About Us | LEAF | Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests

LEAF is a non-profit organization that teaches people about trees and gets them excited about the urban forest. We plant native species in backyards and public spaces while engaging citizens in urban forest stewardship through planting, education and training. We envision healthy, vibrant communities where everyone values and cares for the urban forest.

Our mission is to grow and sustain the urban forest by providing quality services and programs that engage communities.

Our Story

In 1995, LEAF’s journey began when founder Janet McKay started a tree sapling distribution project to help her Toronto neighbours plant native trees. While the project was popular, many saplings didn’t survive. When Janet visited participants’ yards, she discovered a variety of challenges: trees planted too close to buildings or other trees; species that required full sun planted in shade; trees still sitting in pots on porches; or, in some cases, no tree at all!
This experience inspired Janet to create the Backyard Tree Planting Program (BYTP). Over the next few years, she secured funding and hired teams of youth, who were trained to properly site and plant trees. This approach significantly improved tree survival rates. Through this process, LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) was born.

As interest grew, so did LEAF. Community tree planting events on public lands began in 2004. Shortly after that, in 2006, educational programs were added, including the Tree Tenders Training Program and guided Tree Tours. Urban Forest Demonstration Gardens, maintained by volunteers, were established at several TTC stations in 2010. In 2015, LEAF introduced youth training and mentorship programs, starting with the Young Urban Forest Leaders Program, followed later by the Young Ravine Leaders Program. By 2018, LEAF began to focus on tree equity through the Toronto Community Housing Planting and Stewardship Program. This work continues to deepen, with targeted efforts to engage communities in equity-denied neighbourhoods beginning in 2023.

Today LEAF is a thriving organization that offers programs in Toronto, York Region and Durham Region. Recognized for connecting people with trees, LEAF brings together thousands of program participants, volunteers and donors each year to build a future where everyone benefits from a healthy urban forest.

LEAF Culture

The LEAF team is made up of staff members, a volunteer board of directors and many other community volunteers. We are passionate about planting trees, fostering stewardship and engaging communities. Much like a forest ecosystem, we strive to build a team that is diverse, adaptive, resilient and strong.

The following values guide our work:

Accountability

We strive to be self-aware, acknowledge mistakes and make improvements.
We remember that it’s not just about the intention of our actions, but the impact they have.
We recognize the importance of setting clear targets and goals.

Diversity and Inclusion

We recognize the value and strength of a diverse team.
We acknowledge the colonial systems that exist within the environmental community and strive to challenge them.
We acknowledge the diverse experiences, knowledge and perspectives of racialized and Indigenous communities and incorporate them into programs and policies.

Communication

We are proactive and direct in maintaining open communication among team members and program participants.
We challenge our assumptions and shift our judgements to curiosity.

Support

We recognize everyone’s individual value, regardless of their position within the LEAF community.
We embrace different strengths and work styles and seek ways to complement one another.
We encourage and embrace professional growth and autonomy.
We celebrate our collective and individual efforts and accomplishments.

Care

We proactively prioritize mental and physical health.
We are honest about our limits and understanding of others limits.

Reconciliation and Anti-Racism Committee

In 2020, LEAF staff and board members initiated the Reconciliation and Anti-racism Committee (RAAR). Guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, the committee advises on learning and actions for staff and board members. We are firmly committed to the long-term process of growing an organization whose programs and policies are rooted in anti-racism and informed by the diverse experiences of the communities we serve.

Key accomplishments from the RAAR Committee include:

Conducting a survey with staff and board members to identify strengths and areas for improvement
Creating an action plan that outlines tangible, organization-wide changes for the short and long term
Incorporating anti-racism and reconciliation training into onboarding processes and coordinating ongoing training and resources for the LEAF team

Psychological Health and Safety Committee

The Psychological Health and Safety Committee (PHSC) was established in 2018 to facilitate a strong work culture that encourages a healthy work-life balance, promotes resilience and fosters positive mental health. Every other year, the PHSC conducts a staff survey to identify areas of improvement and create an action plan with tangible, organization-wide changes to improve employee well-being and facilitate a fair and equitable workplace.

Key accomplishments from the PHSC include:

Developing a Psychological Health and Safety Policy
Establishing the LEAF Workplace Culture values
Helping implement permanent employee contracts and increase paid sick days
Incorporating psychological health and safety training into the onboarding processes
Providing staff with tools and resources for remote work, dealing with COVID-19, work-life balance and self-care

Land Acknowledgement

Land Acknowledgement

As an organization focussed on land stewardship, we give gratitude to the land for all the benefits it provides to our communities. For thousands of years, this land has been and continues to be the home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge the Indigenous Peoples as the original stewards of this land, and our shared responsibility to care for the land for future generations.

We acknowledge that our office in Toronto is situated on the occupied territories of many nations including:

Mississaugas of the Credit
The Anishinabek
The Chippewa
The Haudenosaunee
The Wendat peoples

Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.

To learn more about the treaties and traditional territories where you live, visit native-land.ca