Photo: Project Forest planting event © CNW Group/Project Forest
Rooted in Renewal: Project Forest Grows a Greener Alberta
For Project Forest, planting trees has never been only about trees. It is about restoring land, rebuilding biodiversity, strengthening community connections, and creating spaces where people can reconnect with nature, culture, and one another. In 2026, that mission reached two meaningful milestones in Alberta: the planting of Project Forest’s millionth tree at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park on Siksika Nation, and the announcement of the Keyera Legacy Forest, a 95-acre restoration project in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland. Together, the two projects tell a larger story about what is possible when conservation, community leadership, industry, and long-term environmental stewardship come together.
A Million Trees and Plants Across Canada
Earlier this spring, Project Forest celebrated the planting of its one millionth tree at Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, marking five years of community-driven restoration work across Canada.
The Alberta-based non-profit partners with conservation groups, First Nations, municipalities, and funding partners to rewild unused and ecologically degraded land. Its work has taken root in places such as Doig River First Nation, Wagner Natural Area, Swan River First Nation, and Siksika Nation, home to Project Forest’s largest project to date. What began as a way to gift nature back to communities through unused land has grown into something deeper.
Through its partnerships with Indigenous communities, Project Forest has helped support spaces where people can connect with nature, tradition, and each other. At the May celebration, Siksika Nation members, partners, community leaders, and Project Forest gathered for a community BBQ, seedling giveaway, and ceremonial tree planting.
For Siksika Nation, the partnership has helped support reforestation efforts across its lands while addressing what Dale Springchief, Special Projects Coordinator for Siksika Nation Land Management, described as a nature deficit within the community. “Our collaboration with Project Forest is vital in addressing the nature deficit within our community,” Springchief said. “The annual seedling giveaways are a highlight for the Nation, serving as a meaningful step toward healing and strengthening Siksika Nation’s relationship with Canada.”
A Green Island in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland
While Project Forest celebrated what has already been planted, another major initiative pointed toward what is still to come. In January, Project Forest announced a partnership with Keyera and Strathcona County to establish the Keyera Legacy Forest, a permanent 95-acre forest restoration project northeast of Fort Saskatchewan. Located within Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, the project will restore ecologically degraded land impacted by a 2009 wildfire, where areas did not naturally regenerate.
Reforestation activities will begin on August 11, 2026 with the groundbreaking ceremony in Strathcona County. Both the public and media are invited to attend, email info@projectforest.ca for details.
More than 40,000 native trees and shrubs are scheduled for planting throughout the Keyera Legacy Forest. Once established, the forest will include six different species, supporting biodiversity and strengthening ecosystem resilience for generations to come. Strathcona County will use a Conservation Easement to ensure the forest remains a permanent feature, creating what Project Forest describes as a “green island” within designated industrial land. “The Keyera Legacy Forest reflects how we think about our role as an industrial operator,” said Keyera President and CEO Dean Setoguchi. The project demonstrates how responsible industry and ecological restoration can coexist while creating lasting benefits for nearby communities.
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Restoring Land, Strengthening Communities
For Strathcona County, the project supports broader environmental goals while helping restore local ecosystems. “Together, we are restoring biodiversity within Strathcona County’s portion of the Heartland area,” said Mayor Rod Frank. “This work directly supports the County’s Environmental Framework and our efforts to sustain and protect the health of our residents and local environment.” Keyera’s Diamond Willow partnership with Project Forest makes the initiative possible, supporting restoration that will preserve natural landscapes while contributing to the well-being of surrounding communities.
A Legacy Still Growing
From Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland, Project Forest’s work is rooted in the belief that restoration can be both practical and profound. A forest can become a place of memory, learning, healing, and renewal. With one million trees and plants already rooted across Canada, and more than 40,000 native trees and shrubs set to be planted through the Keyera Legacy Forest, Project Forest’s next chapter is already taking shape. One community, one funding partner, and one forest at a time, the organization is helping grow a greener future—one that will continue to stand for generations.
(Source: Project Forest)
