shade trees

I am looking for information on low maintenance shade trees for around a paved area in Abbotsford. Can anyone give me suggestions?

 

I like elms for that.

 

See Guide to Plant Selection near front of Sunset WESTERN GARDEN BOOK.

 

Not Albizia. Not Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Not willows.

After some wretched experiences with tree debris, I've been trying to formulate some principles on this topic myself. I've concluded that you want trees that:

Have reasonably large leaves (Albizia drops tiny leaflets that adhere to concrete and rot to a slippery mush really quickly when it rains).

Drop leaves once per season, not constantly (like Albizia, willow, and anything evergreen including evergreen clematis).

Drop seeds or flowers, if they have them, within one short period and not constantly.

Don't have tiny brittle twiglets (Willow drops twigs and small branches in addition to leaves all year round).

I'd welcome additions to the list as I'm trying to do some tree selection too.

 

So it'll also need to be something tolerant of heavily compacted soils.

Best I know for that is Alnus cordata.