Since 2024, ATB has invested in the Project Forest Siksika Nation Community Shelterbelt Program—a collaboration between Project Forest and Siksika Nation that brings much-needed trees to the community.

Project Forest is a nonprofit organization that has been working with Indigenous communities to restore the natural environment by planting and maintaining trees and traditional medicinal plants across Canada. The Siksika Nation Community Shelterbelt Program addresses the lack of natural infrastructure in both residential and agricultural areas, where community members are increasingly feeling the effects of a changing climate.

A shelterbelt is a strategically placed barrier of trees that blocks strong winds, preventing soil erosion and protecting homes and infrastructure from the elements. These trees also offer many sustainable, long-term environmental, economic and cultural benefits, including carbon sequestration and the restoration of traditional plant species that Siksika Nation members have relied on for generations.

Through ATB’s partnership with Project Forest, we have donated $150,000 over three years, contributing to more than 27,000 seedlings being planted on Siksika Nation lands. Our involvement also extends beyond financial support, with ATB team members volunteering at tree-planting events on Siksika Nation. For example, as part of our activities acknowledging the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in September 2024 and 2025, our team members planted over 1,200 trees and listened to stories from community members about the importance of the shelterbelt. This hands-on experience provides team members with an opportunity to give back to the community while integrating Indigenous cultural perspectives into our workplace through truth-based education and experiences. “Planting trees with Project Forest on Siksika Nation is a way for us to put ATB’s values into action, partnering to do good for the community in a way that the community wants,” shared one of the ATB team members who volunteered at the September 2025 tree-planting event.

Our collaboration with Project Forest helps ensure we are being responsible stewards of the land, strengthening community resilience and advancing Truth and Reconciliation. This reflects ATB’s belief that true sustainability requires a holistic view—one that recognizes we cannot protect the environment without also honouring the people and communities connected to it

“ATB’s ongoing support of the Siksika Nation Community Shelterbelt Program is more than an investment in the environment—it’s an investment in the well-being of every Siksika Nation member. Through their commitment, ATB is helping restore the land, strengthen community resilience and create a lasting legacy of positive impact. It’s the dedication of companies like ATB that empowers our organization to thrive as we work together to build a more sustainable future.”

Mike Toffan, Founder and Executive Director, Project Forest