Students in the Urban Forestry–Arboriculture program at Algonquin College’s Pembroke campus are set to put their skills to the test later this month during an annual tree-climbing competition.
The event, hosted in partnership with the International Society of Arboriculture, will take place April 23 at Riverside Park, offering spectators and media a chance to watch students demonstrate techniques learned over the past year.
Participants will be judged on their climbing ability in a series of challenges designed to reflect real-world arboriculture work. Organizers say the competition highlights the hands-on nature of the one-year certificate program, first introduced in 2017.
Students have trained extensively along the Ottawa River shoreline, gaining practical experience in urban tree management. With demand growing for certified arborists, the event also serves as a stepping stone for students entering the workforce.
(Richard Evans)
