The City of Calgary is accelerating its tree-planting efforts after receiving a $61-million federal grant in 2024, aiming to expand the city's sparse urban canopy. A new report indicates that nearly 168,000 trees were planted in 2025, with over 180,000 scheduled for 2026. Similar planting volumes are expected in 2027 and 2028.
Federal Funding and Program Context
The funding originated from Ottawa's former 2 Billion Trees program, introduced by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The program was phased out in Prime Minister Mark Carney's first budget. It was intended to support planting 930,000 new trees across Calgary over five years. Since receiving the grant, the city has planted an additional 360,000 trees, according to a city report set to be presented to council next week.
Uneven Canopy Distribution
The report highlights significant disparities in tree canopy coverage across Calgary. Newer communities, particularly in the far northeast, have much lower forestry coverage. Ward 5, in the deep northeast, has the lowest tree canopy at less than three percent, while Ward 6 in the southwest boasts over 20 percent coverage. The two wards with the most plantings planned for 2026 are Ward 3 in north-central Calgary and Ward 5, each receiving between 60,000 and 70,000 new trees. Conversely, Ward 2 in the northwest and Ward 13 in the southwest have the fewest planned plantings.
Paul Atkinson, the city's urban forestry lead, emphasized that measuring canopy on a neighbourhood level is more useful than by ward. He noted that Ward 5 includes the Calgary International Airport, which has almost no trees. "We have to look at it on a community by community level because that helps us develop actionable criteria, street by street," he said.
Benefits of Urban Trees
Trees provide extensive environmental and public health benefits, including improved air quality, stormwater management, wildlife habitat, community character, and reduced heat island effects, Atkinson added.
A 2022 Nature Canada report found that Calgary has the lowest urban forestry coverage among Canada's largest cities. The study showed Calgary's tree canopy covered just over eight percent of the city, well below Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, all of which exceeded 20 percent coverage.
