Toronto offers free trees to low-canopy neighbourhoods under new LEAF programme

What is the background?

Tree canopy cover varies sharply between Toronto neighbourhoods, and lower-income areas typically have less shade and the health and cooling benefits that come with it. Free tree planting Toronto programmes like LEAF’s new initiative specifically target the neighbourhoods furthest below the city average.

What happened?

LEAF, working with support from the City of Toronto, launched the Toronto Low-Canopy Neighbourhood Greening Initiative in 2026. Residents in neighbourhoods where tree canopy cover falls below Toronto’s citywide average of 28.4% can now have a tree planted on their property for free, covering residential, multi-unit, and commercial or institutional properties.

Separately, the Black Environmental Initiative will plant 300 trees and shrubs in low-canopy neighbourhoods, specifically engaging Black and equity-denied youth in the planting work, in partnership with LEAF and the City of Toronto.

How did it happen?

LEAF also runs the Neighbourhood Planting Program, with 2026 applications open until July 9, and the Urban Forestry Community Grants, open until August 13, giving residents and community groups two separate funding routes depending on the scale of planting they want to do.

In 2025, LEAF helped green more than 40 Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) communities with over 350 native trees and shrubs, giving the organisation an existing track record in exactly the kind of lower-income housing areas the new low-canopy initiative now targets directly.

Why does it matter?

Targeting the programme by canopy percentage, rather than offering free trees citywide, concentrates the benefit where the tree-cover gap — and the resulting heat and shade disparity — is largest. Free planting removes the cost barrier that otherwise means greener, cooler streets cluster in wealthier neighbourhoods that can already afford private landscaping.

Engaging Black and equity-denied youth directly in the Black Environmental Initiative’s planting work turns the programme into a paid or skills-building opportunity, not just a service delivered to a neighbourhood from outside it.

What were the key results?

• Low-Canopy Neighbourhood Greening Initiative launched in 2026, offering free trees below the 28.4% canopy average
• Covers residential, multi-unit, and commercial or institutional properties
• Black Environmental Initiative to plant 300 trees and shrubs with Black and equity-denied youth
• Neighbourhood Planting Program 2026 applications open until July 9
• Urban Forestry Community Grants applications open until August 13
• LEAF helped green 40+ TCHC communities with 350+ native trees and shrubs in 2025
• Programme delivered in partnership between LEAF and the City of Toronto

What happens next?

LEAF plans to track canopy-cover changes in participating neighbourhoods as trees planted under the new initiative mature.

The Black Environmental Initiative said it will report on youth participation numbers once its 300-tree planting programme concludes.

The City of Toronto is expected to review whether the low-canopy targeting approach should extend to other environmental grant programmes.

LEAF said it will open a new application round for the Low-Canopy Neighbourhood Greening Initiative once current funding is allocated.