Shelter from the Heat: Creating a Community Forestry Centre for Southwestern Ontario

pre-construction

In this project, we’ll transform a 1940s veterans? facility into an energy-efficient, solar-powered, climate-resilient center for community forestry programs aimed at combating climate change, particularly extreme heat, through tree planting and other nature-based solutions. The new center, called the Perth Centre for Community Forestry, will be located at London?s Westminster Ponds Centre. It will offer a variety of free, publicly accessible programs, events, and services, including: - A large-scale, youth and volunteer-driven community tree-growing and giveaway program - Planting & tree delivery services for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those with transportation barriers - A seed collection hub - A community forestry and gardening tool library - Environmental education workshops The centre will serve 10,000 people annually, offering an accessible space that fosters a healthier, shadier, more equitable and sustainable future for all.