Re: “Without more trees, B.C.’s next heat dome could be even deadlier,” comment, July 2.
Many thanks to Dr. Bethany Ricker, David Quigg, and Dr. Melissa Lem for pointing out in their op-ed the reality of extreme weather events despite advancements in building codes, as well as the now depleted funds to provide vulnerable households with air conditioning units.
The City of Victoria is a great example of how equity-deserving neighbourhoods are losing out. Between 2013 and 2019, neighbourhoods like downtown and Harris Green had a combined net loss of 36% plantable areas.
While our urban tree canopy grew by the equivalent of 100 soccer fields between 2013 and 2023, and the municipality added more than 8,000 net new homes, the tree canopy numbers don’t look great over the last five years compared to the ten-year span. Between 2019 and 2023, we are 23 hectares short of the urban tree canopy growth rate of the previous four years. This is because many recent developments cannot meet the tree replacement minimums due to increased building footprints, preferring to pay into a cash-in-lieu fund instead. Housing densities are already pressuring the urban forest, and if the rate continues to slow, we will approach a 0% or net loss scenario.
It is integral that our municipal leaders acknowledge now that BC’s housing legislation will impact green corridors for people and wildlife. While Bill 44 doesn’t remove local environmental protections such as tree protection by-laws, the new legislation states that municipal rules can’t “unduly restrict” density. Tree protection bylaws are rendered moot if the trees fall within a building envelope.
B.C.’s housing strategy makes no mention of trees, greenspace, or urban cooling, and support from local politicians is a crucial step in incorporating tree canopy and climate goals as a core part of B.C.’s housing strategy for a climate-ready future.
Without more trees, B.C.’s next heat dome could be even deadlier
If B.C. is truly committed to protecting its residents from the next climate disaster, we must prioritize shade, green space and urban cooling alongside density.
Dr. Bethany Ricker, David Quigg and Dr. Melissa Lem Jul 2, 2025 3:00 AM, Times Colonist
A commentary by two members of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment and an organizer with Sierra Club B.C.
Four years ago, British Columbia endured the deadliest weather event in recorded Canadian history.
The 2021 heat dome claimed the lives of more than 600 people, many of whom died alone in overheated homes.
As we mark the fourth anniversary of this devastating mass casualty event with record-breaking heat elsewhere in the country, we must confront a troubling truth: B.C. remains dangerously unprepared for the next one.
Despite some advancements, including updated building codes, rebates for heat pumps and a now-depleted $30-million fund to provide vulnerable households with air conditioning units, one of the most critical aspects of climate readiness has seen little to no progress. In fact, it’s getting worse.
Our communities are rapidly losing tree canopy, green space and permeable surfaces — the very elements that keep cities cooler during extreme heat.
The result is a growing urban heat-island effect that leaves already susceptible residents at increasing risk.
We all know what it’s like to walk down a tree-shaded street on a hot day and what it’s like when trees are replaced by concrete. During extreme heat, shaded areas can be up to 20°C cooler than exposed pavement.
While heat domes were previously rare, they are now projected to become more common, with some models predicting they could occur three out of every 10 years by mid-century if greenhouse gas emissions aren’t reduced.
The 2022 Extreme Heat Death Review Panel was unequivocal: “A number of deaths occurred in neighbourhoods with large roads, large buildings, high density and low greenness.”
It also warned that “declining tree canopy and permeable surfaces in urban areas will increase vulnerability to extreme heat.”
Lack of proximity to greenspace was further identified as an independent risk factor for mortality, alongside being elderly, isolated and low-income.
The same report urged immediate action. It directed the province to ensure key legislation updates mandating protection and restoration of urban tree canopy and permeable surfaces as part of B.C.’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
That directive has not been followed.
This is not a question of choosing between housing and greenspace — we can and must increase both. The province’s push to add urgently needed housing supply is a necessary step to address the housing crisis. Urban infill and density are critical climate solutions, and we fully support that goal.
But B.C.’s housing strategy makes no mention of trees, greenspace or urban cooling. Without these safety measures, we risk designing neighbourhoods that are less resilient to extreme heat.
Recognizing this, the Union of B.C. Municipalities passed a 2024 resolution urging the province to incorporate tree canopy and climate goals into its housing strategy.
In many B.C. communities, neighbourhoods with the least tree cover are also those with the highest levels of poverty, isolated seniors and people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. These residents are most at risk during extreme heat events.
Ensuring equitable access to shade, green space and cooling through targeted tree planting and preservation efforts isn’t just about beautifying neighbourhoods — it’s a public health imperative.
No one should be more likely to die during a heatwave because of the postal code they live in.
We’ve already seen the consequences. During the 2021 heat dome, emergency departments and paramedics were pushed past their limits. First responders saw a 50 per cent increase in call volume, reaching an all-time high. Hospital visits spiked for heat stroke, dehydration, heart failure, kidney failure and other critical conditions.
Trees are not luxuries, they are life-saving infrastructure. Trees cool cities, reduce heat-related illness, improve mental health and save lives. Protecting and expanding the urban canopy is one of the most effective, equitable and affordable public health interventions available.
Climate safety and housing need not be at odds. In fact, they must go hand in hand. We need to build housing and green infrastructure together, creating communities that are affordable, climate-resilient and safe for all.
Premier David Eby and his ministers can start to fix this by:
1. Implementing the coroner’s directive to embed tree protection and restoration in key legislation.
2. Establishing a plan to restore and expand urban greenspace, particularly in equity-deserving neighbourhoods where tree canopy is sparse.
3. Incorporating tree canopy and climate goals as a core part of B.C.’s housing strategy.
Every year that passes without decisive action puts more lives at risk. If B.C. is truly committed to protecting its residents from the next climate disaster, we must prioritize shade, green space and urban cooling alongside density. This is not a trade-off — it’s how we build a climate-ready future. Our health and our lives depend on it.
A response by a City of Victoria Councillor in the Opinion section, Times Colonist, July 12, 2025.
Victoria needs more trees and green space
Re: “Without more trees, B.C.’s next heat dome could be even deadlier,” comment, July 2.
Many thanks to Dr. Bethany Ricker, David Quigg and Dr. Melissa Lem for pointing out in their op-ed the reality that “climate safety and housing need not be at odds. In fact, they must go hand in hand.”
We especially need more trees and urban greenspace “in equity-deserving neighbourhoods where tree canopy is sparse” — like downtown, Harris Green and areas to the north.
The city is working on these areas, with requirements for new buildings to protect and add trees.
City crews are adding new trees where we build bike-and-roll lanes and improve streets (e.g. Blanshard Street most recently).
Between 2013 and 2023, our urban tree canopy grew by the equivalent of 100 soccer fields, while we added more than 8,000 net new homes (almost entirely multifamily buildings).
We have much more to do. As the authors note, we need communities “that are affordable, climate-resilient and safe for all.”
And we know from experience that it’s possible.
Dave Thompson
Councillor
City of Victoria
Reflections by Squirrel for Mayor
Initial reflections of City of Victoria’s 2019-2023 LiDAR vegetation change detection analysis
-The rate of urban forest growth fell by 50% from the previous period of analysis (2013-2019)
-The urban forest net gain was +47.4 hectares between 2013-2019 (+2.37% to 28.83% city-wide), and according to the City’s website an additional net gain occurred in 2019-2023 of +24 hectares (1.26% to 30% city-wide).
-Terra Remote Sensing provided comment on the 2013-2019 COV change detection analysis, and it is relevant to reflect as the rate of growth drops by 50%: ” It will be of importance to monitor the continual changes in the city’s vegetation canopy to assess whether the fill in growth of existing and new plantings will continue to outstrip the vegetation loss. Further to on-going monitoring, determining age class, distribution, and species composition will help to forecast vegetation growth trends and potentially predict when vegetation growth will cease to offset losses.”
– In four short years we are 23 hectares short of the previous four years’ urban tree canopy growth rate. COV Parks notes “A consistent finding is that the growth of healthy mature trees offsets canopy lost due to development, extreme weather, decline and disease.”, but it’s important to reflect on the slowing rate of growth.
– Limitations: the only information provided by the City on the 2019-2023 canopy gain is “From 2013-2023, Victoria’s tree canopy grew by about 70 hectares, which is more than 100 soccer fields”.
2013-2019 grew about the size of 60 soccer fields. 2019-2023 grew by only 40 soccer fields. The data looks better if reported over a ten year period from 2013-2023.
The numbers look a lot better over 2013-2023 than 2019-2023. We can see the momentum of canopy growth vs. canopy loss is shrinking fast, and we could soon revisit the 2007-2013 period which produced a net gain of .05% (1 hectare). It’s below the margin of error for the analysis methods.
-The conversation around the City’s potential adoption of a goal to achieve 40% canopy cover city-wide should consider 2019-2023’s halving of the canopy growth rate.
Canopy goals should be achievable: you cannot get to 40% if the rate continues to slow and we approach 0% or a net loss scenario.
Resources
Vegetation Canopy Change Detection Analysis 2007-2013
