them. Baum Tree Care Pruning of Pin Oak Tree On a
Carbon Offsets: Why Local Action Matters
By Nicole Wang Carbon offsets have become more common as a way for people to address carbon intensive activities that they have a difficult time
Waterloo Region Tree Trust at St. Jerome’s University
“How old do you think the tree is?” Jim Robson, the Director of Facilities at St. Jerome’s University, asked while we stared upwards into the
Donate to Make an Impact
In 2026, we are aiming to care for 4 mature trees, and plant 12 succession trees. Thanks to your support we are halfway to our goal, and currently looking for donations to extend the lives of two more!
While this may seem small, the impact is big, and specialized care is expensive – around $2,000 for just one mature tree. Mature trees exist because generations of people chose not to cut them down. However, that isn’t always the easy choice. Many are prematurely removed because the needed care can be expensive. That’s where Tree Trust comes in.
With your help, we can make sure cost won’t be the reason that a healthy mature tree is lost forever.
Each contribution, no matter how small, helps make tree care possible:
$25 → Supports tree care assessments
$50 → Contributes to essential maintenance like pruning
$100 → Helps fund specialized care
$250+ → Significantly supports full-service care for trees in need
With a minimum donation of $100, or a monthly donation of any amount, you automatically become a Friend of Tree Trust!
Select “Tree Trust – Waterloo Region” in the donation form dropdown.
Tree of the Year - Waterloo Region
The Tree of the Year campaign, started by Tree Trust, celebrates the remarkable contributions of mature trees, recognizing their ecological, historical, and cultural significance. This annual competition in the Waterloo Region aims to inspire people to notice and appreciate the trees around them, and to vote for the tree they would like to see crowned Tree of the Year! Each year’s winner then moves onto the Ontario Tree Pageant.
Want to recognize a tree outside of Waterloo Region? Check out the other Tree Trust Chapters!
See our Past Competitions ⬇️ to read about the trees that have been recognized over the years.
Tree of the Year 2026 Competition
Tree of the Year is back for 2026! New this year, community members can nominate their favourite trees across the Waterloo Region, and our Tree Trust Advisory Panel will shortlist five finalists from across the region. The community will then rank their vote for this year’s winner!
Timeline:
- Nominations Open: June 15 – 30, 2026
- Finalist Profiles Announced and Public Voting: early August
- Winner Announced: end of August!
Nominate a Tree!
Do you have a tree in your community that you think should be celebrated? Nominate it to be Waterloo Region’s Tree of the Year 2026! Nominations will be open until June 30th, 2026.
If you experience any issues with this form, let us know at [email protected]
Thank you for the overwhelming response! Nominations for the 2026 Tree of the Year competition are now closed. Our staff will review all nominations and five finalists will be selected by our advisory panel. Finalist tree’s profiles will be posted and voting for this year’s winner will open on August 3rd, 2026!
Vote for Waterloo Region's 2026 Tree of the Year
Thank you to everyone who nominated a tree this year! We reviewed all of the submissions and truly enjoyed reading about so many remarkable trees being recognized in our community.
We are excited to announce the five finalists — one in each city/township — for Waterloo Region’s 2026 Tree of the Year competition! Read the profiles of these beautiful trees, then scroll down to rank, vote, and crown this year’s winner!
Finalist Tree Profiles
Tree of The Year 2023 Finalist: Wilmot
Text and photos by Karl Kessler. Bur OakWilmot TownshipPeel Street at Church Street, New Hamburg Age: approximately 150 years oldHeight:
Tree of The Year 2023 Finalist: Woolwich
Text and photos by Karl Kessler. White ElmWoolwich TownshipElmira Nature Reserve, South Field Drive and Union Street, Elmira Age: approximately
Tree of The Year 2023 Finalist: Cambridge
Text and photos by Karl Kessler. White OakCambridgeCambridge Sculpture Garden, Grand Ave. S. Age: approximately 140 years oldHeight: 21.25 m
Tree of The Year 2023 Winner: Waterloo
Text and photos by Karl Kessler. Bur OakWaterlooWaterloo Public Library, Main Library, Albert Street Age: approximately 120-130 years oldHeight: 23-24.5
Tree of the Year 2023 Finalist: Kitchener
Text and photos by Karl Kessler. Weeping WillowKitchenerRockway Gardens, Floral Crescent Age: approximately 100 years oldHeight: 15.25-16.75 m / 50-55
Rank your vote!
If the embedded form isn’t working, vote directly on Microsoft Forms. For any issues, email us – [email protected]
Thank you to everyone who voted for the 2026 Waterloo Region Tree of the Year! Voting is now closed. We will tabulate all of the votes and announce the winning tree shortly.
Waterloo Region's Tree of the Year 2026 Winner!
Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s competition! The winner is…..
Tree of the Year 2024
Discover the inspiring story behind this year’s Tree of the Year, as well as other remarkable trees that connect our community, preserve memories, and support our environment.
Explore our Past Tree of the Year Competitions
Tree of the Year 2025:
Cambridge, Coffeetree
Winner and nominees
Tree of the Year 2024:
Woolwich, Goliath the Bur Oak
Winner and nominees
Tree of the Year 2023:
Waterloo, Bur Oak
Winner and nominees
Meet our Tree Trust Arborist
Phil Guenter
Phil has been an arborist for over 15 years, and is the owner and lead climber of Baum Professional Tree Care, a family-owned and operated tree service specializing in tree climbing.
He is a member of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Ontario Chapter, and is extremely passionate about trees and their conservation.
Tree Trust Advisory Panel
Our volunteer Advisory Panel is comprised of community members and arboriculture industry professionals. The Panel selects the trees which are cared for through Tree Trust, and chooses the finalists for each Tree of the Year competition.
Community Support
