Annual Conference & Trade show

Edmonton Inn & Conference Centre

(780) 454-5454
11834 Kingsway NW
Edmonton, AB

Link to Book Hotel Rooms

Book before September 18, 2026, to receive the Prairie Chapter Conference rate of $119.00/night. 

*Taxes are extra.

**Subject to room availability.

Chateau Louis Hotel

(780) 452-7770
11727 Kingsway NW Edmonton, AB

Link to Book Hotel Rooms

CODE: 2610ISAPRA

Book before September 18, 2026, to receive the Prairie Chapter Conference rate of $131.00/night. 

*Taxes are extra.

**Subject to room availability.

*This is an in-person conference only. All rates are in Canadian dollars and are subject to GST.

**Non-member registrations include a 1-year Prairie Chapter membership

Come and see what the following vendors have to offer!

Arboriculture Canada Training and Education

Bartlett Tree Experts

Davey Tree Experts

Green Drop Tree Care

ISA Prairie Chapter

Prairie Chapter Women in the Trees (PCWT)

Professional Vegetation Managers Association (PVMA)

Society to Prevent Dutch Elm Disease (STOPDED)

The Cost of Not Maintaining Trees: Growing Urban Forests & Sustainability – The cost of planting, maintaining, and removing vegetation often gives way to a pause during times of budgeting and decision-making. Are these urban tree actions really costs, or an investment that pays dividends? Using tree biology as a guide to the sustainability principles of economics, ecology, and sociology to grow the urban forest will complement a talk that demonstrates the costs of not properly maintaining the urban forest are greater than those of proper maintenance.

Dirt(y) Talk: Soil Management for Urban Trees – Developed landscapes, which can include urban, suburban, and even rural areas, can present unique challenges regarding soil conditions. This presentation will focus on these common challenges, what they are, and how to remedy or mitigate them. We will also discuss options for trees planted in high-density urban areas, focusing primarily on the science of structural soils and suspended pavement systems.

Dutch Elm Disease and IPM in Edmonton – Edmonton has long been proud of its status as one of the largest stands of Dutch Elm Disease – Free elms in the world. This is a look at the 2024 detection of DED, Edmonton’s rapid response, and efforts in integrated pest management to eradicate that infestation. 

Factors & Forces – Tree Risk Assessment for Tree Workers – Every year, lives are lost due to tree workers falling from trees, and injuries occur from struck-by incidents. How can we work more safely?  The first step is in recognizing the factors that lead to structural defects and weaknesses in trees. The second step is to learn how to manage the forces we apply to trees during work operations. The objective is to develop safe work plans by interpreting the strengths and weaknesses of trees. This presentation describes the Factors and Forces tree inspection training course employed by Davey Tree for the past decade.

Ground Disturbance and Municipal Tree Renewal Activities – Urban forestry operations in a major municipality require intense ground disturbance coordination to expand and maintain the tree canopy while safely working around a network of underground infrastructure. When the City of Edmonton Forestry Team completes tree renewal site preparation for replacing approximately 6000 caliper trees annually, a thorough ground disturbance program is needed to clear sites innovations.

Grown to Last: Demonstrating Sustainable Urban Forest Management with the SFI Standard – The SFI Urban and Community Forest Sustainability Standard brings the principles of accountability, continuous improvement, and long-term stewardship to the places where most people experience trees. This enables people to see and feel the difference that sustainably managed forests make. Through certification and benchmarking case studies, this session explores how organizations are putting sustainable urban forest management into practice. Drawing on examples from municipalities and universities in Canada and the United States, we’ll examine how the Standard helps organizations align diverse actors, set multidisciplinary goals, measure progress, and strengthen decision-making. Participants will gain practical insight into how certification and benchmarking work, what implementation looks like, and the outcomes early adopters have achieved.

Leadership, Communication, and Philosophy for Arborists – Explore leadership skills, communication strategies, and a professional mindset that contribute to success in arboriculture and strengthen teams, client relationships, and workplace culture.

Not Your Father’s Pruning (you may be surprised) – For as long as I can remember, my approach to young tree pruning has been to take it easy, don’t take too much, and mostly use removal cuts. Well, the times they are a-changing. With the launch of the Florida Chapter’s Prescribed Pruning Qualification course, we’re learning that when it comes to young tree structural pruning, now is not the time to be timid. When it comes to pruning, how much of our conventional wisdom is valid, and is it time to take a new approach?

The Principles of Rigging – Learn the fundamental principles of rigging, including key concepts, equipment, and techniques that support safe, efficient, and effective tree work.

Public Relations in Arboriculture: Raising the Bar on Soft Skills – Arboriculture and Urban Forestry are diverse and unique fields, though sadly ones often misunderstood by the public, or worse yet, completely unheard of or unknown to many. And let’s be honest, sometimes we don’t do the best job of promoting ourselves and our industry. Join Steve as we discuss simple things you can do in your everyday life or your organization’s daily activities, which can help raise the bar for our entire industry. We’ll discuss basic skills, clear verbal communication, report writing, interacting with media outlets, workforce development and employee recruiting efforts, strengths and weaknesses of our current efforts, and ways to generally be a good ambassador for this unique industry we all inhabit. 

Speak Up, Branch Out: Crafting Engaging Presentations in Arboriculture and Urban Forestry – In arboriculture and urban forestry, our message matters, but the way we deliver it matters just as much. Together, we will walk the steps of crafting an engaging presentation, from developing a purposeful message to creating a cohesive outline. Along the way, we’ll explore the essential components of a strong presentation while acknowledging the pitfalls that can trip us up or send us off track.

Tree Biomechanics & Structural Support Systems – This presentation will provide an overview of what kinds of branches fail and why, followed by an overview of pruning to reduce the likelihood of failure. We will then learn about recent research on co-dominant branch subordination and static cabling systems.

Tree Risk Assessment Basics: Sonic Tomography and Resistance Drilling – This session will go over the levels of tree risk assessment, criteria for when to suggest one, and tools you can use for assessments. There will be a focus on sonic tomography & resistance drilling equipment.

Vulnerability of Calgary’s Urban Forest in Response to Housing Densification and Infill Development – This study compares the space available for tree planting before and after four residential development types in established neighbourhoods in Calgary, Alberta. Densification and infill development are key tactics of the housing strategy, but their impacts on the urban forest are not well documented. The results indicate that planning, policy, and management mechanisms need to be explored to protect the urban forest resource.

Ways to Benchmark Your Community Through the 3-30-300 Rule – Using science to manage the urban forest should help to inform decision-making with predictable outcomes. The 3–30–300 rule is one idea based on science to help monitor and guide decision-making. The idea proposes that a person should be able to see 3 trees from where they reside, live amongst 30% tree canopy cover, and have a public green space within 300 meters. We will discuss how to use community engagement to understand how people in a community meet the rule. The talk’s result is to discuss science and weave a practical solution into decision-making.

Wood Decay Fungi: Biology, ID and Work Planning – This session will focus on wood decay fungi biology, how to identify certain species of decay fungi and the effects each species can have on a tree’s structural stability & health.

Wood Reclamation in a Municipal Setting – This presentation will describe the wood reclamation program that the City of Edmonton started in 2024, which focuses on the end-of-life cycle for urban trees in open spaces and uses for the resulting lumber. Topics will include why the City of Edmonton chose to implement this program, tracing its journey from the beginning and outlining the program’s challenges, benefits, and the partners and employees who made it possible.  The session will conclude with the plans set to ensure the program’s viability within a municipal organization.  

Working Safely Around Electrical Equipment – Learn about the requirements when working around electrical infrastructures, the hazards that are present, and what to do should a contact occur with vehicles or equipment. This presentation includes a hazard board with mini powerlines energized at 10 000 volts to demonstrate electrical arcs and burning when vehicles and trees contact live high voltage lines.