This is Arboriculture Canada’s Training and Education statement of essential service as it relates to training operations during the pandemic.

The training, education, and qualifications delivered by Arboriculture Canada Training and Education is workplace training required by essential workers.  The type of training that we deliver is hand’s on training that takes place outdoors in the field.  The nature of work in the majority of our training programs cannot be conducted to a high standard in a virtual format, as the skills performed are high risk and performed by workers in trees.  We have adapted any portions of the training to virtual formats if it is possible.  Any person taking these training programs is at work and is in pursuit of professional development to ensure their safety in performing the services of professional tree work in their jurisdiction.  These training programs are not recreational or social events.  The following website states what categories of industry fall into essential service workers.  Our training falls into the support services for several of these industry categories.

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/ntnl-scrt/crtcl-nfrstrctr/esf-sfe-en.aspx

The training services we provide affect public safety in many ways. Trees pose risks to public safety during and after storm events. Trees also must be maintained to ensure reliable delivery of electricity to all.  Arboriculture Canada trains workers who maintain the trees that pose a risk to electrical systems of many major electrical utilities coast to coast and workers are required to have specialized training to work in a safe manner and to either gain or keep their credentials. ArborCanada’s service extends to emergency essential service workers such as wildland firefighters, who provide an important safety service to our forests and rural communities. We also train private tree care companies who service communities to create safety in parks and around buildings and compliment all the vital and emergency services list above, and more. All of these are essential services and are our customers.

We are abiding by all restriction’s, rules, regulations, legislations and guidelines as stipulated by whatever jurisdiction we find ourselves; we are committed to preventing the spread of COVID 19 and its variants while maintaining a safe work and learning environment.  Please request to see a copy of our COVID policy to gather more information on our risk management protocol.