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The Davey Bulletin | January/February 2017
NORTH AMERICAN CLIMBING CHAMPIONSHIP HEADS TO CANADA
The Davey Tree Expert Co. of Canada,
Limited, welcomed 50 talented tree
climbers who competed for gold at the
2016 North American Tree Climbing
Championship (NATCC).
Mike Perri, operations manager,
Canada, was happy to have this
industry-leading competition right in
his own back yard.
"This event celebrates the skills of
our trade, the building blocks of
arboriculture," Perri said. "It's a great
way to network with others in our
industry in an informal setting."
Davey had no qualifying competitors
at the 2016 NATCC, but the company
was well-represented with 20
MY DAVEY
Many Davey employees represented the company at the 2016 North American Tree Climbing Competition, including
(back row, left to right) Jeff McKnight, Adam Turchet, Matt Kidney, Kyle Paton, Tyler Hall, Tim Walsh, Marcus
Michaud, Zach Gilligan, Jordan Kripp, Mike Lenarcic, and Carlos Morales and (front row, left to right) Sandra Reid,
Abby Bradford, Helen Thompson, Angela Dares, Elizabeth Potts, Carolyn Dares, Heather Dover, and Mike Perri.
The final seven competitors tested
their skills climbing in a giant white
oak tree for the master's challenge.
The two NATCC champions
representing Quebec ISA Chapter:
Marilou Dussault and Leilak Anderson.
Davey volunteers from Canadian and
U.S. operations.
Nearly 1,000 spectators attended
this competition in early October at
Niagara Parks' School of Horticulture
and Botanical Gardens. The
International Society of Arboriculture
(ISA) Ontario chapter and Niagara
Parks hosted the event.
On the first day of competition, the
50 female and male competitors com-
peted in five events. Only the top four
males and top three females qualified
to compete in the following day's
master's challenge.
The master's challenge, sponsored by
Davey, encompassed all aspects of
the tree care industry. In 20 minutes,
competitors must set up a successful
rope system, safely climb to five
marked points in the tree and repel to
the ground with all their equipment.
"Sponsoring this competition keeps
our name at the forefront of the
industry and establishes us as
leaders," Perri said. "We're the ones
that make it all possible."
To conclude the competition, Sandra
Reid, vice president, Davey corporate
communications and strategic planning
administration, had the honor of hand-
ing out awards to the two champions
from the Quebec ISA Chapter: Marilou
Dussault and Leilak Anderson.
Davey's Jeff McKnight, foreman,
Utility west, helped set up the master's
challenge using a Davey bucket truck.
