Independent arboricultural consulting and diagnostics
Practitioner-led tree diagnosis, risk assessment and development consulting across Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton.
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist#ON-2667BReplies within one business dayVirtual consultations
Hi, I’m Brent.
I don’t just deliver reports. I solve problems.
I’m a Board Certified Master Arborist with nearly a decade of field experience, and one of fewer than 40 BCMAs in Ontario. The credentials matter, but the years I spent climbing and working in trees matters more.
Trees are part of what makes a neighbourhood feel like one. Whether that’s a builder adding housing to an established street, a homeowner protecting a tree they’ve lived under for twenty years, or a municipality looking after a canopy that took decades to grow, the work matters beyond the paperwork.
When you hire me, you get one person who understands the site, the bylaws, and what the trees are telling us.
How I can help
Homeowners and residential properties
“Is my tree sick, dying, or dangerous?”
Direct, on-site diagnosis and clear answers about your tree’s health, roots or structure, without a sales pitch or a conflict of interest.
- Tree health diagnosis
- Soil, root zone and structural assessment
- Tree risk assessment (TRAQ)
- Independent advice before you hire a tree service
- Help with private tree bylaws
Developers, architects and builders
“I’m building something and there are trees on site.”
Complete arboricultural documentation for construction, severances, site plan approval and permit clearance.
- Arborist reports and tree protection plans
- Municipal permits in Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton
- AirSpade root investigation and construction monitoring
- Ravine and natural feature compliance
Why clients work with me
I spent years working in trees before I started consulting on them. That isn’t a minor detail. It’s the difference between a correct diagnosis and a misidentification, and between tree protection designed from what is actually on site and protection drawn from lines in AutoCAD.
From field operations to consulting
Most of my experience comes from years spent in the canopy. I understand trees as physical structures: how they grow, what stresses them, what that stress looks like and how it plays out over time. I’m a Master Arborist, but I’m also a master observer.
Documentation that holds up
Municipal reviewers scrutinize arborist reports, and approvals depend on credible expertise. My documentation follows current standards and scientific protocols, and I aim to cover every base on the first submission.
Responsive when it counts
When a question comes up mid-project or Urban Forestry sends a comment, I answer quickly and clearly. On a tight timeline, a fast response is the difference between progress and delay.
Qualifications
ISA Board Certified Master Arborist#ON-2667B
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ)
444B Journeyman Utility Arborist#413696573
Butternut Health Assessment, Qualified Professional
Common questions
When do I need an arborist report in the GTA?
When construction, renovation or demolition could affect a protected tree. Toronto protects private trees 30 cm in diameter and larger. Burlington protects trees from 20 cm. Oakville and Mississauga protect trees from 15 cm. In Hamilton it depends on where the property is. In Hamilton, planning applications usually start with a General Vegetation Inventory.
If you are applying for a building permit, site plan, consent or tree permit near protected trees, you will likely need one. A five minute conversation is usually enough for me to tell you whether your project triggers a requirement.
What is a Board Certified Master Arborist?
The BCMA is the highest credential awarded by the International Society of Arboriculture. It requires demonstrated mastery across tree biology, risk assessment, preservation, pathology, soil science and professional standards. Fewer than 40 arborists in Ontario hold it.
Do I need a full arborist report, or just a consultation?
It depends on what you will use it for. A permit application, a legal or insurance matter, or anything a municipality has to accept needs a formal report. If you want to understand what is going on with a tree and what your options are, a consultation gets you there faster and for less.
My tree looks unhealthy. Can you tell me what is wrong with it?
Yes. A diagnostic site visit is one of the most common calls I get. Thinning leaves, dieback, fungal growth or a tree that just does not look right all have identifiable causes, and I can usually narrow it down on site. You do not need a full report for this. More about tree diagnosis.
Can you diagnose a tree problem without a site visit?
Sometimes. Photos and a description can rule some things in or out, but a reliable diagnosis usually needs eyes on the tree, the soil and the site around it. For situations where video is enough, I run virtual consultations through TreeTruth, and I will tell you up front if a site visit is not needed.
What is the difference between a consulting arborist and a tree removal company?
A consulting arborist provides independent assessment, documentation and advice. I do not sell removals or tree care, so my recommendations are based on what the trees need and what your project requires. That independence matters when a report has to hold up under municipal review, at the Committee of Adjustment or in a legal proceeding.
Which areas do you cover?
Toronto, Mississauga, Oakville, Burlington and Hamilton. Each has its own tree bylaw and its own submission standards, and I prepare reports to each one. See tree bylaws by city for a side-by-side summary.
Tell me what you are working with
A short call or email is usually enough to work out what your project needs. I reply within one business day, and the same day when it is urgent.