Green Job Strengthens Urban Forests — and Creates Space for Purpose in Elora, Ontario

For years, the Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence has been reshaping how communities think about their trees. 

Through its flagship Tree Trust program, the Centre works with municipalities and residents to strengthen urban forests. Rather than treating trees as background infrastructure, Tree Trust positions trees as essential — shaping local ecosystems, supporting climate resilience, and contributing to the health and character of shared spaces. 

“We help communities strengthen their urban forests, with a special lens on mature trees,” said Toni Ellis, Executive Director of the Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence. “Communities who value their big trees start to value all of their trees.” 

By focusing on mature trees as points of connection, Tree Trust taps into something deeply personal. Many people have a favourite tree — one they climbed as a child, planted with family, or simply pass every day. The program uses that connection as a starting point for broader conversations about urban forest stewardship, protection, and long-term planning. 

Tree Trust is the only organization of its kind using mature trees as a gateway to broader community awareness and long-term urban forest stewardship. What began as a locally rooted initiative in the Elora–Fergus area has grown steadily, with more than 10 community-based chapters now adapting the model to meet local needs and priorities. 

As interest in the program expanded, so did the Centre’s reach — and with it, the challenge of sustaining meaningful, hands-on support with a small team and limited resources. Like many non-profits working in climate action, the organization was navigating growing demand while working within tight funding and staffing constraints. 

That’s where the CPRA Green Jobs Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program, made a critical difference. 

Through the initiative, the Centre was able to bring Hannah Hiemstra onto its team as a Tree Trust Chapter Coordinator, strengthening its ability to support communities. 

“Having Hannah on the team meant we could dedicate time and attention to supporting the Town of Erin as they translated their strong community enthusiasm into tangible progress,” Ellis said. 

For Hiemstra, the opportunity arrived at a moment of transition. She had recently completed her master’s degree in wildlife biology and conservation, with a strong academic focus on climate change adaptation, and had been encouraged by a mentor to consider a PhD. Like many graduates, she initially imagined a future rooted in research and academia. 

She did not expect a short-term role with a small environmental non-profit to quietly shift that perspective.  

“I’ve always been interested in the natural world — especially conservation and climate change adaptation,” Hiemstra said. “But I never really thought I’d be working with trees.” 

Originally intended as a temporary step, the role quickly revealed a different kind of alignment — one that allowed Hiemstra to apply her education in a practical, community-based setting while contributing to work with visible, local impact. Rather than focusing solely on theory or research outputs, her work connected her directly to communities grappling with real environmental challenges. 

Her responsibilities were wide-ranging, reflecting the realities of small, mission-driven organizations. From supporting chapter coordination and contributing to policy-focused work to bringing creative skills into communications and outreach, Hiemstra’s role allowed her to engage with many facets of environmental work. 

More importantly, she found herself in a workplace culture that valued collaboration and openness. 

“Being in a space where my voice is heard — where I’m encouraged to share my perspective — made a huge difference,” Hiemstra said. “It made me feel like I belonged here.” 

For the Centre, hiring Hiemstra also meant being able to entrust important public-facing work to someone with both subject-matter expertise and the confidence to represent the organization well. At one point, she represented Tree Trust on a professional climate panel in the Town of Erin, speaking to an audience of sector peers and community leaders. 

“Hannah was on a panel, and one of our board members later said she knocked it out of the park,” Ellis said. “She was confident, articulate, and incredibly strong.” 

Beyond day-to-day responsibilities, the role has also opened doors to professional development and sector-wide connections. Through her position, Hiemstra is being supported to attend a major tree and horticulture conference, where she will connect with hundreds of professionals working in forestry, conservation, and municipal planning. The experience will give her hands-on exposure to networking, partnership development, and fundraising — skills that are critical to sustaining environmental work in the non-profit sector. 

“This is meaningful work,” Ellis said. “It’s not just about building healthier urban forests — it’s about giving people the opportunity to grow alongside them.” 

Today, Hiemstra continues in her role with the Elora Centre for Environmental Excellence, doing work that feels both challenging and purposeful. She is gaining experience, building relationships, and contributing to environmental work that matters — without feeling rushed toward a single, predetermined path. 

While further study may still be part of her future, the role gave Hiemstra the space to step away from school and discover just how meaningful it was to apply her education in a community-based, real-world setting. 

For the Centre, having the capacity to bring in someone like Hiemstra has strengthened its ability to support communities and advance its mission. For Hiemstra, it has offered something just as valuable: the confidence that she is exactly where she needs to be.