The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) is a not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the health of the urban forests in the province. The OUFC was formerly the Ontario Shade Tree Council (OSTC). In 2001, we changed our name to better reflect our ecological approach to urban forests and arboriculture. The OSTC evolved as a Council in 1964 from the Metro Toronto and Region Dutch Elm Disease Control Committee which was established in 1961 to investigate the control of Dutch Elm Disease.Our membership includes arborists, foresters, landscape architects, nurserymen, planners, municipalities, conservation authorities as well as many individuals from the public interested and concerned about trees. We are an active community group, with some of the following as examples:
- We provide information about the benefits of trees and advise about their conservation
- Provide volunteer speakers for public education events
- Host an educational display at various community events
- Offer periodic educational workshop
- Host an Annual Urban Tree Conference along with our AGM each November
- Advocate for urban forest conservation working with local urban tree organizations
- Develop cross-sectoral partnerships to advance the principles of urban forest planning, stewardship and conservation.
Board of Directors – 2012
Toni Ellis –President
Toni has a long track record of working on environmental programs which
include being involved in the development of the Blue box and writing and field testing a number of children’s programs promoting various environmental issues. She is a founding board member and Director of the Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence, now one of Canada’s most accomplished green communities. In the fall of 2005, she
launched her community’s first Heritage Tree program – an OUFC/OHTA pilot project. That program has now branched out to become NeighbourWoods, a tree advocacy and education program working in her rural community of Centre Wellington, with a population of about 21,000 and located 20 km north of Guelph.
Jack Radecki, OUFC Executive Director, from 2000.
Jack holds a B.Sc.F. 1976 from the University of Toronto, Since 1977, he is the Supervisor
of Arbor Services for the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries and also is a registered Consultant ASCA # 342 with the American Society of Consulting Arborists, on a part time basis. Before 1976 he held forestry field placements with Manitoba Forestry Resources and Great Lakes Paper Company out of Thunder Bay and worked for one year with Metro Toronto Parks Department as Arborist Trainee. Presently he volunteers to serve as the unpaid OUFC-Executive Director, and was OSTC President 1997.He also volunteers as an advisory board member -Sir Sanford Fleming College in Lindsay – Arboriculture and Urban Forestry programs and as advisory board member -Seneca College – King Campus – Environmental Landscape Management program.jradec@mountpleasantgroup.com
Peter Wynnyczuk, Treasurer
Peter has been involved in Urban Forestry for over 30 years at the Municipal level and was President of the Ontario Shade Tree Council, now the Ontario Urban Forest Council. He has also been supportive of Arborist related Committees and Activities.
He is the urban forest supervisor with the Town of Richmond Hill.
Fran Moscall
B.A., M.Ed., Educator, Environmentalist. Her concern for our environment stems from life in the boreal forest namely in Pickle Crow Gold Mine and later in Sioux Lookout. Experiences in these early years along with her work in the Ministry of
Education, the Ontario Native Affairs Secretariat as well as with other provincial ministries helped her refine her focus for work in the volunteer sector. This led to her desire to help others promote the preservation and enhancement of our urban forests. Fran has been a Director of the Ontario Urban Forest Council since 1999, Coordinator of the Ontario Heritage Tree Alliance since 2004 and a Director of the South of Sheppard Preservation Group (a ratepayers’ group). During her involvement in these organizations she has made deputations to City Council supporting Toronto’s urban forestry program and tree preservation initiatives; to Committees of Adjustment to protect trees from urban development and to the Ministry of Culture, when it was amending the Ontario Heritage Act, advocating for the inclusion of heritage trees as having heritage value in need of
protection. Fran, as OHTA Coordinator, supervised the publication of the document Securing the Future of Heritage Trees: A Protection Toolkit for Communities which was published in May 2006 and the second edition published in March 2011.
Brenlee Robinson, Vice President
Brenlee combines her Master of Forest Conservation (University of Toronto), and Master of Arts in Teaching (Oakland University) to educate urbanites on the importance of our forests. Her presentations to community groups reflect her particular interest in the impacts of healthy urban forests on mental health and safe neighbourhoods. Brenlee’s Board of Directors experience includes serving as President of Mosaic Outdoor Clubs of America, an organization of 20 clubs with a 1000 member base, as well as president of the local club. In Toronto’s urban forest she has
done work in education and outreach at LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests), and her work with the Harbord Village Residents Association resulted in many new trees in that neighbourhood.
Waseem Safdar
B.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture with specialization in Forestry, M.Sc. (Hons) Agriculture-Forestry Post secondary Fleming College graduation in Urban Forestry and Arboriculture program. Waseem is an ISA Certified Arborist and member with International Society of Arboriculture. Professional Agrologist (P.Ag) registered with The Ontario Institute of Agrologist Gold Medalist from University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan Pride of Performance Award from President of Pakistan in social services. Waseem has 13 years professional experience of consultancy, research, staff training and extension services in plant protection with different multinational companies and developed strategic directions for sustainable business which was presented internationally through conferences and seminars in different countries.
He has worked as Arborist with Grand River Conservation Authority, City of Brantford, and GreenLawn in diverse range of enterprises including tree inventory, plant health care and arboriculture trade work. He coordinated backyard tree planting project for non–profit reforestation organization, GreenHere to increase canopy cover for Davenport West Toronto area.
Marie Bianchi
Andrea Dawber
Peter Dmytrasz
Peter holds a Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree (BScF), University of Toronto, 1979. Peter presently is the Supervisor of – Tree Protection & Plan Review – Etobicoke York district, Parks Forestry and Recreation Division, City of Toronto. He represents the City of Toronto on urban forest planning and protection issues for development, Community Council and homeowner tree concerns. Formerly he was the Integrated Plant Health Care specialist, recommending environmentally friendly solutions to insect pest and disease tree problems. He has written articles for various publications on Integrated Pest Management topics. Peter has addressed community groups on pesticide reduction strategies and lead tree health care demonstrations. He also “Guest-lectured” on Integrated Pest Management and Urban Forestry topics to local undergraduate, college and university students.
Barbara Yaroski
Many thanks to our advisors: Bohdan Kowalyk, Adrina C. Bardekjian, Barb Boysen, Guy Brassard, Marshall Buchanan, Andy Kenney, Teresa Matamoros, David Pearl, Michael Rosen, Richard Ubbens, Philip van Wassenaer, Marc Willoughby, Shelley Vescio & Barb Heidenreich