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The Forest – Common Ground® (TFCG)

Sharing a common vision in a divided world.

Common ground—it sustains and nurtures us. A common vision of who we are and where we want to go—to care for our family, be a good neighbour, and provide for those in need. Essential to that common ground is the landscape, both physical and emotional, that lives and evolves around us.

A prominent feature of that landscape is the forest—from the vast boreal, tropical and other forests that stretch across our global landscape, to the many urban forests found within and around our cities, towns and villages.

More than 60 percent of Alberta is forested. Forests occupy nearly 350 million hectares across Canada. In total, forests cover 31 percent of the world’s land surface - just over 4 billion hectares.

Forests and trees are vital to the wellbeing of people and the planet.

Since long before Confederation, forests have played a crucial role in the lives of this land’s inhabitants: First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, explorers, settlers, residents of the young Dominion of Canada and now all Canadians. Indeed, forests are part of our national identity. They inspire our imagination through their quiet majesty and intricate beauty—speaking a universal language understood by all who experience them.

It is in this spirit that TFCG was conceived. The book and exhibit reveal what we take for granted and highlight the uncommon, often hidden beauty of the forest, capturing the extraordinary in the ordinary and what feels special to each of us. Because while what we see is common, we experience it differently. And that is what makes us a community.

Now more than ever, we need to celebrate common ground.

Back in 2018, when I was exploring the concept of a national forest, three-quarters of the respondents in a recent BBC global survey conducted by IPSOS said their country’s society was divided—and most thought it was more divided then than it was a decade ago. Polarized political views were seen as the greatest cause of tension, followed by differences between rich and poor.

The Gallup 2019 Global Emotions Report found another disconcerting trend. Based on interviews with 150,000+ adults in more than 140 countries in 2018, people were more worried, sadder and angrier than ever before.

Consistent with this were the findings of 2019 and 2020 Angus Reid polls in Canada, which indicated three in five Canadians were concerned about the future of the next generation. Climate change was our No. 1 issue—yet we didn’t agree on the best way to fight it. And inter-regional dissatisfaction, alienation, and fragmentation were growing.

That sense of Canada going in the wrong direction was somewhat diminished by the 2026 tariff war with the US, resulting in a patriotic spike in everything Canadian. Still, while a “come together” moment, the fundamental disconnect across Canada remains.

So…what to do?

TFCG responds to these concerns. It showcases an important aspect of our natural landscape and celebrates the forest's universal appeal as both sanctuary and sustainer—supporting a diverse, strong, and accepting community of common understanding.

“The forest is mankind, and the hill is the world ... Trees of different names stand side by side. The trees fall and die and help the young grow. Even the crooked sticks help build the world. And all the nations have to build that forest."

STONEY NAKODA CHIEF TÂTANGA MÂNÎ (WALKING BUFFALO)

Leader, Land Defender, Learned Man, Mediator, Peace Ambassador

THE TFCG CONCEPT

Every word crafted, every shot captured: Made in Canada

Using intricate, striking images of trunks and ground cover photographed by more than 500 Canadians, we are building a diverse national forest of species from across Canada, coexisting as a single unified forest.

The intent is to create an immersive experience that draws people into the majesty and wonder of the forest—a virtual form of forest bathing—inviting viewers to lose themselves in rich, stimulating imagery, to explore and see the unseen.

We first issued a call for trunk and ground cover submissions in the spring of 2020, followed by a national trip in 2021 and supplemented by numerous trips throughout Alberta. Photographers followed precise guidelines to ensure image quality and consistency. Submitted work was curated, and the selected images will be integrated into the final book and art installation. Selected photographers will share in the success of the exhibits.

The schedule for the Canadian forest exhibition is not yet available. The digital version of the book was released in late 2026 (see TFCG Book Tab), and we plan to launch the installation in Edmonton in the summer of 2027/28. Other Canadian exhibition sites will then follow.

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Culture and Themes

The Forest – Common Ground ® book and installation incorporate a significant First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultural presence:

Extensive discussion of colonialism and its lasting impacts on the Indigenous community
Themes highlighting the importance of the forest and the environment within the context of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities
Narration of the key differences between First Nations and Western worldviews and how, together, they can assist in moving towards a more inclusive and cooperative society
Community members photographed trunks and ground cover alongside Jon Havelock
An opportunity for First Nations, Métis and Inuit elders and other Indigenous community members to present to installation visitors
A component of the installation, The Spirit Circle, honouring the Survivors of Residential Schools, the 60's Scoop, and Stolen Sisters, or their family members

A key objective of this initiative is to educate Canadians about and celebrate the importance of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada. Several members of the Indigenous community kindly offered advice and assistance with this aspect of the project.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My family and I acknowledge, honour, and respect the traditional Lands and territories of the Treaty 6 and other Indigenous Peoples. This includes acknowledging the histories, languages, ceremonies, and cultures of the Nêhiyaw (Cree), Dene, Saulteaux, Nakota, Niitsítapi (Blackfoot), Métis, and Inuit (the latter two communities did not sign Treaty 6), who call this land home, as well as the rivers, lakes, and forests that sustain us. We make this acknowledgement, recognizing that we are beneficiaries of this Treaty, as an act of gratitude and reconciliation to those whose land we are residing on (Amiskwacîwâskahikan [Edmonton]). Our respect is embodied in our ongoing learning through TFCG, which incorporates experiences shared with me by Indigenous community members. This has helped me understand the profound impact of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples’ way of life, and as I have come to understand it, I hope others will too.

Inclusivity and Celebrating Who We Are

TFCG is all about celebrating diversity and what brings us together. Consequently, the book and installation reflect what makes us strong—people from all walks of life—regardless of gender, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or physical or intellectual disabilities—coming together for each other and for their community.

But while we continue that coming together, we need to be mindful of how we got here. Both the good and the bad, so we’re celebrating what we should be celebrating.

OUR LOGO

Celebrating diversity and common purpose.

The TFCG logo, designed by Juliana Laface with input from our volunteer team, features a variety of trees—some the same shape, some tall and others short—each distinct. The individual trees are connected by “common ground” with the box (or ground) containing the name. All of this is tied together with a skin-tone colour palette representing all races and ethnicities, resulting in a forest that celebrates our differences while recognizing our interdependencies.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Partnering to make our planet better.

Forests have been, and will continue to be, an integral part of the environmental, economic and cultural life in Canada and around the world. They provide sustainable jobs and products through appropriate harvesting and reforestation practices. They offer spiritual, cultural and social benefits. And they are a critical component of efforts to moderate climate change.

Forests improve air and water quality by acting as natural filters and help maintain the global environmental balance by absorbing and storing carbon. Quite simply, having more trees in the world benefits us all—potentially reducing the severity of climatic events, improving global health and supporting the preservation and expansion of our plant and wildlife biodiversity.

TFCG is committed to the sustainment and re-establishment of forests in Canada and throughout the world for the current and future generations. That is why we will donate our net Canadian exhibition and retail proceeds to various charitable organizations, including those dedicated to reforestation, environmental preservation and climate change initiatives in Canada.

OUR TEAM

Borrowing from “God’s roll of film”.

Alberta photographer Jon Havelock's photographic work focuses on intimate close-ups of our natural world—borrowing from “God’s roll of film”. His goal is to highlight the extraordinary inherent in the ordinary—to heighten our appreciation and awareness of our environment and the communities and peoples it sustains. He developed the concept for TFCG from his love of the outdoors and his belief in nature’s power as a healing and unifying force.

A team of respected and talented volunteers supported Jon along his journey. They are former bankers, government employees, marketers, media professionals, administrators, and publicists—some retired, others still working. Their common traits? A strong commitment to TFCG and to each other, and to building a Canadian forest that celebrates the shared beauty and wonder inspired by nature.