International Society of Arboriculture Quebec

What International Society of Arboriculture Quebec does

The International Society of Arboriculture Quebec (SIAQ, legal name Société internationale d'arboriculture Québec inc.) is a Quebec-incorporated nonprofit professional association founded in 1977 and headquartered in Laval. It operates as the exclusive Quebec section of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), a credentialing body present in over 70 countries, and its mandate is to promote best practices in arboriculture and urban forestry through training, information, and knowledge sharing.

SIAQ's core product is administration of the ISA Certified Arborist credential in Quebec — a 200-question multiple-choice exam with a 76% passing grade, requiring 3+ years of experience and renewal every three years via 30 continuing education credits (CFCs). It publishes the only French-language ISA certification study manual (2026 edition, 488 pages), operates a public professional search directory that doubles as a Hydro-Québec authorized-contractor filter, runs a member-exclusive job board, and delivers an annual continuing-education catalog covering TRAQ Tree Risk Assessment, Prescription Pruning, Monetary Assessment, Trees and Construction, and an asynchronous mushroom-in-urban-environments course. Its technology stack is a bilingual French/English web platform with integrated e-commerce (PayPal), Mailchimp newsletters, GA4 analytics, Meta and Looker Studio-managed SEM, JotForm-based forms, and Pearson VUE integration for computer-based certification delivery.

The business model is a multi-stream nonprofit association: individual, municipal, and commercial membership dues (annual, non-refundable); training and workshop registration fees; one-time study manual and bookstore sales ($139.95 member / $195.95 non-member for the manual); Quebec Tree Climbing Championship competitor and exhibitor fees ($220 member / $245 guest entry); and pass-through revenue from ISA certification and recertification fees (US$295-396 exam, US$220 base recertification). Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, anchored by the annual championship in partnership with Milwaukee Tool and PowerTech, with strategic alliances including a five-year partnership with insurer La Turquoise and operational integration with Hydro-Québec for electrical-proximity contractor authorization. The organization benefits from a material regulatory tailwind as the Quebec government deploys mandatory qualification certificates for arboriculture.

Name

International Society of Arboriculture Quebec

Legal name

Société internationale d'arboriculture Québec inc.

Website

https://siaq.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The International Society of Arboriculture Quebec (SIAQ) is a nonprofit professional association founded in 1977 that administers the globally recognized ISA Certified Arborist credential in Quebec, publishes the only French-language certification study manual, and delivers continuing education, a public professional directory, and an annual tree-climbing championship for arborists, municipalities, and tree-care firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Arboriculture Certification and Training Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry, Arboriculture & Silviculture (EDAOAOAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Forest Management & Silviculture Services (Cruising, Planning, Compliance) (IMAMAAAD)

Keywords

• Arborist certification programs
• Professional tree care
• Arboriculture training courses
• Tree climbing championship
• Urban forestry resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Laval

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SIAQ generates revenue from annual membership fees, with different tiers including individual, municipal, and commercial memberships. Membership types have different refund and transfer policies: individual memberships are non-refundable and non-transferable; municipal memberships are non-refundable but transferable; commercial memberships are non-refundable.
2. Certification Exam and Study Materials: Revenue from ISA certification exam registration fees (charged in USD by ISA), and sale of the official French-language Arborist Certification Study Manual (regular price $195.95, member price $139.95). The SIAQ publishes and distributes the manual.
3. Training Courses and Workshops: SIAQ organizes and delivers continuing education workshops and seminars for arborists, including TRAQ (Tree Risk Assessment Qualification), Prescription Pruning, Monetary Assessment, and other specialized training courses. Training registration fees apply with a 5% admin fee for cancellations before the deadline.
4. Online Store (Books and Accessories): The SIAQ operates an e-commerce store selling arboricultural books, manuals, and accessories. Sales are final with no exchanges or refunds. A 5% administrative fee applies for reserved item orders by those without purchase rights. PayPal is the payment processor.
5. Championship Participation Fees: Revenue from the Quebec Tree Climbing Championship, including competitor registration fees (member rate $220, guest rate $245, plus taxes) and exhibitor booth reservations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SIAQ is a nonprofit professional association that administers International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) arborist certification and continuing-education (CFC/CEU) programs for Quebec. It delivers paid training courses (such as TRAQ urban tree risk assessment, prescription pruning, and monetary tree appraisal), publishes the French-language arborist certification study manual, operates a public certified-professional directory, runs an online store, and hosts the annual Quebec Tree Climbing Championship for its members and the broader Quebec arboriculture community.

Product overview

SIAQ (Société internationale d'arboriculture du Québec) is the Quebec section of the International Society of Arboriculture, operating as a non-profit professional association founded in 1977. The organization offers a unified membership program that provides access to professional resources, specialized training courses, and ISA certification administration. Core offerings include the ISA Certified Arborist certification (requiring 200-question exam, valid 3 years with 30 CEU renewal), continuing education through TRAQ, Prescription Pruning, and Monetary Assessment courses, and an online store selling the French-language Arborist Certification Study Manual (2026 edition, $195.95/$139.95 member). Additional services include a professional search directory by service and region, job board for members, free resources from Trees Canada and Canadian Forest Service, and the annual Quebec Tree Climbing Championship with preliminary events and Masters Challenge finale. The organization facilitates Hydro-Québec authorized contractor searches and maintains a member directory accessible to registered professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Memberships (Individual, Municipal, Commercial) Annual memberships that give Quebec arborists, municipalities, and commercial tree-care companies access to member benefits, the member area, the job board, continuing-education management, and member pricing on training and events.
• ISA Certified Arborist Certification Administration

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 CFCs per 3-year period required for ISA Certified Arborist recertification, enabling ongoing professional development.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• La TurquoiseflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Turquoise is a prominent insurance company that has entered into a five-year partnership with SIAQ. The partnership is built on shared values of prevention, sustainability, and support for arboriculture professionals. Together, the organizations contribute to the health and safety of communities in Quebec.
• Milwaukee ToolflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerMilwaukee Tool is the official presenter of the 2026 Quebec Tree Climbing Championship. The partnership provides major event sponsorship and visibility for Milwaukee across all championship communications and materials.
• PowerTechcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPowerTech is the Platinum Partner and exclusive sponsor of the Masters Challenge event at the 2026 Quebec Tree Climbing Championship. PowerTech provides significant financial and promotional support for the championship's premier competition.
• Centre Horticole LavalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCentre Horticole Laval is the Major Collaborating Partner and also sponsors the WorkClimb #1 event at the 2026 championship. It is a horticultural center serving the Laval region.
• Asplundh CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAsplundh Canada is a Canopy (Gold) Partner and sponsor of the Male Champion's Award at the 2026 Quebec Tree Climbing Championship.
• Hymec Color / Équipement RobitaillecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHymec Color (Équipement Robitaille) is a Canopy (Gold) Partner and sponsor of both the Female Champion's Award and the Belayed Speed Climb event at the 2026 championship.
• Arb SessionscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArb Sessions sponsors the Winners' Prizes at the 2026 Quebec Tree Climbing Championship, providing awards for competition winners.
• Service d'arbres de la SablonnièreminorGTM or Marketing PartnerService d'arbres de la Sablonnière sponsors Friday's happy hour for volunteers at the 2026 championship.
• Élagage DrummondminorGTM or Marketing PartnerÉlagage Drummond co-sponsors Friday's happy hour for volunteers at the 2026 championship.
• Local 1676 Logo Élagueur RéseauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal 1676 Logo Élagueur Réseau sponsors the Volunteer Meal at the 2026 championship.
• Novafor EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNovafor Equipment sponsors the Saturday Night Celebration at the 2026 Quebec Tree Climbing Championship.
• PetzlcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPetzl sponsors the Ascent event at the 2026 championship. Petzl is a leading manufacturer of equipment for arborists and tree climbing professionals.
• Service d'arbre PrimeauminorGTM or Marketing PartnerService d'arbre Primeau sponsors WorkClimb #2 at the 2026 championship.
• Copalme CanadaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCopalme Canada sponsors the Aerial Rescue event at the 2026 championship.
• Jacer ArboricultureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJacer Arboriculture is a Samare (Bronze) Partner and sponsor of Samara 1 at the 2026 championship.
• FierbourgminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFierbourg (which offers a pruning program) is a Samare (Bronze) Partner and sponsor of Samara 1 at the 2026 championship.
• FoxtecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoxtec (specializing in PPE inspection) is a Samare (Bronze) Partner and sponsor of Samara 1 at the 2026 championship. Foxtec's owner Benjamin Dutremble also created an informative video on PPE inspection for championship competitors.
• Hydro-QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHydro-Québec authorizes qualified arborists to work near electrical wires through SIAQ's professional directory. SIAQ provides a questionnaire to help property owners determine if they need to hire a Hydro-Québec-authorized contractor. This is a critical safety partnership with regulatory implications for arborists working in Quebec.
• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIAQ is the official Quebec section of ISA, a global organization present in more than 70 countries. ISA develops the Certified Arborist certification program, administers exams through Pearson VUE, and hosts the International Tree Climbing Championship. SIAQ operates under ISA's governance and standards.
• Mont-de-La Salle Secondary SchoolminorOthersÉcole Mont-de-La Salle in Laval is the host venue for the 2026 Quebec Tree Climbing Championship, with the participation of the school in the event.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): ISA is SIAQ's global parent organization, owning and governing the Certified Arborist credential, administering exams through Pearson VUE, and operating the International Tree Climbing Championship across 70+ countries. SIAQ is Quebec's chapter, making ISA the natural incumbent comparable on certification governance, exam revenue, and mission.
• Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA): TCIA is the largest US-based trade association for commercial tree-care companies, offering company accreditation, safety standards, training, and publications. It overlaps SIAQ on professional-standards setting and commercial arborist training, but from a broader commercial-services lens across the US.

Direct peers

• Society of Municipal Arborists: SMA is a US-based professional organization serving municipal and urban arborists with credentialing, publications, and a member directory. It is closely comparable to SIAQ on the municipal-member segment, urban-forestry training, and using a member directory as a public-facing service.
• ISA Ontario Chapter: The Ontario chapter of ISA administers the same Certified Arborist credential to professional arborists in the neighboring Canadian province and runs continuing-education workshops and a regional climbing championship. It is the most directly comparable peer given shared mission, certification model, and Canadian regulatory environment.
• American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA): ASCA is a US-based professional society focused on credentialing and continuing education for consulting arborists, with a member directory and code of ethics. It is directly comparable to SIAQ's professional-association business model, credentialing value proposition, and member directory offering.
• ISA Pacific Northwest Chapter: The Pacific Northwest chapter of ISA serves arborists across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia with chapter certification prep, workshops, and a regional tree-climbing championship. Directly comparable as a regional ISA chapter running certification, training, and competitive events under the same parent brand.

Others

• Arbor Day Foundation: Arbor Day Foundation is a large US nonprofit dedicated to tree planting and public tree-care education. It is adjacent to SIAQ in mission (tree advocacy and public education) but does not administer professional certification or member directories, making it a thematically related peer rather than a competitor.
• Trees Canada: Trees Canada is a Canadian nonprofit focused on tree planting, urban forestry, and public education, whose resources are cited in SIAQ's documentation center. It is comparable as a Canadian tree-focused nonprofit partner and resource provider rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SIAQinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/SIAQinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/siaq

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Society of Arboriculture Quebec