Fleming College

The Mount Community Centre is partnering with Fleming College School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences to develop an Inventory and Urban Forest Management plan.

More than 20 students from Fleming’s Urban Forestry Technician Co-op program will visit the Mount Community Centre on Thursday, February 11, 2016 from noon to 4 p.m. to begin this two year project.

Fleming students will begin their work at the Mount with a tour and receive background information about the facility to give context to the project. They will develop an inventory of trees and shrubs on the Mount Community Centre property – determining their species, location, health, safety and risks. The students will then use that information to develop an Urban Forest Management plan that addresses tree health conditions and provides recommendations on interventions and advice on how to maintain a healthy urban ecosystem.

“Our trees and shrubs are a defining part of the Mount Community Centre’s landscape that contribute to the quality of life for the residents in the area and our potential residential and non residential tenants,” says Steve Kylie, Chair of the Mount Community Centre Board of Directors. “This is a great opportunity to work with a community partner and use their expertise to help us develop a long-term plan for the management of our urban tree and shrub canopy. The students will provide us with the basic information on the plant population of our property in order for us to make informed management decisions and develop sustainable management plans and rational budgets for the property’s care.”

“We are thrilled to work with the Mount Community Centre on this project which benefits both the Mount and the students who will have the opportunity to integrate their knowledge into this practical exercise in forest landscape management,” says Katrina Van Osch-saxon, faculty member from the Fleming School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences in Lindsay. “The Urban Forestry Technician Co-op is a relatively new program at the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences and we are eager to spread the word about the importance of trees and greenspace in the urban setting. We are excited about the opportunity to work with the Mount. The rich history of the property and unique plant composition make this an exciting project for the first year students. This capstone project provides the students with hands-on, real world experience in all aspects of urban greenspace management and planning.”

“This project with the Fleming students to develop an urban forest management plan will maximize the benefits our trees and shrubs provide to our tenants and the general public while minimizing the costs to obtain those benefits,” says Andi van Koeverden, Strategic Advancement Director for the Mount Community Centre.

“Our trees and shrubs offer a wide variety of environmental, social, and economic benefits to our property and the surrounding community, including, but not limited to storm water control, CO2 sequestration, aesthetic value, and psychological, social and even economic benefits. The information gathered by the students will provide the Board with a better understanding of the health and benefits of our trees and shrubs and will allow us to plan for future tree planting and maintenance using the tree and shrub inventory and Urban Forest Management plan.”

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For further information please contact Nancy Sharpe, Communications Contact, Board of Directors, The Mount Community Centre, at (705) 761-1665, email: nancysharpe1949@gmail.com. Thank you.