The City of Fort Saskatchewan is located next to the kisiskâciwanisîpiy, also known as the North Saskatchewan River, in Treaty 6 Territory and Métis Region 4, and is surrounded by conservation areas and farmlands. The river valley supports forest, grassland, and wetland ecosystems, and provides great recreational opportunities.

Think of an urban forest as the city’s lungs. Encompassing trees, shrubs, gardens, parks, and more. These living, breathing spaces offer extensive ecological, economic, and social benefits. The Urban Forest Protection and Enhancement Plan seeks to cultivate more of these lush pockets, all while considering the requirements of our blossoming community.

Trees are the silent heroes of the cityscape. They provide calm and quiet amidst urban noise, even in the city center. That's the difference nature makes, and it's palpable. Our mission? Supported by the Federal Government and in collaboration with the Two Billion Trees initiative, we will bring more of these calming spaces to Fort Saskatchewan for everyone to enjoy.

By collaborating with Indigenous community members, we'll gain valuable insights into traditional ecological knowledge, shaping our urban forests. By reviving and nurturing indigenous plant species, we can strengthen our native ecosystems, bringing them to life.

As climate change becomes more significant, the advantages of urban forests to Fort Saskatchewan grow increasingly vital. Our plan offers future-focused guidance on nurturing our urban forest, especially as our city expands and the climate shifts.

In phase two, we will gather feedback, technical analysis, and insights from advisory groups, public engagement and Indigenous community members. These insights will steer the creation of the Urban Forest Protection and Enhancement Plan as we gear up for its launch in early 2024.

The first draft of the Urban Forest Protection and Enhancement Plan will be presented to City Council for feedback. Get your first look at the draft by visiting https://pub-cofs.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=25723

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2024

If you would like to provide feedback on the first draft of the plan, please email your comments to brkelly@fortsask.ca no later than Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Phase one is all about discovery! We’ll dive into our current urban forest records and sift through related policies, rules, and guidelines. All of this will be neatly wrapped up into an Engagement Summary Report and shared with Indigenous community members, which will be shared during a Fall 2023 City Council meeting.

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