14
THE DAVEY BULLETIN
|
March/April 2026
MISSION
SAFETY
Four-hour commutes did not stop Tacoma office employees
from serving their community. In mid-December 2025,
historic flooding put Washington state under a state of
emergency. Five days after major flooding began nearby the
Tacoma office, two levees failed, causing a flash flood warn-
ing for the area. A windstorm kicked up soon after.
Tyson Geldseth, district manager, Tacoma office, said the
office only closed for one day because it sits on slightly
higher elevation, which kept it safe from flooding. "It was
touch and go," Geldseth said.
TACOMA OFFICE PRIORITIZES COMMUNITY DURING FLOODS
Even with closed highways all around the area, the team
diligently reported to work so they could respond to calls
and help clients with uprooted trees and trees smashed into
houses by the windstorm. "The fact that everybody came in
and did the work we needed to do shows our dedication to
our clients," Geldseth said.
Employees from Davey Canada's Victoria office worked on
trees that bore witness to such famous faces as Queen
Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, John Wayne and Shirley
Temple at the 118-year-old Fairmont Empress hotel in
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
At the historic hotel, the crew was tasked with thinning
a large Deodar and an Atlas Cedar and removing a large
limb that had snapped the night before. They also removed
some deadwood due to safety concerns, all while
navigating working alongside a very busy road with a
huge amount of foot traffic.
HISTORIC HOTEL IS BACKDROP FOR DAVEY CANADA CREWS
"Working at The Empress was a very memorable job," Cory
MacDonald, crew leader, Victoria office, Davey Tree Expert
Co. of Canada, Limited, said. "It was cool being able to work
at such a beautiful and historic location, and the view of
downtown Victoria while up in the bucket was fantastic."
Inset: Empress Hotel and
grounds, ca. 1900-1925,
Library and Archives Canada.
Right: A Davey Canada
Victoria office crew thins
trees and removes broken
limbs and deadwood outside
the historic Fairmont
Empress hotel in Victoria,
British Columbia, Canada.
Left: A large Douglas Fir, estimated to measure 59 inches at standard
height, failed during the December storm cycle in Washington, smashing
the corner of a home. The Tacoma office responded to the situation.
Below: Employees from the Tacoma office.
