Join our book club

We have read three books in 2024 and will hold a fourth meeting before the end of the year to discuss the campaign to stop GE trees. Register to get the link to participate.

Why a book club?

Proposals to release genetically engineered (GE or genetically modified) trees and other organisms into the wild challenge us to think about our relationship with nature and how it may be impacted by new GE technology in the years to come.

• What motivates us to protect nature?
• What does it mean for forests if trees are genetically engineered? What does it mean for us?
• Can GE trees be used for species restoration, or is this species replacement?
• Why are some conservation approaches valued more than others?
• What are our responsibilities to future generations?

Join CBAN for our 2024 book club to reflect on these big questions with other thoughtful tree-lovers from coast to coast to coast. Participation is free – register here.

How does it work?

Together, we will read three books over the course of 2024. Each book will help us consider our relationship with nature and technology from a different angle. In March, May, and September/October, we’ll gather via zoom to discuss the book club pick for that month. In October, we’ll gather one last time to discuss our final takeaways and transform our learning into collective action. Register here to make sure you receive the zoom links and session dates. Each month, we’ll be joined by special guests to help guide our conversations and deepen our reflection as we read.

Past events 2024:
March: Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard. Click here to see our chat with Dr. Simard.
May: The Overstory by Richard Powers. Click here to see our chat with Ron Casier of the Canadian Chestnut Council.
September: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Register here to get information about session dates and zoom links.

Participation is free!

We don’t want the cost of books to be a barrier to participation! Thanks to a generous donation, we will have book copies available for those with low or fixed incomes. Please email us at trees@cban.ca to request a copy of any of the 2024 book club picks.