Where Is There Tree Inequity In Calgary?

An analysis by Nature Canada in 2022 confirmed previous research that Canadian neighbourhoods with lower household incomes and larger BIPOC communities don't have as much access to trees and urban forests as wealthier and less culturally diverse communities. As the following map indicates, communities in northeast Calgary have less tree canopy than similarly aged communities in other parts of Calgary. 

But it's not too hard to grow trees in the Northeast...

Northeast communities are built on grasslands and it's challenging to grow trees there. But did you know that heavily forested neighbourhoods like Mount Royal and Sunnyside were also built on grasslands? Now these neighbourhoods are over 100 years old, they've had a lot of time to grow mature trees. But that's not the whole story.

 Elbow Park Circa 1910

Both Mckenzie Lake and Taradale housing developments were built between the early 80's to early 2000's, but the McKenzie Lake neighbourhood has a 12% tree canopy while Taradale's tree canopy is only 4% as of 2024. Can you guess which street view is McKenzie Lake and which is Taradale?

Why does it matter?

In the City of Calgary's Climate Strategy, a goal has been set to increase the city's average tree canopy from 8% to 16%. To be more fair, underserved communities should be receiving a lot more trees as Calgary Urban Forestry works to achieve the tree canopy target. In 2026, Urban Forestry presented their plan to use equity measures to prioritize neighbourhoods for tree planting. However, it's going to require support from city council, including the allocation of sufficient budget to ensure the streets in the Northeast achieve the 16% tree canopy average over the next ten to twenty years. Achieving this level of tree canopy in the Northeast will require both equity-based tree planting and elevated tree maintenance efforts. Both need to be supported with increases in municipal budget allocations.

The benefits of urban trees and forests go far beyond beautifying neighbourhoods and attracting birds and pollinators.

Carbon Sequestration Powerhouse - Urban forests absorb and store CO2 from the atmosphere, directly capturing greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural Cooling Effect - Trees provide shade and release water vapour through transpiration, lowering local temperatures and eliminating urban heat islands.

Air Quality Champions - Forests filter harmful pollutants like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter, improving the air we breathe while reducing health-related climate costs.

Storm Water Management - Tree canopies slow the descent of rainfall and tree roots improve soil quality to absorb more water. This reduces flooding risk and eases pressure on drainage infrastructure during intense weather events.

Biodiversity Corridors - Urban forests create vital habitats and green corridors that support pollinators, birds, and wildlife, strengthening ecosystem resilience in the face of climate change.

Health and Wellness - Access to green spaces and tree canopy has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, lower stress, and improve overall well being. A study in Portland covering 30 years of tree planting showed one premature death was avoided for every 100 trees planted. A European study published in The Lancet, Planetary Health also estimated that nearly 12,000 premature deaths could be avoided in 744 urban centres annually. Trees save lives!!! 

Infographic developed by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) with financial contributions from Health Canada