Deadly Storm in Ontario, Quebec Wreaks Havoc on Urban Trees

Deadly Storm in Ontario, Quebec Wreaks Havoc on Urban Trees
The remains of the roof of a hardware store that lifted off and crashed into neighbouring houses during a major storm is seen spread across residences in the community of Hammond in Clarence-Rockland, Ont., May 23, 2022. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang
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An arborist who specializes in urban forestry says the massive loss of trees in Ontario and Quebec over the weekend due to a severe storm will keep happening if land-use planning doesn’t change.

Dr. Danijela Puric-Mladenovic, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto, said she wasn’t surprised when thousands of trees were uprooted and destroyed by the deadly storm that swept through the province on Saturday because trees in urban and suburban settings are from nurseries and planted in soil that is very shallow.