Dean Mousseau created the City of Nanaimo's Tree Voucher Program. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

tree deal

Popular City of Nanaimo tree program approaches 4,000 vouchers

Nov 6, 2022 | 6:15 AM

NANAIMO — A program providing steeply discounted trees appears to be a good fit for people in Nanaimo.

The City’s five-year-old Tree Voucher Program resulted in more than 3,500 vouchers issued, according to Dean Mousseau, the city’s manager of development engineering and environmental protection

Local property owners can register online to receive a $25 voucher to buy a tree with a maximum value of $90 from Green Thumb Garden Centre on Hammond Bay Rd.

He said the program has been well subscribed since debuting with long lines at Bowen Park where vouchers were sold out in 30 minutes.

“We realized ‘oh hey we’ve got something here, we’re probably need to fund this,’ but we were concerned about eclipsing the dollars we were bringing in,” Mousseau told NanaimoNewsNOW.

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Previous caps on how many vouchers are available on an annual basis have been removed.

Mousseau said the program is funded through contributions from developers and fine revenue.

More than 1,300 vouchers claimed last year.

“It looks like we’re probably going to be in the 1,300 to 1,500 per year, seems to be where we’re at right now, which is great that there’s so much interest in this program.”

Trees can either be deciduous, evergreen coniferous or fruit and nut trees and must achieve a diameter of six centimeters and a mature height greater than 4.5 meters.

Program applicants can receive vouchers for up to two trees per lot annually.

Mousseau believes people in Nanaimo are becoming more aware of widespread advantage of trees, from carbon sequestering and storm water/heat absorption to mental health benefits.

“I think it’s just probably an awareness of environmental stewardship and the role trees have in that…It’s great that it’s happening.”

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes