The City of Kamloops is once again encouraging residents to green their neighbourhoods with the return of its long-running Tree Coupon Program—now bolstered by decades of success and thousands of trees planted across private property.

The program, which launched April 1 and runs through June 10, offers residents coupons valued at $20 or $50 toward the purchase of eligible trees at participating local nurseries. The initiative supports the City’s goal of increasing its urban tree canopy from 15% to 20% under its Urban Forestry Management Strategy.

While the environmental benefits of planting trees are well known—ranging from improved air quality to reduced energy costs—City staff say the program’s real strength lies in getting trees planted where the City itself cannot.

“For us, it’s a great way to get trees in the ground on property that’s not tied to municipal lands,” said Brian Purvis, crew leader of the City’s horticulture department. “We are really restricted on our municipal grounds, whether it’s in the boulevards or in the parks or green spaces, either by irrigation or underground infrastructure that we’re trying to minimize conflicts. This allows us to encourage people to plant on their own properties and avoid a lot of those problems.”

According to the City, that approach has paid off—especially in recent years.

Purvis said the program dates back to the 1990s, but a key change in how coupons are distributed has dramatically improved participation. Previously, residents could pick up coupons at civic facilities and use them later, but many went unused.

“People would get them at City Hall or at the pools and they’d go put them in drawers,” Purvis said. “We were struggling to achieve 50% utilization of the coupons.”

Since shifting distribution directly to participating nurseries during the COVID-19 pandemic, uptake has surged.

“Now we’re getting upwards of a 90% utilization rate,” he said. “So that means over the last five years, we’ve got a little over 3,500 trees that have been planted on private property as part of this program.”

Purvis added that the program is also cost-effective for the City compared to planting trees with municipal crews.

The City says expanding the tree canopy remains a priority not just for aesthetics, but for long-term resilience. Urban trees help absorb carbon dioxide, filter pollutants, and increase property values, while also contributing to public health.

The program has also evolved alongside changing priorities in urban forestry, including a stronger focus on tree diversity and climate resilience.

“We definitely rely on our nurseries to help individuals choose trees,” Purvis said. “And we have seen some built-in resiliency in our urban canopy from the variety of tree species that have been selected.”

That includes balancing environmental considerations with community needs. While fruit trees are still permitted—supporting local food production—residents are being encouraged to think carefully about placement and species selection.

Through FireSmart principles, for example, the City advises against planting highly flammable species such as junipers and cedars close to homes. At the same time, emerging threats like invasive pests are shaping planting recommendations.

“The emerald ash borer has now been recognized to be in B.C.,” Purvis said. “It’s devastated Ontario ash trees, and it’s moving this way. So that’s something that, with the City, we’re trying to share with the public—we’re trying to limit the planting of ash trees.”

Despite those concerns, Purvis said the program continues to result in a healthy mix of species being planted across the city.

“It seems like we get quite a variety of trees that are planted, and it’s not just one species that’s constantly going out,” he said.

Tree coupons are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited to one per household for residents within Kamloops municipal boundaries. Proof of address is required at the time of purchase, and coupons must be used immediately at participating retailers—they cannot be transferred or saved for later use.

The City is also reminding residents to properly manage fruit trees to prevent attracting wildlife into urban areas.

More information on eligible trees and program details is available on the City of Kamloops website.