Jacqueline Davis - Real Estate and Design

Calgary is giving away FREE trees again 🌳

And yes… they go fast.

The City of Calgary’s Branching Out 2026 program is back — offering 10,000 free trees for residents to plant in their own yards. 

This isn’t just a feel-good thing — it’s part of the city’s push to grow Calgary’s tree canopy and improve air quality, shade, and overall livability.

Here’s how it works:

You can apply for up to 2 trees per household (one application per address). 

But before you register, you must complete the “Right Tree, Right Location” online module — it’s quick and required. 

Registration dates (2026):
(Set your alarms — these fill up FAST)

• NW: April 7 @ 10am
• NE: April 13 @ 10am
• SE: April 20 @ 10am
• SW: April 27 @ 10am 

Spots are released by quadrant, and once they’re gone… they’re gone.

Who qualifies?
• Calgary residents
• Must be planting on your own property
• One registration per address
• Complete the training before applying 

⸻

If you’ve been thinking about adding trees to your yard — this is literally the easiest (and cheapest) way to do it.

👉 Check details + register here:
https://www.calgary.ca/parks-rec-programs/nature/branching-out.html

Unpopular opinion: builder-standard lighting is bad on purpose 😬

You walk into the showhome and think — wow, this is stunning.
The lighting, the finishes, the whole vibe… it just works.

Fast forward to your selection appointment… and bam.
The options suddenly feel very basic — and the ones from the showhome are now a very pricey upgrade.

It’s not an accident. It’s strategy.

Some builders keep home prices lower to begin with and then stab you with a huge upgrade price tag later. They know that if they keep all the standard selections just ‘okay,’ you’re way more likely to upgrade — and that’s where they make a lot of their margin.

Reality is, not everything is worth upgrading with the builder.
Light fixtures are one of the easiest (and most cost-effective) things to change after possession.

Honestly, this just isn’t the upgrade hill you need to die on.

BUT — make sure the electrical is done upfront.
Adding things like pot lights or under-cabinet lighting after the fact can get really expensive.

So my rule of thumb:
👉 Pay for the electrical now
👉 Upgrade the fixtures later