Since 2013, JL’s Tree Service has been proudly involved with the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington through the annual Trees for Tots event. What began with owner Joe and one staff member has grown into a full team effort — today, JL’s contributes six staff, three dump trucks, and two wood chippers on event day. Leading up to the event, Joe also participates in annual planning meetings to ensure logistics, volunteers, and trees are organized for a successful fundraiser.

Trees for Tots now brings together 200+ community volunteers and 20–30 local companies, all donating their time, equipment, and expertise. Since we first became involved, the event has expanded from recycling 1,000 Christmas trees to over 4,000 trees each year, raising as much as $100,000 annually for children in need across our community.

To date, JL’s Tree Service has helped contribute to more than $500,000 raised through this incredible initiative. We are proud to continue supporting Trees for Tots and the Children’s Foundation, knowing the impact it has on making kids’ lives brighter.

At JL’s Tree Service, giving back to the community often means lending a hand beyond tree care. Partnering with the Guelph Humane Society, we’ve helped rescue countless cats stuck in trees — always free of charge.

Some cats have been stranded for up to seven days, and while many believe they’ll climb down on their own, the truth is they often cannot. Using our specialized equipment and training, we ensure rescues are safe for both the animal and the tree.

Helping families reunite with their pets is one of the most rewarding ways we support our community.

At JL’s Tree Service, sustainability is part of our commitment to the community. That’s why every client is automatically enrolled in our Tree Cycling Program, designed to give trees a second life after removal. While it’s always difficult to see a tree come down, removal is sometimes necessary when it becomes unsafe due to age, disease, or structural failure.

When trees are removed, smaller branches and debris are processed through our chipper and turned into organic mulch. This mulch is then made available for purchase or donated to local schools, outdoor centres, and community programs, where it enriches soils and creates natural play spaces.

Larger logs and wood pieces are donated to children’s outdoor learning programs for use in projects, playgrounds, and nature-based education. In this way, every tree we remove continues to benefit the environment and the community.