Spring Arborist Meeting 2026

Opening of the 2026 Spring Meeting

Networking Breakfast - Coffee, croissant, and pastries will be served.

Welcome message from the organizer and presentation of the day

Speaker : Frédéric Millard and Sébastien Escanilla-Aguilar

Description : This conference presents a model for managing urban woodlands, where the main player is a local organization, CANOPÉE. Historically stemming from citizen movements for the protection of natural environments, CANOPÉE was given the mandate by the City of Laval in 2018 to protect and enhance several woodland areas in Laval. After briefly tracing its history, we will present the main activities a local organization like CANOPÉE can undertake to help protect, make accessible, understand, and raise awareness about these pivotal urban forest areas, essential for the well-being of urban communities.

Bio : Frédéric is the Director of Operations and Development at CANOPÉE, where he has worked since 2023. With many years of experience in municipal, institutional, and community settings, he has been involved in many aspects of green space and urban forest management: tree inspection, pruning, developing planting projects, fundraising, etc. He is also an ISA certified arborist since 2021 and holds several varied university degrees (ecology, environmental management, etc.)

Sébastien has been working for the Laval woods since 2015. He is currently responsible for the development and maintenance of woodlands at CANOPÉE. Holder of an AEP in operation and maintenance of recreational and tourism sites and a diploma in bioecology, he leverages his knowledge to ensure that citizens have an enjoyable and safe experience during their visit to the woods.

Speaker : Ghislain Breton, City of Québec

Description : This conference explores the unique history of the Cannonball Tree, an emblematic tree of Québec City, and its transformation into a work of art. Through this narrative, we will highlight the vision of urban forestry, the technical expertise, and the artistic sensitivity of the City of Québec, which have allowed for a second life for such a prestigious tree and inspired a reflection on the future of our heritage urban canopies.

Bio : Ghislain Breton is a forestry engineer and director of the Urban Ecosystems section of the City of Québec. With a master's degree in land use planning and regional development from Laval University, he has been working for the City of Québec since 2014. Ghislain coordinates a section of multidisciplinary professionals, carrying out and coordinating several major environmental planning initiatives for the City of Québec, including the tree vision, biodiversity strategy, and urban agriculture action plan. It was under his leadership that the Québec biosphere region nomination project was completed.

Speaker : Olivier Lamontagne, Lamontagne Consultants

Description : The presentation will focus on excavation methods that allow work near roots without causing significant damage to urban trees. We will present the two main techniques used in this context, which are hydro-excavation and pneumatic excavation. The presentation will discuss their operation, their respective advantages, and different application contexts for the management and protection of trees in urban environments.

Bio : Olivier has been an arboriculturist for over 20 years. He started very young by working with his father, which led him to observe trees and their growth since his childhood. Today, he runs a consulting office specialized in arboriculture and urban forestry with his father. Their practice focuses particularly on the identification of tree problems and diseases, structural analysis, monetary evaluation, as well as the development of tree protection plans during construction sites.

Speaker : Olivier Morin

Description : The CFIA regulates exotic forest pests that are not yet present in Canada or are introduced in limited areas. Early detection allows for a quick response and limits costly management efforts. This presentation will enable you to recognize species that could establish in Quebec and learn how to report them. 

Bio : Olivier is a phytosanitary inspection biologist at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). He coordinates phytosanitary surveys in Quebec for the CFIA in order to detect new harmful exotic species. He is a biologist by training, specialized in international ecology.

Speaker : Mark Kapuchensky

Description : (provisional) In a park, the tree is observed. In a cemetery, the tree is interpreted. It's the same action, but the interpretation is different. This conference, therefore, paints the portrait of an arborist in the context of tree maintenance in funeral settings

Bio : Mark Kapuschenski, Operations Director at Laval Cemetery, works at the heart of the funeral mission: supporting families with discretion, respect, and rigor. With practical experience, he has maintained, developed, and managed major arboreal parks, notably at Notre-Dame-des-Neiges and within Urgel Bourgie cemeteries, and has advised on funeral landscaping projects in Quebec. Trained in 2005 in pruning techniques (École horticole de Laval), he also holds a certificate in the monetary assessment of plants (International Society of Arboriculture of Quebec) and has attended specialized workshops (rope work, aerial rescue, felling/dismantling, cabling). He then deepened his practice through study and hands-on application, particularly through the approach of tree architecture (Jeanne Millet) and structural pruning techniques (Edward Gilman). His approach — the right tree in the right place — aims to reconcile safety, the dignity of the site, operational logistics, and the sustainability of living heritage

We take advantage of this moment to discuss with colleges in arboriculture and urban forestry. Lunch is included.

Speaker : Jérôme Picard, Ville de Québec

Description : This presentation explores the challenges related to the application of regulations governing trees in urban areas in Ville de Québec. It highlights the gap that can sometimes exist between regulatory objectives and the realities observed on the ground. The green infrastructure represented by trees is not so well-suited to being part of a rigid regulatory framework.

Bio : A trained forestry engineer, Jérôme has been working as an environmental advisor at Ville de Québec for just over 10 years now. His current role supporting the management of the Urban Forestry and Horticulture Division involves him in various topics surrounding the management of trees in urban areas. Passionate about forestry and communication, the urban environment is the ideal world for him to work in.

Speaker : Daniel Boyer

Description : Most municipalities have regulations governing the management of trees and woodlots. Although sometimes complex, they aim to prevent excessive interventions and to regulate developments, authorized species, and plant diversity. The LAU also sets limits on fines, particularly based on the areas affected.
Development projects often face the challenge of preserving trees, hence the growing use of fees, whose application remains demanding.
My goal is to share my experience in urban forestry as well as the experience gained in Laval, in a spirit of exchange and discussion.

Bio : At the beginning of his career, Mr. Boyer mainly built strong field experience: forest, ecological, and urban inventories, notably as part of the first eco-forestry inventories of the Ministry of Forests, conducted throughout the regions of Quebec.
Before 2014, he worked primarily in consulting firms, including Sylvico/Novafor, Darveau Grenier (DGR), SODEM Planicité, and Nadeau Urban Forestry.
He also worked for about ten years as an accredited advisor in the Laurentians as part of the private forest enhancement program, within his company Timmerlinn inc.
Since 2014, Mr. Boyer has been a forestry engineer with the City of Laval, where he acts as a professional advisor to Public Works and various municipal services. He contributed to the action plan against the emerald ash borer, the Tree Policy (2017), and the Urban Forestry Plan (2020), and participates in several committees, including the Green and Blue Network.
Interested in natural environments and arboreal ecosystems, Mr. Boyer is also an ornithologist and practices bonsai as a self-taught; he is committed to promoting the place and role of trees in urban and natural landscapes.

Speaker : Bruno Paquet

Description : 

Bio : Bruno was a municipal manager of parks and green spaces for many years. He is also a recognized speaker and trainer, actively involved in the field of urban forestry and arboriculture, and he founded the consulting firm Gestion Arboreta serving boroughs and cities. He collaborated on the translation and adaptation of the Plant Assessment Guide 1995 edition as well as the latest 2023 edition. He has acted as an expert consultant in numerous court cases. He has been the appointed trainer for the Level 1 and Level 2 monetary valuation of plants training for over 30 years. 

Speaker : Hubert Guillemette

Description : The canopy covers approximately 21% of the territory of the City of Victoriaville, with significant variations from one neighborhood to another (from 7.7% to 48.5%). In accordance with the 3-30-300 approach, the City aims to achieve a canopy of 30% to provide a healthier and more resilient living environment.

Like many Quebec municipalities, Victoriaville is facing challenges related to climate change, tree loss, and increasing urbanization. In this context, it is committed to closely monitoring the evolution of its canopy and implementing structuring actions to reverse the trend and increase its forest cover.

With the anticipated increase in extreme heat episodes, it becomes essential to adopt proactive climate adaptation measures. Municipal regulations serve as an essential lever in this regard to meet the set objectives and ensure a sustainable environment for the population.

Bio : Hubert Guillemette is a graduate of Cégep de Sainte-Foy in Forest Technology and holds an ISA certification in arboriculture. He has been working with the City of Victoriaville since 2019 as an environmental technician. In this position, he significantly contributes to the implementation of the 3-30-300 rule and the management of forest cover in the municipal territory.

Group discussion around the topic.

Duration: 60 minutes

Presentation of 2025 activities, filing of reports, and election of directors.