Our Work in 2025: Two Planting Projects Strengthened Our Urban Canopy
by Ryan Coates
As the Riverview neighbourhood continues to adapt to the challenges of losses of boulevard trees, Trees Riverview completed two projects that continue our mission of repairing our urban canopy.
1. Home Grown Grant Planting
Through the City of Winnipeg Home Grown Grant, we were able to plant 18 trees. The major focus of the planting was on Clare Avenue where 12 trees were planted. Four more were planted on Eccles Street near Clare Avenue and Riverview Community Centre field. The final two were planted near the intersection of Baltimore Road and Eccles Street.
2. Manitoba Hydro Planting
Our second major planting project focused on replanting the south side of the Arnold Street Park. Ten trees were planted with funding support from the Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Program. The trees will grow to provide cooling shade and beauty for an area used as a local green space, for high school sports and recreation, and a children’s playground.
A Manitoba Hydro Forest Enhancement Grant allowed us to plant ten trees in Arnold Avenue Park in 2025. Photo Credit: Wendy Botkin
Maintenance and Care
Together, these two initiatives have brought the total number of trees planted by Trees Riverview to over 150 since 2021. By combining grassroots action with public-space improvements, we helped strengthen green connections across our neighbourhood—connections that support ecological function, foster community pride, and make our city more liveable.
As the number of young trees replanted has increased, along with it has come the desire to ensure that they remain well established and able to see their way to maturity. With this longer-term care in mind, Trees Riverview initiated a neighbour Tree Steward program (a kind of ‘neighbourhood watch’ for trees) to encourage protective measures and early intervention on deer damage to trees - especially recently planted ones.
During fall rut, bucks can damage the bark of young trees. Photo Credit: Nicholas Peters
This year we also undertook a mapping study to document our planted trees over the years. This study includes information on year planted, street and boulevard locations, and species types. The map of the planting locations by year is included in this post. This study is also helping us to record potential locations for new boulevard trees in future planting projects.
Image Credit: Ryan Coates
As we look back on 2025, we’re proud of the work completed through these planting projects and excited to continue building on their success in the years ahead.
