Brenna Anstett – RPP Manager
Meet Brenna – our wonderful RPP Manager! She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography and Environmental Governance from the University of Guelph and is also an ISA certified arborist. Brenna loves working with nature and is passionate about reforesting the urban environment through educating folks on planting the right tree in the right place with the right care! She also loves teaching others all about fun tree identification facts!
One of Brenna’s favourite tree-related books is called The Man Who Planted Trees: A Story of Lost Groves, The Science of Trees and a Plan to Save the Planet by Jim Robbins.
“Combining a mix of inspiring storytelling and scientific information, the author describes the compelling account of David, a man who decided to clone the world’s largest champion trees to reintroduce their hardy genetics back into our ailing forests in order to combat climate change. The best part about the book is that the chapters alternate between telling David’s story and highlighting interesting scientific facts about the champion tree species!”
Jess Wilkin – RPP Operations Supervisor
Jess, our dedicated RPP Operations Supervisor, absolutely adores trees! Jess loves trees so much that she completed a Masters of Forest Conservation at the University of Toronto and became an ISA certified arborist to prove it. What she loves most about growing the urban forest is the opportunity to work with homeowners to positively impact future generations. After all, the trees she enjoys and benefits from today were planted by someone she’s never met.
Jess’ tree book recommendation is The Global Forest: Forty Ways Trees Can Save Us by Diana Beresford-Kroeger.
“Intertwining poetic prose and science, the author helps us grasp the magical complexity of forests and inspires us to reimagine them as sources of food, medicine and history. If you’re hunting for new perspectives, you’ll find them between the pages of this book.”
Jon Curtis – RPP Field Coordinator
Meet Jon, our fantastic RPP Field Coordinator! Jon holds a Bachelor of Science specializing in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Indigenous Studies from the University of Toronto. Jon is passionate about tree health and tree care, but his favourite part of his job is meeting with homeowners and seeing their excitement as they talk about their new tree. Jon’s passion for trees comes from a background in wildlife conservation, which has fueled him to build and maintain our urban forest as much as possible!
Jon’s favourite tree-related book is The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate by Peter Wohlleben.
“This is my favourite tree book because it does a deep dive on some of the lesser talked about aspects of trees and their existence. It reminds us that trees are not just individual things but are instead living organisms that communicate and respond to the environment around them. From underground structures to complex defense mechanisms, this book inserts you deep in the woods and implores you to listen to the trees.”
Doreen Malapitan - RPP Assistant
Meet Doreen, our RPP Assistant! She holds an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Environmental Science with a Minor in GIS from McMaster University. She is passionate about engaging and educating her community on the natural environment, as well as conserving green spaces in urban areas. Her favourite part of her job is helping homeowners pick the right native trees and shrubs for the right spaces and hearing all about the diverse wildlife and pollinators that enjoy their yards.
Doreen’s favourite tree-related book is Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
“I love this book because it is full of beautiful storytelling about the natural world through a collection of personal essays. It is a wonderful blend of Indigenous teachings about plants, the environment and their interconnectedness, which enriches scientific and objective knowledge that we also learn about.”
Sarah G – RPP Field Assistant
Meet Sarah, our RPP Field Assistant! Sarah developed a deep fascination and appreciation for nature at a young age while growing up on a farm. Channeling that passion, she went on to earn a Master of Forest Conservation from the University of Toronto where she collaborated with an architecture and design firm to delve into the benefits of the Miyawaki Forest Planting method. Her research explored how this method could be incorporated into a future Toronto park as a green infrastructure solution, providing vital ecosystem services to the city. Sarah’s favourite part of supporting the RPP field operations is chatting with customers and educating them on the benefits of increasing our native tree canopy.
One of Sarah’s favorite tree-related books is The Overstory by Richard Powers.
“This multi-layered novel uses the story of nine diverse characters to explore the ways trees have been a central part of human life. It is a journey through time and nature as well as being a call to action, urging the audience to take the wellbeing of our forests seriously. Overall, it is a wonderful dive into the intricate and fragile relationship between humans and nature.”
Now that you’ve met the RPP team and learned all about their favourite tree-related books, we welcome you to dive into the wonderful world of trees by learning how our team can help you plant in your yard, and by enjoying a read through one of these books!
Doreen Malapitan is the Residential Planting Programs Assistant at LEAF.
LEAF offers a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program for private property. The program is supported by the City of Toronto, the Regional Municipality of York, the City of Markham, the Town of Newmarket, the Regional Municipality of Durham, the Town of Ajax, the Township of Brock, the Municipality of Clarington, the City of Oshawa, the City of Pickering, the Township of Scugog, the Town of Whitby, Ontario Power Generation and Ontario Trillium Foundation.
