Horticulturalist Todd Gesshe wants to do more than keep Kitimat green—he wants it to be the most beautiful and livable town in British Columbia.
Since joining the District of Kitimat five years ago, Gesshe has led a steadily expanding horticulture program rooted in the concept of placemaking. During an update to Kitimat council April 22, he described it as an approach that focuses on designing public spaces that enhance community well-being, foster social connection and instil a strong sense of identity.
“I believe this is a very powerful and impactful concept,” he said. “That’s what we’re keeping in the back of our mind as we go out every day, striving to achieve.”
Yet that vision, he noted, continues to be challenged by the absence of an overarching beautification strategy. Without a unified plan, departments often pursue projects without a shared long-term direction or a clearly articulated sense of the town’s identity.
“What is this community’s identity? What do we want people to feel when they are in our space, in our community?” he asked. “We use the phrase that Kitimat is a marvel of nature and industry, but that phrase notably excludes reference to the actual community where we spend our lives.”
Still, the horticulture team has made consistent progress through cross-departmental collaboration and creative leadership. Among last year’s highlights was the revitalization of the visitor centre landscaping. In partnership with the Chamber of Commerce, the team removed failing plants and old landscape ties to create a cleaner, more welcoming space.
That project included improvements around the restored “Welcome to Kitimat” sign, where chamber executive director Laurel D’Andrea led the signage renewal while the horticulture team enhanced the surrounding landscape with riverstone and fresh plantings. “A lot of people come here to take family photos and now it’s something we can really make an impression with,” Gesshe said.
The team also restored disturbed areas at Radley Park, replanting native shrubs, sitka spruce and red cedar to rebuild privacy and restore natural beauty. “You have to use your imagination a little, because most of the shrub material was a little small, but I encourage you to take a walk through the park and see the way this is developing.”
Another transformation came to the museum courtyard, a space that had long been overlooked but is now positioned to support the summer market and complement nearby storefronts. The improvements, which included new plantings and public art, have helped activate the space and inspire surrounding enhancements.
“Sometimes these things are scheduled to happen anyway, but I have a theory that this sets off a chain reaction for these types of things to start when you put a little love into these areas.”
Gesshe credited the success of these projects to a capable and engaged municipal workforce. “Many district staff have the practical skills and creative drive to step up to these design-focused initiatives,” he said.
That spirit has also fuelled smaller innovations, including the transition to self-watering hanging baskets. The new design cuts down on daily watering and reduces water use during dry summer periods. Poles in the City Centre parking lot are now being assessed to determine if more baskets can be safely added. “It would be great to bring some colour into that space, because right now there is nothing.”
Tree planting along Haisla Walkway has also contributed to the district’s goal of drought resilience. The use of Honey Locusts and Scarlet Oaks reflects a broader strategy to select trees and soil blends that retain moisture and stand up to heat. Gesshe said future development areas would benefit from clearly identifying where views are to be preserved and where vegetation should be prioritised.
The team’s responsibilities now include trail maintenance, with work underway to improve user experience while protecting the natural appeal of local paths. “The trails are an amazing asset to the community. My family meet a lot of people out there, and there is still a tonne of potential with the existing beauty.”
Looking to 2025, Gesshe said the Mountainview Meadows project will build on the success of the district’s popular pollinator gardens near Mountain View Square. The gardens attracted a wide range of pollinating insects and became a popular community feature—but they proved difficult to maintain using the original seeding method.
“I had a theory when I started in those areas that ... you prepare it, you seed it and it’s gorgeous for a year, but we weren’t getting the kind of regeneration we were hoping for. The weed pressure starts to creep up in the spring,” he said.
The updated project will move away from annual reseeding and instead use carefully selected perennial species installed in mulched beds. This will allow for better control of invasive plants and encourage reliable long-term growth.
Plantings will include monarda, phlox, agastache, dianthus, nepeta, rudbeckia, yarrow, sedum, helianthus and others—designed to echo successful installations at Riverlodge but scaled up significantly.
“Landscapes are regenerating nicely,” Gesshe said. “We’re always trying to improve in terms of vision and efficiency.”
Following his update, councillors offered their appreciation. “It’s undeniable the improvement that have been made,” said Councillor Graham Pitzel. Mayor Phil Germuth agreed, adding, “It’s making a huge difference.”
