A Recap of The Forest Conference

By Jess Kaknevicius 

This year’s conference was jam-packed with expert speakers and exhibitors from across the country sharing their insights, knowledge and experience with almost 300 attendees all gathered to learn about the critical issues facing our forests.  

The day started with Gary Pritchard from 4 Directions Conservation as he welcomed all to the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and The Huron-Wendat and the Wyandot Nations now known as the City of Mississauga. 

Following the opening, I spoke about Forests Canada's new strategic Vision and Mission, and highlighted how conference attendees are contributing every day to diverse, resilient, thriving communities through our collective work in restoration and stewardship, sustainable forest management, education and community engagement. 

The first panel discussion featured experienced planters, Sarah Ambroziak, Director, Community Initiatives, Dexterra Group; Maria Hernandez, Nature-Based Solutions Project Coordinator, Community Forests International; Ron Laverdiere, Director of Operations, TELUS Environmental Solutions Inc.; and Laura Murray, Owner/President, Tamarack Reforestation. They all shared stories from their experience working as tree planters in regions across the country. Attendees learned how the sector has changed and evolved over time, and how the work they were doing helped to develop many important skills sets including problem-solving, teamwork and leadership that helped form who they are today.  

The second session featured speakers Erin Flood, Chief Operating Officer, Canada's Forest Trust Corp.; Will Martin, Executive Vice President Business Innovation, American Forest Foundation; Joe Rakofsky, Spatial Analyst, Forsite; and Jacey Hall, Terrestrial Project Coordinator, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, who led an informative discussion focused on the use of innovation and technology in landscape decision making and fire planning. They also shared how new technologies can be used to engage landowners and property managers in woodlot stewardship activities.   

Next up, a spotlight on FireSmart Canada led by Lisa Walker R.P.F., Director, Resiliency & Partnerships, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, who informed attendees about innovative practices to improve community safety and provided resources that people can bring back to their neighbourhoods and homes. You can read more about this session in our next issue of Our Forest magazine coming out later this spring.  

Our afternoon sessions started with a discussion on Forest History moderated by James Farrell, Forest History Ontario Chair, and featured Lacey Rose R.P.F, County Forester, County of Renfrew, and Caroline Mach R.P.F., County Forest Manager, Dufferin County. With more than 50 combined years of experience working in the field, Lacey and Caroline shared their experiences and insights, and reminded us all that through representation, we can increase diversity across a variety of positions within the forest sector.  

We were then fortunate to hear from a panel on Indigenous led efforts to build economic and environmental resilience. Speakers Percy Guichon R.F.T., Executive Director, Central Chilcotin Rehabilitation Ltd.; Carole Smith, Administrative Team Lead, Kayanase (Division of Grand River Employment and Training Inc.); and Jana Kotaska, Executive Director, Mother Tree Network, shared how they are integrating and collaborating on opportunities with community partners. Moderated by Forests Canada Board Member Jacob Handel, this session emphasized the importance of building meaningful relationships and understanding of the histories of indigenous peoples across Canada in reconciliation.   

The next session of the day featured a presentation by Ronnie Drever, Senior Conservation Scientist with Nature United, about new research he collaborated on with support from Forests Canada Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth (Liz) Jarrett, and Director of Restoration Programs Val Deziel.  Ronnie and Liz highlighted critical opportunities to prioritize restoration efforts in key geographic areas of Ontario that support species at risk and improve watershed health to maximize benefits across the landscape. Liz also spoke to how our work has contributed to these priority areas over the past 20 years with more than 15 million trees planted with our planting partners in noted geographic regions. We look forward to continuing to use this important research to help inform future planting projects, and you can read more about it in our next issue of Our Forest magazine.  

The Business of Nature was our last session of the day and focused on different investment opportunities to finance the integral work we must do to be able to grow and create diverse, resilient, thriving forests from coast to coast to coast. We heard from Daniel Kraus, Researcher & Consultant, University of Waterloo; Kathryn Bakos, Managing Director, Finance and Resilience, Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation, Ontario Biodiversity Council Chair; and Paige Olmsted, Conservation Finance Specialist, Nature Investment Hub | Smart Prosperity Institute, about critical new and innovative financing mechanisms to support restoring nature across Canada. 

I would like to thank everyone for attending this year’s conference and contributing to the important discussions, collaborations and learning opportunities that are needed to help conserve, restore, and grow Canada’s forests to sustain life and communities.