ArborProof

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Thunder Bay, Ontario · Updated September 2026

Best Tree Services in Thunder Bay

The three highest-scoring tree companies that serve Thunder Bay, ranked by LEAF Score. Every company in Ontario is checked the same way, on insurance coverage, arborist credentials, experience and reviews. No company can pay to be at the top of this page.

5companies serve Thunder Bay
4with WSIB clearance confirmed
3.6average leaves here

Thunder Bay’s top 3 by LEAF Score

1

Mitigoog Solutions Inc.

Serves Thunder Bay, Marathon and Nipigon

5.0 · 84 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews84 Google reviews
5+ years in business5 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Angus Theron Richard McCrady, Certified Arborist See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holderNone confirmed
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: MITIGOOG SOLUTIONS INC. / MITIGOOG SOLUTIONS See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
2

Rutter Urban Forestry

Serves Thunder Bay

4.9 · 50 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
5/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews50 Google reviews
5+ years in business21 years in business
Employs a Certified Arborist1 ISA Certified Arborist
Tim Nosworthy, Certified Arborist, ON-2854A See certificate →
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holderNone confirmed
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: RUTTER URBAN FORESTRY LTD See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada
3

Boreal Tree Service Inc.

Serves Thunder Bay and Kenora

5.0 · 101 Google reviewsWSIB clearance confirmed · to Nov 19, 2026
Not yet verified by the businessThese details come from our own research. Is this your business? Claim this listing

Specializations

Tree removal (small)Tree removal (large)Tree pruning (small)Tree pruning (large)Hedge trimming (medium and large)Stump grinding (small)Stump grinding (large)Tree planting (small)Tree planting (large)Cabling & bracingFertilizationHydro line clearance24/7 emergency serviceCrane servicesOn-site consultationLegal / bylaw dispute assistanceArborist reportsTree protection plansTree risk assessmentTree appraisalAir excavationPest & disease treatmentLand clearingEducation and advocacyWood chips - UNrefined - LARGE quantityWood chips - Refined - LARGE quantity
Inferred from our research — not yet confirmed by the businessNot inferred — ask directly
Visit websiteFull profile →
4/10LEAF Score

Score breakdown

50+ Google reviews101 Google reviews
5+ years in business23 years in business
Employs a Certified ArboristNone confirmed
Employs a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holderNone confirmed
Employs a Board Certified Master ArboristNone confirmed
Certificate of insurance on fileNot posted
Valid WSIB clearanceWSIB clearance confirmed
Matched WSIB account: CASHEN TIGHE / BOREAL TREE SERVICE See certificate →
Transparent pricingNot posted
Verified their own listingNot yet confirmed
Founded in CanadaFounded in Canada

The ISA directory is opt-in, so a company may have certified arborists we can't see. Ask.

Ties are broken by number of credentials (each Certified Arborist, Board Certified Master Arborist and Tree Risk Assessment Qualification holder counts, so someone with two counts twice), then Google reviews.

More companies serving Thunder Bay

4Tree and TractorNorthern Ontario · 5.0 from 28 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB confirmed3/105Nice Guy For HireNorthern Ontario · 4.6 from 11 reviewsNot verified by businessWSIB not confirmed1/10See all 5 companies serving Thunder Bay on the map →
A year strip of months. Late summer to early fall is the best time to plant, spring is acceptable with a little more risk, and midsummer planting is the greatest risk because the tree may not be watered.
Homeowner question

When is the best time to plant a tree?

The goal is usually to give the tree as much time to establish as possible before summer drought. Therefore, late summer to early fall is the best time of year. Spring is acceptable as well; it just carries a little more risk. Summer planting is the greatest risk to the tree, in part because many Ontarians vacation and the tree may not get watered while they are away.

Before you cut

Thunder Bay’s private tree rules

No permit needed for private trees

Thunder Bay does not require a permit to remove trees on your own property. City boulevard trees are protected by the Public Tree By-law, and only City contractors plant or remove them.

Whole city

No private tree permit

The City's tree by-law covers public trees only. You can remove or plant trees on your own lot without a City permit.

Whole city

City-owned and boulevard trees

Damaging a City-owned tree on purpose or by neglect is an offence under the Public Tree By-law. You cannot plant on the boulevard yourself, but you can request a City tree.

Construction near City trees

Tree protection standards

Anyone working near a City tree must follow the City's tree protection standards during construction.

Anywhere in Ontario

Trees on a property line

A tree whose trunk sits on the line belongs to both neighbours. Ontario’s Forestry Act says you need your neighbour’s consent before removing or injuring it.

Not sure if you need a permit?

Ask the municipality before any work starts. A good tree company will also check for you and tell you who applies for the permit.

City of Thunder Bay Infrastructure & Operations Dispatch (Urban Forestry)

807-625-2195Official information page →

Summary checked September 2026. It’s a plain-language guide, not legal advice. Bylaws change, so confirm with the municipality before you remove a tree.

Sources
Two views of a tree next to a house. On the left a branch touches the roof. On the right the branch has been cut back to a side branch just outside the branch collar so it no longer touches.
Homeowner question

If a tree is rubbing against a house, how far back should it be pruned?

Evergreens typically grow more slowly, so they don't need as much clearance. Most deciduous trees should be pruned back approximately 2 metres (6 to 7 feet) from the house.

We caution against clearing too much from the house side. It can injure the tree and pose a greater risk to your house. For example, if a high branch breaks, there is no lower branch for it to get caught on.

Before you hire

What to check before you hire a tree service

Tree work is dangerous, and it’s expensive to fix when it goes wrong. Six questions worth asking any company, including the ones on this page.

  1. Ask for a WSIB clearance certificate and proof of liability insurance

    Tree work is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. We do our best on our end, but these certificates can change before we have a chance to update them. Some good companies will give them to you without you even having to ask. Bonus!

  2. Find out who will actually do the work

    You may get a Certified Arborist as your salesperson, but will the same be true of the person who works on your property? You won't know until you ask. A Certified Arborist may cost more, but it can cost a lot more if the work is done wrong and the tree dies early or your property is damaged.

  3. Get the quote in writing

    It should say exactly which trees, and whether cleanup, wood removal, stump grinding and so on are included. The more detailed the quote, the better.

  4. Ask who handles the permit

    If a bylaw applies, agree up front who applies for the permit and who pays the fee. Removing a protected tree without one usually means a fine for the property owner, not the tree company.

  5. If money is tight, try this

    See if the work can be scheduled in a slower season for a lower price. Clear obstacles (fences, gates, lawn ornaments, plants) before the crew arrives. Find someone online, such as on Facebook Marketplace, who will take the wood for free. Or change the scope of work, for example pruning only the lower half of the tree instead of the whole tree.

  6. Trees near power lines are a utility job

    If branches touch or come close to a hydro line, call your local hydro utility (the one on your electricity bill) first. Only crews the utility approves can work near power lines.

The same tree twice. In winter with the leafs off, an arborist sees the branch structure, joints, cracks and dead limbs. With the leafs on, they see leaf health, dieback and pests.
Homeowner question

Should an arborist assess a tree with the leafs on or off?

Both views have their pros and cons. In the winter an arborist can see the overall structure of the tree better. If there are splits in branches, we can see them more clearly. The downside is that sometimes it is a little harder to see which branches are dead or alive.

Bottom line: if you think your tree needs to be assessed, don't let the time of year stop you from reaching out to an arborist.

LEAF Scores reflect public records and research on the date checked. Always confirm insurance, certification and WSIB coverage directly with a company before you hire it.