{
  "id": 1822846,
  "title": "Province officially recognizes arboriculture as a trade",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/province-officially-recognizes-arboriculture-as-a-trade",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-18T23:19:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/08/18/province-officially-recognizes-arboriculture-as-a-trade"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Manitoba has officially recognized arboriculture as a trade, which industry experts believe will aid in addressing the growing demand for tree experts in the province. This recognition, granted on July 20, makes Manitoba the fifth jurisdiction in Canada to acknowledge arboriculture as a trade, alongside Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, B.C., and Ontario.\n\nCurrently, arborists in Manitoba do not require specific training. Most professionals hold an International Society of Arboriculture certification, earned through a written test and three years of experience, as well as a tree pruner's license. However, the profession lacked standardized requirements until recently.\n\nNick Stewart, a committee member of the Manitoba Urban Forest Council, explained that arboriculture had been somewhat disconnected from other trades, leading to a fragmented industry. The industry's push for recognition began in 2019 when a group formed the Manitoba Urban Forestry Council to lobby for the province's acknowledgment of arboriculture.\n\nThe recognition aims to enhance safety in the profession by establishing standardized requirements for education and training, similar to those for other skilled trades such as mechanics, plumbers, and electricians. Manitoba is one of 54 designated trades nationally.\n\nThe push for recognition is driven by factors such as the City of Winnipeg's efforts to increase its urban tree canopy, as well as the presence of diseases and pests like Dutch elm disease and the emerald ash borer. These issues have created a labour shortage, making arborists scarce in the province.\n\nStewart, who is also the president of Green Drop Lawn Care and has 15 years of arborist experience, expressed optimism that the new designation will attract workers to the trade and interest high school students who are keen on working outdoors but have no established path to follow.\n\nThe designation is just the beginning of a lengthy process before arboriculture courses can be taught at trade schools. Apprenticeship Manitoba must initiate the legislative process to incorporate arborists into Manitoba's apprenticeship and certification regulations, followed by the creation of occupational standards, technical training, and certification examinations, a process expected to take at least two years.",
  "summary": "Arboriculture has officially been recognized as a trade in Manitoba, which industry experts say will help address the increased demand for tree experts across the province.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}