City Honoured again as a 2024 Tree City of the World on Arbour Day

Coinciding with Arbour Day, Owen Sound is thrilled to once again be recognized as a 2024 Tree City of the World by the Arbour Day Foundation and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Owen Sound is one of only 21 Canadian cities recognized, and one of only 210 cities worldwide.

The Tree Cities of the World program is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated.  Owen Sound has been recognized as a part of this program for four consecutive years.

To be certified, the City has met the program’s five core standards: 

1.   Establish clear responsibility for tree care.
2.   Set official rules that guide tree management and ensure safety and compliance.
3.   Maintain an updated inventory to plan for tree care and management.
4.   Allocate resources to support tree management efforts.
5.   Celebrate trees, achievements, and recognize community contributions.

Achieving the five core standards of the Tree Cities of the World certification helps the City provide a framework for action, reduce energy costs, improve community sociability and pride, educate people about the importance of sustainable tree management, and generate positive publicity.

For more information, please contact Eckhard Pastrik, Manager of Parks and Open Space, at 519-376-4440 ext. 1221 or epastrik@owensound.ca.     

Quick Facts:

• The City has a GIS-based individual tree inventory of over 20,000 trees on City boulevards and within active park areas.
• Owen Sound is one of only 21 Canadian cities to receive Tree City of the World recognition in 2024.
• The City has maintained its Tree City of the World status for four consecutive years.
• In Ontario, Arbour Day is celebrated annually as Arbour Week, spanning from the last Friday in April to the first Sunday in May.

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