The Resilient Tiny Forest

The Genesis Centre Tiny Forest was supposed to be our first project, but after navigating many challenges and delays it has become a symbol of the resilience and perseverance of our team and the unwavering support of the Genesis Centre's  Doug Taggart, Sherry King and all the staff that helped out before, during and after the planting event.

Community-initiated tiny forest planting on city-owned land (community associations and public facilities like the Genesis Centre) was something new to Calgary Parks and in order to ensure these projects received adequate oversight, Parks required detailed drawings from a Landscape Architecture company. This decision came at a point in the project where we recognized in would be impossible to fulfill these requirements in time to plant a forest in the fall of 2023. The Genesis site was quickly replaced by another applicant that owned private land, the Calgary Centre for Spiritual Living. The majority of applicants interested in a tiny forest were Community Associations. Hopefully, in the future, we will be able to streamline the process for tiny forest to allow more community groups to plant tiny forests.

All photography by Albert Woo.

Forests For Calgary was created to help plant more thriving forests in Northeast Calgary where tree canopy development has lagged other neighbourhoods in the city. If you live in the northeast or have ever flown into Calgary's International Airport, you may have noticed an abundance of mature spruce trees in these neighbourhoods. This tree species has done well over the years, but many are now struggling as Calgary summers become hotter and more drought prone. Many spruce around the city are either dying or showing signs of drought shock with an abundance of spruce cones forming at the top of the tree. The other problem with spruce is that they don't provide a big tree canopy, even after they've matured. Spruce can be an effective wind break and provide shade walls for adjacent buildings, but they aren't ideal trees to picnic under. It's why many people from Northeast communities like to go to places like Shouldice, Edworthy and Bowness Parks to enjoy the cooling shade and beauty of a leafy forest.

Ward 5 councillor, Raj Dhaliwal, has been a strong supporter of tree equity in his ward.

Why aren't there more leafy trees in the northeast? The answer may be found in the concept of tree equity, which is a tendency across Canada and the United States for communities with lower average income and a higher percentage of BIPOC households to have less of the big beautiful trees that line the streets of other neighbourhoods. The Calgary Climate Hub wants to help solve this problem and we've been engaging with city councillors and Calgary Parks to advocate for changes in urban forest management practices that help ensure tree inequity in our city.

In 2022 and 2023 Calgary Parks conducted a tiny forest pilot and planted forests in the east side communities of Temple, Mayland Heights and Marlborough. The Marlborough tiny forest was completed in partnership with the Calgary Climate Hub. Tiny forests have many benefits, but they also require additional costs over traditional urban forestry, for plants, soil, compost, mulch, fencing and maintenance including weeding and watering. In particular, environmental conditions in the northeast may require more maintenance and watering.

When the Genesis Centre forest was finally approved by the city, the scheduled planting event had to be postponed twice because of severe water restrictions due to a major water main break. Despite seemingly endless challenges, the Genesis Centre tiny forest was finally planted in the fall of 2024. Challenging does not mean impossible and one way to meet a challenge is for individuals and communities to become active in pursuing an important goal.

It Takes a Community to Raise a Forest

In the fall of 2024, Indigenous Elder, Clarence Wolfleg, conducted a naming ceremony at our first mini forest site, the Calgary Centre for Spiritual Living. Elder Wolfleg described the many shrub and tree seedlings as our children and reminded us that it is our responsibility to care for them. When these children have grown into a mature forest they will be able to care for us and the many creatures that will rely on the tiny forest ecosystem.

Heather and Rob giving a tree planting demonstration.

Our journey couldn't be successful without community. Genesis Centre staff worked hard to see their tiny forest come to fruition and dozens of local and Climate Hub volunteers showed up for the planting event. We were also joined by a big group of volunteers from the UPS Shipping Centre east of the Calgary Airport. The International Tree Foundation arranged for the UPS volunteers and provided additional funding to help support the event. The majority of funding came from a generous grant by Alberta Ecotrust, funding that helped create the Forests For Calgary initiative.

Mayor Gondek with Elder Marilyn Shingoose

The tree planting event was held on the morning of Saturday, September 28th, and only minutes before the scheduled start we were very short on volunteers. But just as the rising sun began to warm the cool morning air, groups of people began crossing the soccer field towards our gathering on the northwest side of the Genesis Centre. Elder Marilyn Shingoose started the event with a blessing and smudge ceremony and Mayor Gondek delivered an inspiring speech about the importance of community initiatives. Councillors Raj Dhaiwal and Kourtney Penner also dropped by to show their support and plant a few seedlings.

Anyone who participated in planting previous Climate Hub tiny forests has felt the positive energy and excitement that these events generate. The Genesis Centre was no different. It was also one of the most successfully organized of our tiny forest events. The setup on Friday afternoon and planting team coordination on Saturday were conducted professionally with the confidence only experience can provide. It was a bittersweet moment as this was the final forest to be planted under the Alberta Ecotrust grant. The Climate Hub is actively pursuing funding to conduct more community engagement and forest planting in 2025, but the Ecotrust grant obligations will be completed by the end of 2024. Many thanks to our amazing project manager, forest planter and event coordinator, Heather Morigeau, who was contracted with Ecotrust funds. Hopefully, the relationships built over the last two years will continue with future tiny forests.

The relationships built over the past two years have been wonderful and none of this would've happened without a commitment from everyone involved to work together, face adversity and figure out how to plan and execute these very special events for Calgary communities. We hope these tiny forests grow to be strong and resilient, just like we have grown throughout this process. If you're thinking of engaging in your own tiny forest project, then this should be one of the major rewards for your efforts. It wasn't something we even thought about as Forests For Calgary was getting off the ground, but in addition to creating some tiny and beautiful places we have built personal connections and helped bring communities closer together.

UPS volunteers and their families.

Climate Hub Direct, Jared Bustein; Genesis Centre Executive Director, Sherry King; Councillor Kourtney Penner.

The Genesis Centre summary of the tiny forest planting event captured the benefits and significance of the community-building initiatives like Forest For Calgary:

"Tiny forests like this bring both environmental and social benefits to our communities. They reduce air pollution, increase biodiversity, and provide critical habitat for wildlife, all while adding much-needed greenery to urban areas. These spaces offer more than just ecological advantages—they also foster mental and physical well-being. Time spent in nature has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and promote physical activity. Additionally, green spaces like this one serve as vital gathering places, strengthening social bonds, encouraging community interaction, and reducing isolation.

This Miyawaki forest also holds deep cultural significance. By incorporating native species that are important to local First Nations, we honor traditional ecological knowledge and deepen our connection to the land. These forests create a sense of place and pride, reinforcing our shared cultural identity tied to Alberta’s natural heritage.

In areas where access to nature may be limited, especially in underserved or low-income neighborhoods, tiny forests like ours address environmental inequality by offering green spaces that promote equity and inclusion. Our little forest will quickly grow into a lush, vibrant oasis—a place where the community can come together to learn, grow, and thrive alongside the flourishing ecosystem."

Each tree, shrub and wildflower is marked with a green flag after planting.

Scout troop 6th St Barnabas were back again for their second tiny forest event. Forests for Calgary steering committee member, Tom Schlodder, is in the straw hat on the left.

Tiny forests are fun for kids and pets!

Some people brought their own shovels!

Mission Accomplished

Another successful planting of a tiny forest! The Genesis Centre will now take over caring for the forest with regular watering, occasional weeding and management of snow fencing in the winter months. Many thanks to all the volunteers and Genesis Centre staff. We couldn't have done it without you!

Photos by Albert Woo