“Without forests, we simply don’t have healthy water. It’s that direct. Our forests are critical,” he said.

Cottenden always seemed destined for a lifetime planting trees.

When he was a boy growing up on the outskirts of Barrie, his father Harry, would often come home after a long day at work to hear neighbours complain that young Paul was once again scampering up their trees to gather seeds and cones.

Cottenden was an eight-year-old cub scout when planted his first seedlings, red oaks, at the Wye Marsh in Midland.

When it came time for him to choose a career, his dad advised him to pick something that Cottenden would be proud of and would have a positive impact on the world.

“I think he would agree that planting a million trees has met that goal. He said ‘I’ve never seen somebody get up in the morning and be so eager to go to work. Most people don’t have that desire when they get up’,” Cottenden said.

“I really wish my dad was still here today because he would really be so proud of this accomplishment (of planting a million trees).”

After graduating from the forest technician program at Sir Sandford Fleming in Lindsay, Cottenden landed a job with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

He started out on a team marking trees to be cut down on Crown lands but was thrilled when he was soon tagged to plant trees in the Parry Sound area with Indigenous residents.

Cottenden would go on to plant thousands of trees in northern Ontario before returning closer to home.

Over the years, Cottenden has become renowned for his dedication, from walking hip-deep in snow to inventory trees to making sure every seedling was planted with precision to give them every opportunity to thrive.

“I want every tree I put in the ground to have a fighting chance to survive. You want these seedlings to become big majestic trees,” Cottenden said.

“Now it’s really starting to hit home. Wow, this is way more than I ever imagined the influence I would have in Ontario planting trees.”