This Sugar Maple, pictured here in spring flower, is located in the front yard of the West Lake Boarding School, which has been declared a provincially significant historic building by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario. Built before 1839, the structure served as the Society of Friends’ first seminary in Canada. This Quaker boarding school was in operation from 1841-1865. In 1933, it became the private residence of the Carman Family. As of this writing, in 2020, the tree is estimated to be over 200 years old. The Sugar Maple was likely in place before, or at the time of, the building’s construction; it may have been a part of the virgin forest that existed at the time of the United Empire Loyalist’s arrival.

This Sugar maple is located on the ancestral lands of the Mississauga First Nation. It was a sapling in the forest that covered this area, currently known as Reach Township, when it was surveyed in 1809. The area became known as Reach Township in the early 1800s, when Colonel Reach slowly began to transform the landscape. In 1811, the 200-acre parcel of Lot 1, Concession 8 where the Sugar maple can be found was patented to James Neville. The property was later divided in 1815, with the north half of the lot sold off. Until 1821, the tree continued to grow in the south half with no settler development surrounding it. During the decades that followed, the surrounding landscape experienced rapid clearing for farm and agricultural use. Despite the frequent changes in ownership and the transformation of the acreage, the Sugar maple was left untouched and still stands to this day at the estimated age of 200 years.

At the time of its acceptance into the Heritage Tree Program, this landmark white oak tree was believed to be around 250 – 260 years old. It resides in Centennial Park, in Dunnville, within a protected Tallgrass Prairie Wetland complex. The land was originally shared amongst Indigenous peoples under the “Plate With One Spoon” treaty. In 1839 the land was patented by the Crown and sold to Colonel David Thompson, a former member of Parliament and founder of the Grand River Navigation who had the Ruthven manor commissioned. Thompson futher divided the land into three parcels. One parcel was sold to the first railway into Dunnville (The Buffalo and Lake Huron Railway); one parcel became a cemetery; the third parcel, in which the white oak stands, was sold in 1907 to the then Village of Dunnville to become a house of refuge. The property has been inaugurated as public land ever since and is now a seniors’ home (Grandview Lodge) and an environmental education centre. The magnificent oak tree has been part of the property since the land’s earliest days, prior even to Canada’s establishment as a nation or of Dunnville a village. A tree this size and age is a unique souvenir of all the historical transformations it has witnessed in its lifetime, and Haldimand County is grateful for its presence.

This bur oak tree resides on the grounds of the historic Sir John Johnson Manor House in Williamstown, Ontario. The house is one of the oldest houses in the province and it contains archives with records dating back to the late 1700s. It was once owned by (and named for) Sir John Johnson, an American who left his New York Estate and moved to Canada after being involved in a series of border skirmishes. In 1784, Johnson became responsible for a settlement of Loyalists who had fled the United States. The House was declared a place of national historic significance in 1961 on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The house and property were acquired by Parks Canada in 1971 and became a part of a national system of historic sites. At the time of its nomination this bur oak tree was approximately 269 years old and had a spread of 27 meters.

This black walnut tree resides on the grounds of the historic Sir John Johnson Manor House in Williamstown, Ontario. The house is one of the oldest houses in the province and it contains archives with records dating back to the late 1700s. It was once owned by (and named for) Sir John Johnson, an American who left his New York Estate and moved to Canada after being involved in a series of border skirmishes. In 1784, Johnson became responsible for a settlement of Loyalists who had fled the United States. The House was declared a place of national historic significance in 1961 on the recommendation of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. The house and property were acquired by Parks Canada in 1971 and became a part of a national system of historic sites. At the time of its nomination this black walnut tree was approximately 219 years old and had a spread of 41 meters.

This landmark Sugar maple tree is believed to be between 120 to 150 years old. It resides just inside the front gates of the historic Labatt Memorial Park. Established in 1877, the park holds the Guinness world record for the oldest baseball diamond and continues to host games to this day. Nearly every major star of early professional baseball has played at Labatt Memorial Park. The park was owned by the Labatt Brewing Company before it was donated it to the City of London on January 1st, 1937, under the condition that it remain a public athletic facility in perpetuity and be named Labatt Memorial Park. This majestic Sugar maple tree became a part of the park approximately 35 to 45 years ago when the City of London extended the park’s boundaries. To have a tree this size and age within the property of a baseball stadium is extremely rare, and the City of London is forever grateful for all it has to offer.

These three historic Sugar maple trees are located on the grounds of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Maple, Ontario. The church, constructed in 1862, is a Heritage Building and a classic example of the Carpenter Gothic architectural style. Lord Beaverbrook (1879 – 1964) a notable commonwealth publisher, politician and philanthropist was the son of Presbyterian minister, Reverend William Aitken, who served at St. Andrew’s Church from 1865-1880. It is said that these trees were planted to provide shade, but they have played many roles in their lifetimes. These days, the Sugar maples are used to teach local children and English as a Second Language students to tap for sap. As of this writing in 2019, the trees are estimated to be 150-years-old.

Eldon House is a historic Georgian mansion located in London, Ontario. Virtually unchanged since the nineteenth century, the house and its grounds have been open for public viewing since being donated to the city in 1960. Eldon House was commissioned to be built in 1834 by John Harris, a member of the British Navy who came to Canada for the purpose of fighting the Americans on the Great Lakes. John lived there with his wife, Amelia, and their ten children. Eldon House remained in the Harris family for four generations; it contains family heirlooms and furnishings, and its grounds contain a very special, very old tree.

During his lifetime, John Harris planted a stand of Sycamore trees on the property – only one of which survives today. It is a sizeable tree with textured bark, and huge summer leaves that provide shade to passers-by. The Eldon House Sycamore is located adjacent to the property’s front gate, tilting slightly toward Ridout Street. During its lifetime, this tree has seen the likes of Canada’s first Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald, famous soldier and politician Colonel Thomas Talbot, actors Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, and members of the Labatt brewing family. At the time of its induction to the Heritage Tree program in Oct. 2018 the Eldon House Sycamore was approximately 150 years old and stood at 84 feet tall with a spread of more than 57 feet.

This tree is the first ceremonial tree recorded at Rideau Hall, the residence of the Governor General. To date, approximately 103 ceremonial trees have been planted to mark anniversaries, visits by dignitaries, and other important occasions. This red oak was planted by Prince Arthur Duke of Connaught and Strathearn during a royal visit to the Ottawa region in 1906. Arthur was the third son of Queen Victoria, making him the first member of the royal family to serve as Governor General – a position he held from 1911 to 1916. Prince Arthur was very passionate about Canada and instigated many projects on the property, including the renovations to the Main Frontage (known today as Rideau Hall) as well as the Foot Guards house and other buildings. He was also responsible for major landscaping and forestry work at Rideau Hall, and planted many trees in an attempt to satisfy his particular vision for the trees and landscape of the property. Though a military man through and through, he certainly inherited his parents’ love of gardens and trees.

This silver maple is one of the last remaining original trees of the south-west Toronto Pine Beach subdivision. Now part of the Long Branch neighbourhood, the Pine Beach subdivision was established in 1910 on old agricultural land. This tree is tucked behind where the white gates of the subdivision used to stand, at the intersection of Pine Avenue (now 28th Street) and Ash Avenue, linking up with the Kings Highway #2 (now Lakeshore Boulevard). Centered around the “Connaught Circus” (now Arcadian Circle), the Pine Beach subdivision was the first community west of Toronto to incorporate undulating roads patterns into its design. The curvilinear streets were meant to accentuate the natural beauty of the subdivision’s treescape, Located not far from where Toronto and Mimico Railway Stop 26 used to be, this tree was likely a sapling during the thriving days of the railway. After bailing out the railway in 1893, railroad mogul William Mackenzie extended the line westward to Mimico Creek in the same year. As ridership increased, the line eventually pushed further west to Kipling Avenue and finally to Etobicoke Creek in 1895. During this time, the railway made a modest profit and contributed significantly to the growth of villages along the line.

This over 250-year-old tree first broke ground before 1770 – nearly one hundred years prior to the Confederation of the Dominion of Canada. The property this tree stands on was part of the land surrendered by the Mississauga of the New Credit First Nation to the British Crown during the Toronto Purchase of 1787. A decade following the Purchase, the land was granted to Colonel Samuel Smith (the Administrator of Upper Canada at the time) as a gift from the British Parliament for his service with the Queen’s Rangers during the American Revolutionary War. To supplement his pension, Colonel Smith started a small lumber mill, processing trees from his land which were logged down the Etobicoke Creek. The Tract was left vacant following the Colonel’s death in 1826, until his son sold the estate to James Eastwood in 1870. Eastwood assumed the production of lumber for the Toronto market. This red oak was spared from the Etobicoke Creek Sawmill, as it was just a few feet away from a parcel of land sold to Thomas Wilkie in the 1880s. In 1884, Wilkie transformed his land into Long Branch Park, a destination for the gentry of Toronto during the 1890s.

Known as the Champlain Oaks, these mature, healthy Bur oak are remnants of an old-growth forest, and direct descendants of the oak forest noted by Captain Pierre Chevalier de Troyes in his 1686 journal. The forest in which these trees were originally found had great importance to First Nations, who called it “the place where the oaks grow,” and would have been seen by Samuel de Champlain during his travels up the Ottawa River. The magnificent Champlain Oaks are between 180 and 200 years old. The larger lot to which the area once belonged was not suitable for farming due to very thin soils. Ownership was in legal limbo for long periods between 1839 and 1900, which accounts for the limited development, despite proximity to the City of Ottawa. These trees predate all residential development in the neighbourhood, and former residents recall walking “through the forest” from Keyworth Avenue to Island Park Drive to see the carriage of King George V, during a Royal Visit to Ottawa in 1939. The genetic resources embodied in these trees are adapted to the climate of the National Capital Region, and have significant value for urban environments affected by pollution, periods of drought and storm water runoff.

Known as the Champlain Oaks, these mature, healthy Bur oak are remnants of an old-growth forest, and direct descendants of the oak forest noted by Captain Pierre Chevalier de Troyes in his 1686 journal. The forest in which these trees were originally found had great importance to First Nations, who called it “the place where the oaks grow,” and would have been seen by Samuel de Champlain during his travels up the Ottawa River. The magnificent Champlain Oaks are between 180 and 200 years old. The larger lot to which the area once belonged was not suitable for farming due to very thin soils. Ownership was in legal limbo for long periods between 1839 and 1900, which accounts for the limited development, despite proximity to the City of Ottawa. These trees predate all residential development in the neighbourhood, and former residents recall walking “through the forest” from Keyworth Avenue to Island Park Drive to see the carriage of King George V, during a Royal Visit to Ottawa in 1939. The genetic resources embodied in these trees are adapted to the climate of the National Capital Region, and have significant value for urban environments affected by pollution, periods of drought and storm water runoff.

Known as the Champlain Oaks, these mature, healthy Bur oak are remnants of an old-growth forest, and direct descendants of the oak forest noted by Captain Pierre Chevalier de Troyes in his 1686 journal. The forest in which these trees were originally found had great importance to First Nations, who called it “the place where the oaks grow,” and would have been seen by Samuel de Champlain during his travels up the Ottawa River. The magnificent Champlain Oaks are between 180 and 200 years old. The larger lot to which the area once belonged was not suitable for farming due to very thin soils. Ownership was in legal limbo for long periods between 1839 and 1900, which accounts for the limited development, despite proximity to the City of Ottawa. These trees predate all residential development in the neighbourhood, and former residents recall walking “through the forest” from Keyworth Avenue to Island Park Drive to see the carriage of King George V, during a Royal Visit to Ottawa in 1939. The genetic resources embodied in these trees are adapted to the climate of the National Capital Region, and have significant value for urban environments affected by pollution, periods of drought and storm water runoff.

The Red Maple tree of Indian Landing is a tree of character, community and cultural significance. It sits at the edge of the Muskoka River, its steady limbs reaching out over the water, and its heavy trunk twisted by time. This stately tree is loved by many. It is a famous landmark and popular tourist destination in the area, especially in its autumn colours of gold, yellow, orange and red. Sitting on the shores of the Muskoka River, one can’t help but wonder about all it has witnessed throughout the years. The tree is situated on a route towards Algonquin Park, and it’s possible that this twisted and turned tree was a trail marker for native hunters travelling by river. We don’t know for certain, but one can’t help but wonder.

These Heritage Trees are located in front of a historically significant stone house in Sand Point, beside the Ottawa River. Built between 1835 and 1850, it was owned by Alexander McDonell and his wife, Janet. Alexander was active in both politics and lumber, and in 1863 he donated a portion of his property along the river for a rail bed. In a well-documented visit, Prime Minister John A. Macdonald traveled to Sand Point via the new railway. The Prime Minister joined the McDonell couple for tea, and presented Janet with some Kentucky Coffeetree saplings for her garden. Two of these trees, located at the front of the house, remain to this day.

This magnificent Red oak is approximately 200 years old. It stands on the original cross-streets of Park Boulevard and Long Branch Avenue in Long Branch Park. Circa 1884, this served as a hugely popular resort area west of Toronto. At one time, this tree was overlooked by the historic Long Branch Hotel, close to Lake Ontario’s water pier. The hotel burned down in 1958, but the tree remarkably survived. A water fountain was situated near the tree’s base, later replaced with the Long Branch Cenotaph built following World War 1. Long-time residents of the area say that this tree – nicknamed ‘Big Red’ – is one of the last remaining large Red Oaks in Long Branch (as most have succumbed to storms and disease).

This tree is one of a number of White pines planted by Edmund Zavitz – the father of reforestation in Ontario – at the University of Guelph arboretum. Zavitz was appointed as a lecturer at the Ontario Agricultural College (OAC) in 1905. He gave lectures on forestry, developed forest nurseries for re-forestation and initiated a comprehensive survey to determine where reforestation was needed in Southern Ontario. He traveled weekly from Guelph to the University of Toronto to lecture on dendrology to forestry classes. In 1907, Zavitz studied how trees might be used to reduce soil loss in Norfolk County, and supervised the earliest White pine plantation in Ontario on what is now the University of Guelph Arboretum. These trees are now known as the Zavitz Pines. Under his leadership, OAC purchased an abandoned farm in St Williams in 1908 – this became the first forest station in Ontario. In 1912, Zavitz became the provincial forester for the Department of Lands, Forests and Mines. In 1924, he was named Deputy Minster of Forestry. To Zavitz, good forestry practice was vital to Ontario’s economy. Much of his life’s work is recorded in John Bacher’s book, Two Billion Trees and Counting: The Legacy of Edmund Zavitz.

This majestic Red oak grows on land set aside in 1822 by Sir Peregrine Maitland, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, to become the capital of Upper Canada. Although that never happened, the land was designated as ‘government land’. In about 1878, the property was purchased by James Edgar, a lawyer sitting in the House of Commons. He commissioned a summer house to be built for his family. This tree stands at the end of the driveway to the east of the house. The size of the tree indicates that it could have been planted by the Edgar family. If that is so, it would have been seen by various government figures who were invited to stay. One such visitor was Prime Minister Laurier on his first Ontario speaking tour in 1888. James became the Speaker of the House of Commons in 1893. His wife Matilda had met Lady Aberdeen, wife of the Governor General, at the founding meeting of the 1893 National Council of Women of Canada, in Toronto. Over the next few years, the two women worked closely to promote both the National Council and the Victorian Order of Nurses. Lady Aberdeen would go on to preside over the 1909 International Council of Women held at the University of Toronto. Lady Matilda Edgar supervised the logistics of this gathering and arranged an excursion to Lake Simcoe, hosting a reception at her summer home. Under her leadership, the National Council endorsed votes for women. This information is available in a book about the Edgars titled My Dearest Wife, authored by Maud J. McLean and Robert M. Stamp.

This red oak is standing tall on a property once owned by well-known Canadian author Susanna Moodie. Born in England, Moodie and her husband moved to Canada where they tried their hands at farming. Unsuccessful, they relocated to Belleville, at which point this red oak would have been a young tree. Emigration and the pioneering experience provided Moodie with material for the Literary Garland (a Montreal magazine) – material which the author later incorporated in Roughing It in the Bush (1852) and Flora Lyndsay (1854). During 1847-48, Moodie and her husband edited and wrote for the Victoria Magazine, intending to supply good literature for the mechanic class’ skilled and semi-skilled workers. Roughing It in the Bush is Moddie’s best-known work; it combines her steadfast moral vision and fascination with differences in character, as well as a willingness to reveal personal weakness, psychological insight and a generous measure of wit. Together with its sequel, Life in the Clearings (1853), it formed the basis of her standing as a beloved Canadian author.

This special Bur oak is located in a parkette between Dunrobin Crescent and Torrey Pines Road in the Village of Kleinburg, Ontario. Estimated to be about 170 years of age, and standing at almost 79 feet tall, the tree likely took root just after Kleinburg – now a part of Vaughan – was founded in 1848. The Kleinburg Bur Oak is still standing thanks to the work of several concerned and dedicated individuals. This heartwarming story begins a decade ago when a public meeting was held regarding a planned subdivision. A local resident, who treasured the large Bur oak from walks with her children, brought forth concern for the tree’s well-being due to the upcoming developments. The resident worked with the subdivision developer (Castlepoint), and Vaughan City Hall staff, to ensure the tree could continue thriving. At the request of Vaughan City Council, the developer hired a professional arborist to assess the tree – thankfully, it was deemed healthy! A parkette was created to surround and protect it, enabling the tree to carry on growing. The Bur oak has continued on as a neighbourhood landmark, providing a shady oasis for walkers and a place for children to play. In 2018, the tree was nominated for Heritage Tree status by Marilyn Iafrate, a City of Vaughan Councillor. This story is a shining example of the good that can be accomplished when a community works together.

In 1939, to commemorate the coronation of King George VI, 10,000 acorns were sent from Windsor Castle Park, UK, to schools and Horticultural Societies across Ontario. In the case of this Heritage Tree, it is believed that the acorn was actually given to the original landowners by the local Women’s Institute. There were other occasions in which acorns were sent from the royal family. For example, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother (wife of George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II) gave acorns to 18 rural Ontario schools during the royal tour in 1937. According to archival records, the acorns were to be planted to celebrate the end of the war and as a tribute to peace and freedom. Clearly, every ‘royal oak’ is a treasured link to our history. When William and Hermoine Parke received their Windsor Castle acorn from the Women’s Institute, their daughter Gladys planted it on the grounds of their home. Therefore, this Heritage Tree served as witness to a time when the Bruce Peninsula was at its commercial zenith and The Bay rivalled Wiarton as the hub of the Peninsula.

This group of five Heritage Trees in Silverthorn Forest are strongly linked to the settlement history of western Etobicoke. The forest in which these trees now stands is part of the traditional territories of the Algonquin First Nations. First Nations peoples settled this area and traversed what is now the Silverthorn Forest, relying on both the rich bounty of deciduous and coniferous trees and clear waters of Etobicoke Creek. Silverthorn Forest is the last remaining stand of the Carolinian Forest in this area, a forest that once spanned from southern Ontario down to the Carolinas. This remnant of the original stand remains today thanks to the foresight of the original farming family, the Silverthorns and the subsequent developer, Mark Cavotti, both of whom wanted the forest to remain intact for future generations.

This Heritage Tree has been in the Gleeson Family since 1846, growing on their farmland. Steve Gleeson, the current landowner, reports that his grandfather (Gerald Gleeson, born 1892) recalled the tree as a small seedling. A hearty specimen, this tree survived a ditch dredging in which the soil pile was accidently placed near the tree’s base. Steve’s grandmother intervened, alerting the machine operators to the mistake. Although not trained in arboriculture, this farm family knew that soil mounded at the base of a tree was harmful (if not eventually fatal) to a tree. Thus, the soil was carefully leveled and the tree thrives to this day. When the farm passes down to the next generation, the seventh to farm the land, they will no doubt carry the pride of this prized Oak.

This unique landscape feature stands at the west end of the property owned by Greg and Susan Dixon in Grey County, Ontario. Growing atop a huge fossil-filled boulder, this American Basswood is a well-known landmark, and rumored to be the inspiration for the name of the Stone Tree Golf Course in Owen Sound. While the tree itself is remarkable for its ability to grow, seemingly right out of a rock, its human history is notable too! In 1959, Highway 6 underwent a major reconstruction. Because the rock could not be moved out of the way, the Ministry of Transportation decided to adopt it as a surveying landmark – and it remains one to this day. A marker rod and medallion are clearly visible under the branches of this very tenacious tree. Over the years, a number of artifacts such as pieces of pottery, utensils, broken glass and china, discarded by the original homesteaders, have been unearthed at the base of the boulder. Clearly, the Basswood Stone Tree marks an interesting historical spot along Highway 6.

This pair of stately Sugar Maples are found on farmland originally owned by Richard Bentham of Yorkshire, England. Four generations later, the property remains in the Bentham family as a sterling example of intergenerational stewardship. Believed to be approximately 50 years old when the land was originally cleared for pasture, these maples were spared, likely to provide shade for the farm’s horses. In the 1950s, progressive, far-sighted reforestation on the farm began. As a result, the current landowner (and nominator) Richard Bentham got his first taste of tree planting at age of 12, a tradition he continued on the farm throughout his life. The maples are now surrounded by woodland that includes more recently planted white pines and black cherry trees. The property has also been used by Lands and Forests to execute three test plantings between 1968 and 1978. The tests were aimed at determining optional growing conditions for a number of tree species, as well as viability for a variety of seeds sourced from different zones.

The Cucumber Magnolia – commonly referred to as a Cucumber Tree – is native of the Appalachian Belt, although there are isolated populations found in the southeastern United States and Southern Ontario. It is remarkable that such large and robust specimen is growing as far north as Owen Sound, Ontario, well outside of its Carolinian Zone. Additionally the Cucumber Tree is listed as an endangered species in Canada and, as such, is protected under the Canadian Species at Risk Act. It is no wonder that this tree is widely admired across the county. This glorious tree dominates the front of the historic John MacLean House, a well-documented and prominent family in Owen Sound. Archival accounts of the home and family often reference trees and include an interesting glimpse into early life in the City. In an interview with the Owen Sound Sun Times, Elizabeth MacLean, at the time the oldest resident, recounted that “passenger pigeons roosted by the thousands in the trees, and young men went out each morning and shot them by the hundreds.” Anecdotes such as this serve as reminder of human history that Heritage Trees have witnessed.

Prior to European settlement, Southern Ontario was dominated by vast areas of forest occasionally interrupted by two principal types of tallgrass ecosystems – prairie and savannah. The High Park Savannah is an open woodland that combines prairie and forest features; a tallgrass community with 25% to 35% tree cover. Savannah is a globally endangered vegetation community, with the flora and fauna being fire-dependant. Indigenous communities maintained these savannahs with periodic burns. The Hicks Oak, before urban development, was a part of this High Park Oak Savannah environment, a “continentally significant” remnant ecosystem. It was the work of John George Howard, born in 1803 in Hertfordshire that preserved this natural legacy. In 1873 he donated 120 acres of tallgrass savannah to the City of Toronto in exchange for an annual pension ($1,200) provided the land be maintained as a park. On Howard’s death a Colborne Lodge and an additional 45 acres was donated to the area, to which the City of Toronto continued to add to until a total of 399 acres were a part of the Park. Although this heritage tree is located outside of the park boundaries, the Hicks Oak is a cherished part of this important and endangered ecosystem.

Planted in the 1900s this tree was part of the Echo Valley Farm owned by George Corsan, the so-called Nut Man of Islington. A well known Toronto area personality Corsan was an internationally renowned swimmer and swimming instructor, newspaper columnist, public speaker and health food advocate. In particular Corsan was passionate about sharing the health benefits of a vegetarian diet high in nuts. In 1911 Corsan purchased 12 acres of land in the Mimico Creek Valley which he increased to 25 acres by 1925. Just 1 year later Corsan joined the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and planted 15 different species of nut trees. Ultimately there would be over 400 species of nut tree growing on the Echo Valley Farm including many hybrids produced by Corsan to grow larger, hardier nuts. It is notable that many of the species thriving on the property, including a Turkish Hazelnut, Japanese heart nuts and Chinese Walnuts, were previously thought not hardy enough to survive in Canada. After Corsan’s death in 1952 the Echo Valley Farm sat empty for a number of years. The property was sold to Toronto in 1959 and turned into Echo Valley Park. This is one of five Heritage Trees growing in Echo Valley Park.

Planted in the 1900s this tree was part of the Echo Valley Farm owned by George Corsan, the so-called Nut Man of Islington. A well known Toronto area personality Corsan was an internationally renowned swimmer and swimming instructor, newspaper columnist, public speaker and health food advocate. In particular Corsan was passionate about sharing the health benefits of a vegetarian diet high in nuts. In 1911 Corsan purchased 12 acres of land in the Mimico Creek Valley which he increased to 25 acres by 1925. Just 1 year later Corsan joined the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and planted 15 different species of nut trees. Ultimately there would be over 400 species of nut tree growing on the Echo Valley Farm including many hybrids produced by Corsan to grow larger, hardier nuts. It is notable that many of the species thriving on the property, including a Turkish Hazelnut, Japanese heart nuts and Chinese Walnuts, were previously thought not hardy enough to survive in Canada. After Corsan’s death in 1952 the Echo Valley Farm sat empty for a number of years. The property was sold to Toronto in 1959 and turned into Echo Valley Park. This is one of five Heritage Trees growing in Echo Valley Park.

Planted in the 1900s this tree was part of the Echo Valley Farm owned by George Corsan, the so-called Nut Man of Islington. A well known Toronto area personality Corsan was an internationally renowned swimmer and swimming instructor, newspaper columnist, public speaker and health food advocate. In particular Corsan was passionate about sharing the health benefits of a vegetarian diet high in nuts. In 1911 Corsan purchased 12 acres of land in the Mimico Creek Valley which he increased to 25 acres by 1925. Just 1 year later Corsan joined the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and planted 15 different species of nut trees. Ultimately there would be over 400 species of nut tree growing on the Echo Valley Farm including many hybrids produced by Corsan to grow larger, hardier nuts. It is notable that many of the species thriving on the property, including a Turkish Hazelnut, Japanese heart nuts and Chinese Walnuts, were previously thought not hardy enough to survive in Canada. After Corsan’s death in 1952 the Echo Valley Farm sat empty for a number of years. The property was sold to Toronto in 1959 and turned into Echo Valley Park. This is one of five Heritage Trees growing in Echo Valley Park.

Planted in the 1900s this tree was part of the Echo Valley Farm owned by George Corsan, the so-called Nut Man of Islington. A well known Toronto area personality Corsan was an internationally renowned swimmer and swimming instructor, newspaper columnist, public speaker and health food advocate. In particular Corsan was passionate about sharing the health benefits of a vegetarian diet high in nuts. In 1911 Corsan purchased 12 acres of land in the Mimico Creek Valley which he increased to 25 acres by 1925. Just 1 year later Corsan joined the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and planted 15 different species of nut trees. Ultimately there would be over 400 species of nut tree growing on the Echo Valley Farm including many hybrids produced by Corsan to grow larger, hardier nuts. It is notable that many of the species thriving on the property, including a Turkish Hazelnut, Japanese heart nuts and Chinese Walnuts, were previously thought not hardy enough to survive in Canada. After Corsan’s death in 1952 the Echo Valley Farm sat empty for a number of years. The property was sold to Toronto in 1959 and turned into Echo Valley Park. This is one of five Heritage Trees growing in Echo Valley Park.

Planted in the 1900s this tree was part of the Echo Valley Farm owned by George Corsan, the so-called Nut Man of Islington. A well known Toronto area personality Corsan was an internationally renowned swimmer and swimming instructor, newspaper columnist, public speaker and health food advocate. In particular Corsan was passionate about sharing the health benefits of a vegetarian diet high in nuts. In 1911 Corsan purchased 12 acres of land in the Mimico Creek Valley which he increased to 25 acres by 1925. Just 1 year later Corsan joined the Northern Nut Growers Association (NNGA) and planted 15 different species of nut trees. Ultimately there would be over 400 species of nut tree growing on the Echo Valley Farm including many hybrids produced by Corsan to grow larger, hardier nuts. It is notable that many of the species thriving on the property, including a Turkish Hazelnut, Japanese heart nuts and Chinese Walnuts, were previously thought not hardy enough to survive in Canada. After Corsan’s death in 1952 the Echo Valley Farm sat empty for a number of years. The property was sold to Toronto in 1959 and turned into Echo Valley Park. This is one of five Heritage Trees growing in Echo Valley Park.

Acorns from the grounds of Windsor Castle were distributed to schools across the Commonwealth to celebrate the Coronations of both George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth in 1954. The trees grown from these acorns are known as Royal Oaks and a number are still growing in Ontario today. Originally this Royal Oak was one of two, presented to the Rotary Club of Leamington by the Rotary Club of Leamington Spa UK. By way of thanks, Leamington Rotarians gifted back the consummate Canadian gift-a pair of Sugar Maple trees! Leamington Rotary volunteers planted the pair in a Park at the corner of aptly named Oak and Princess Streets in Leamington, which now sadly is a small green space bordering a parking lot. Although, if you look closely you will find the original presentation plaque embedded in a rock. Only one of the original trees remain but it is hoped, as a recognized Heritage Tree, that it will receive some TLC and remain standing for years to come.

For more than 200 years this Heritage Tree has provided respite for countless numbers of people and enhanced the streetscape that borders Waterloo Park, the city’s largest park. It can even be seen on a historic postcard dating from 1911. Potentially one of the oldest trees in the City of Waterloo, this notable sugar maple is located within the MacGregor-Albert neighbourhood, the City of Waterloo’s first and only Heritage Conservation District. This neighbourhood is valued for its historic features and unique character, including relatively narrow, tree lined streets, a diversity of well-preserved historic architectural styles and an association with many early prominent citizens of Waterloo.

Located in Scarborough, this English Oak grew on land once owned by Richard Sylvester, one of the early settlers in the area. In 1836 Richard purchased 100 acres on which this English oak grew. Over the years, the farm has been in the hands of a number of luminary Canadians including Gooderham, of Gooderham and Worts fame. Gooderham was the owner of the largest distillery in Canada and grew grains for the distillery on the farm. Additionally the farm was owner by Senator Frank O’Connor, founder of Laura Secord Candies. Senator O’Connor was a prominent Liberal Senator and was instrumental in getting Mackenzie King elected to Prime Minister. Upon purchasing the property Senator O’Connor named it Maryvale after his daughter. The size of the farm, by today’s standards, is astonishing. Drive north on the Don Valley Parkway from Lawrence Avenue east to York Mills Road and everything on your right was once the O’Connors farm. This is the property the English oak has stood on for over two centuries. When Senator O’Connor died in 1939 he left the property to the De La Salle brothers. In the late 1940s they sold off the farm to what we know today as the Maryvale Community. To see this tree on the landscape is to marvel that it has survived the urban sprawl around it!

This exceptional Blue Ash is growing on land owned by several generations of the McCall Family. In the 1880s, Walter F. McCall first became aware of the ecological devastation sweeping the area as local farms were stripped of trees resulting in the extensive loss of topsoil. McCall was the first in Canada to recognize the need for reforestation. By the early 1900s, McCall had made it his personal crusade to turn back the hands of time. In 1905 he planted the first saplings in an attempt to reverse the environmental damage caused by erosion. His small planting captured the imaginations of both Norfolk County MPP Lieutenant Colonel Arthur C. Pratt and Dr. Edward Zavitz, Canada’s foremost professor of forestry. Both men recognized that this tree planting endeavor had the potential to change the entire province. And so began reforestation in Ontario on the Daniel A. McCall/Walter F. McCall properties and the St. Williams Forestry Station which would became Canada’s First Forestry Station in 1908.

Old trees can be valued for their health, age, size, form, beauty or significance in the landscape, however in the case of the “The Lone Elm” it’s all of the above! This majestic elm is located on the family farm of Stewart and Nancy Brown in Georgian Bluffs and stands on the property as the lone survivor of Dutch elm disease which plagued Grey County in the late 1960s. The disease continues to limit the growth and proliferation of this beautiful tree species today. The Lone Elm is a participant of the University of Guelph Arboretum’s Elm Recovery Project, which is working to produce disease-resistant trees. The Lone Elm is estimated to be 115 years old based on photographic and historical evidence. Stewart’s father, Austin Brown, dubbed the 200-acre farm the Lone Elm in 1972 and since then, the “Lone Elm” prefix has been applied to the names of Charolais cattle and Standardbred racehorses born on the farm.

Towering over the Sculpture Garden in downtown Cambridge this Grand Oak is a marvel of ingenuity, engineering and nature. Setting down roots just 22 years after Galt was established as a town, this tree has survived numerous floods as a result of its close proximity to the Grand River. In an effort to reduce flooding the town increased the dyke system by five feet in 1976. The change in elevation put the oak in peril but local city forester and visionary, John Kingswood, was determined to save it. Kingswoood implemented an innovative idea by constructing a five foot well around the trunk and installing drainage pipes surrounded by boulders and gravel. A removable platform was built over top of the well so that the roots of the tree could be easily accessed and the trunk could be inspected for degradation. Kingswood’s model was clearly a success as the oak continues to thrive to this day. In recognition of its importance to the community and its historical footprint on the City of Galt, this Grand Oak is now protected under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

This Pecan tree and this Walnut tree are growing in a climate considered to be at the limits of their hardiness. The Persian Walnut tree, legendary in the area, is believed to be among the first introduced to Canada from Eastern Europe in the 1940s. Both trees were planted by Mrs. Minnie Sheridan and her mother over 65 years ago. Mrs. Sheridan still lives independently at her home at her family farm, where she has lived since 1938. The walnut tree is clearly flourishing, producing viable nuts that have germinated into seedlings. These young trees, which are adapted to the local climate, are now dispersed throughout the area. Perhaps there is a link between celebrating a more than a century of vibrant health and eating home-grown walnuts. Minnie is being recognized for establishing deep roots at her family farm, inter-generational thinking, and for her vibrant health.

Known as the Champlain Oaks, these 4 mature, healthy bur oak are remnants of an old-growth forest, and direct descendants of the oak forest noted by Captain Pierre Chevalier de Troyes in his 1686 journal. The forest in which this trees were originally found had great importance to First Nations, who called it “the place where the oaks grow”, and would have been seen by Samuel de Champlain during his travels up the Ottawa River. The magnificent Champlain Oaks are between 180 and 200 years old. The larger lot to which the area once belonged was not suitable for farming due to very thin soils known as an Alvar. Ownership was in legal limbo for long periods between 1839 and about 1900, which accounts for limited development despite proximity to the City of Ottawa. These trees predate all residential development in the neighbourhood and former residents nearby recall walking “through the forest” from Keyworth Avenue to Island Park Drive to see the carriage of King George V during a Royal Visit to Ottawa in 1939. The genetic resources embodied in these trees are adapted to the climate of the National Capital and have important design value for urban environments affected by pollution, periods of drought and storm water runoff.

This large white oak sits on a treasure trove of history. In the 1980’s, while plowing a sandy knoll on his farm, Mr. Graff’s father Donald unearthed a pop-eyed birdstone, a small polished stone carving which featured protruding eyes. Birdstones are a highly stylistic and rare archeological artifacts associated with North American prehistoric sites dating from 1500-300 BC and are one of the most sought artifacts in North America. It is unclear exactly what they were used for, however several First Nation groups have developed similar stones. Over the years, several other First Nations archeological finds were discovered on the property, most notably a hammer and anvil stone. This site was also occupied by settlers from the 1830s to 1860s. Later the site was the location of a mill, as evidenced by a hinge embedded in the white oak

This notable Norway Maple is often referred to as “the most beautiful tree in Dunnville” because of its large, full canopy and pleasing round shape. Nominated by Heritage Haldimand, this landmark tree is located in an area being reconstructed for a market square and winding trails along green space following the Grand River. The tree sits 30 yards away from what was once the site of the Dunnville Electric Company, formed in 1884 by William Haskins and James Rolston. In 1885 Dunnville was one of the first communities to have electric lights in Ontario. It also appears this tree may have grown on what was once the banks of the Feeder Canal, a portion of which was incorporated to the First Canal, an important shipping route in the 1800’s.

Standing proudly in the Conservation Forest off Highway 26, The Polish Tree stands as a memorial to Poland’s resistance against the Nazi invasion of World War II. In May of 1941, Owen Sound received the first contingent of Polish and American-Polish recruits, requiring instruction in British Mechanized Warfare. Owen Sound was chosen because large empty factories could be easily converted into barracks. Altogether, about 700 young soldiers were trained in Canada between 1941 and 1942. Brave young Polish soldiers carved their heartfelt messages into the Beech tree, and although time has made it difficult to decipher, one can read the following inscription: 14 IV 1942. Jeszcze Polska nie zginela. Zolnierz wola pomagac. This translates to : April 14th 1942. Poland has not yet perished. Soldier will help

This tree stands on a historic property that has remained in the same family since 1862. Nominator Lynda Prong recalls some of her ancestors which make this site historically significant. First is William Hilborn, a charter member of the Yarmouth Mutual Fire Insurance Co. in 1863. His daughter married William Bailey who was elected Deputy Reeve for Yarmouth Township. Next, Ethel Bailey married Charles Denniss who turned the property over to his son, Philip in 1939. At that time, he was asked by prominent Elgin County farmer, Tommy Thomas, to manage the Ontario Hospital Farm. Philip married Jean Parish and they carried on a registered Holstein dairy operation. At this time the farm name Sprucedene (meaning rolling hills) was registered as the prefix for the registering of cattle with the Holstein Friesian Cattle Association. Finally In 1970, their elder daughter Lynda Denniss (5th generation) purchased the property.

This Bur Oak has acted as a canopy and playground at Centerville’s Public School for generations. In fact it is visible in a 1912 photograph of the former Chesterville High School that once sat at the south side of the school property on College Street.

Dating back to pre-confederation, this tree has survived growing up in what was once a prominent mill town and has withstood massive redevelopments, ice storms, and Tornados. The tree is a symbol for the school and is featured on the school’s logo, representing growth as well as preserving the community’s unique history and culture. The nomination of this tree brought together community members, sharing their historic tales and pictures of the iconic species. Representatives of Chesterville were inspired to nominate this tree in order to preserve the significance in plays within the community. A testament to the tree’s significance in the community, everyone in town knows the revered “Oak Tree”.

This Gingko stands at the south side of Silver Creek Farm. Dating back to 1826, this land was once owned by the Chambers family, one of the founding families in the former settlement of Silver Creek. The farm later became the summer residence of noted physician, Dr. Andrew Rose Robinson (1845 – 1924). After he purchased the land in 1895, Robinson built a summer home and established a trout hatchery within the former mill ponds. It is believed that Robinson received the Gingko seed in 1904, at the world’s fair, where Japanese exhibitors offered rare foreign seed as souvenirs. Robinson went on to plant this seed next to his summer home. Following Robinsons death in 1924, the property became well known for Jersey cattle breeding until after the Second World War. History aside, this tree is remarkable for its size and good health – and thanks to care given by the homeowners, will surely grace the farm for years to come.

This White Ash dates back to before Balsam Lake Provincial Park was established in 1968. The land this tree stands on once belonged to George Laidlaw, an energetic railway promoter and builder. Originally Scottish, Laidlaw immigrated in to Toronto in 1855. He quickly found success as a grain merchant and wharf owner. Laidlaw negotiated the completion of the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway to Owen Sound and the Toronto and Nipissing Railway to Coboconk. He continued to promote the initiation and extension of several other local railways, and proposed a grand plan for uniting the independent railways of southern Ontario into a competitive alternative to the Grand Trunk Railroad. Though it was met with minimal success at the time, the idea was the backbone of what was to become the Canadian Pacific Railway. He retired to his ranch here on Balsam Lake in 1881 to raise pure-bred livestock. This tree is a representation of Laidlaw’s success and contribution to Canadian culture and the interpretive sign on the Park trail reminds us what an exceptional tree this is.

This apple tree stands by the Old Hay Bay Church, the oldest surviving Methodist Church in Canada. Erected just eight years after the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists, it was the first meeting house (as it was called) in the province. This heritage apple tree is growing from the roots of the original tree that is illustrated in the Historic Atlas of Frontenac, published in 1878 by J.W. Meachum & Company. Over the years, this tree, like all heritage trees, has been part of our history. In this tree’s case, John A McDonald’s homestead, located 150 meters away, marked by a cairn, suggests that our first Prime Minister likely attended social events in this church. In 1819, the tree stood over a terrible tragedy. Ten young people drowned when their boat, overturned within sight of the church. All are buried in the cemetery. In this small community, no one was untouched by the tragedy. There is a detailed account from the Napanee Beaver, April 30th, 1897.

This yellow bitch is located in the middle of a 10 acre woodlot at the Grand River Conservation Authority’s Burford Tree Nursery. It began its life it an open-grown setting and later was surrounded by the forests it now resides in. The rest of the forest grew up around this tree. The property was acquired by the GRCA in 1984, being bequeathed to us by a lady who, with her late husband, farmed the land for tobacco and used this woodlot as a source of fuelwood. The land was originally owned by an aboriginal family. It is believe that a man mysteriously appeared out of nowhere to show a former nursery grower (Bruce) the old foundations and information about the family. Before Bruce could ask the mysterious man any questions he disappeared into thin air. The man had said native family were bee keepers. To this day it is believed that a ghost inhabits the land to tell a few individuals about the local history.

This magnificent red oak tree grew on the sandy soil of the Lake Ontario shoreline before the first “European” settlers arrived in 1793 to found the Town now known as Port Hope. In all likelihood, this sandy oak savanna area was used by Iroquoian peoples as hunting and gathering grounds as they travelled the nearby trail (now Lakeshore Road) to reach the salmon and sturgeon of the Ganaraska River. Throughout the 20th Century, generations of Port Hopers have enjoyed this tree as they played on the baseball diamond, strolled in the park and created family memories. Neighbourhood children have swung from, climbed and played around the “mighty oak”. Photos of this tree grace the cover of Port Hope’s Municipal Forest Master Plan and all Trees of Distinction publicity.

This beautiful 150 year old Sugar Maple is located on the southwest corner of the original Brown Weslayan Church and burial grounds, which became part of Caledon East Public Cemetery in 1906. John and Mary Kyle Brown, who farmed the land that was initially purchased by their family in 1824, donated the one acre of land where the church and burial grounds are located. The Brown family purchased 3 additional acres to enlarge the cemetery and incorporate tombstones from smaller nearby cemeteries. In 1910, the Caledon East Cemetery committee formally took over maintenance of the grounds, and in 1984 the committee purchased an additional 3 acres to one again expand the cemetery. Sugar Maples act as a crucial species to the ecology of many Canadian forests. With their unmatched canopy they are among the most shade tolerant deciduous tree species. The Sugar Maple is considered the national tree as its leaf is featured on the Canadian flag. This tree holds immense historical and cultural value to Canada and symbolizes health and prosperity for the nation.

This Sugar Maple tree is located on a parcel of farmland that has been owned locally by the Wilkinson family for over 143 years. The land has been passed down through generations and is currently owned by Millie Wilkinson. The tree has been healthy and present throughout the years in the South-East corner of the lot. The tree was planted by one of the original surveyors of the Chinguacousy Township as a survey stake before the Wilkinson family bought the property over 143 years ago. Sugar Maples act as a crucial species to the ecology of many Canadian forests. With their unmatched canopy they are among the most shade tolerant deciduous tree species. The Sugar Maple is considered the national tree as its leaf is featured on the Canadian flag. This tree holds immense historical and cultural value to Canada and symbolizes health and prosperity for the nation.

This Silver Maple is an iconic symbol of the community. It has lived through the growth of its rural surroundings into the vibrant downtown area now known as the Annex neighbourhood in Toronto. The “Big Tree”, as named by the community, sprouted back around 1863. At this time the Annex was still mainly rural farmland. The first building on Huron Street was the original Huron Street School back in the 1890’s. This tree dates back to before this time and has witnessed its demolition in 1956 for a modern Huron School upgrade. The students at Huron Street Public School were inspired to nominate the ‘Big Tree’ after learning about its historical significance within the community. Several students have written paragraphs expressing their love for the tree. The ‘Big Tree’ is a meeting place, a place to hide behind during games, a comfortable seat amongst its roots, and a tree impossible to climb (yet everybody tries). It gives shade, leaves for making leaf forts and jumping in, and it also imparts one with a sense of history by its very presence.

This Eastern White Pine is nearly 300 years old and is located in an old-growth forest dominated by white and black spruce and tamarack. This White Pine is one among the few found in the area. This historic area was once owned by one of Ontario’s most famous lumber barons, John Rudohphis (J.R.) Booth. Booth was the renowned Canadian lumber king and built the Canada Atlantic Railway. Near this tree he owned a sawmill that was part of the largest lumber operation of its kind in the world, that eventually burned down in a forest fire. At the time, the large old pines located on this site were deemed the most prized species to harvest, used often as the masts for large ships. Over recent years many people have hiked to this tree with local author, Robert John Leach. Leach has published stories telling the tales of this area. As one of the last standing Eastern White Pine’s of the regions, this tree is physically, functionally, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings.

American Beech tree holds significant historical and social value to the Town of Cobourg. The tree dates back to pre-settlement era about 260 years ago, and currently stands as the last surviving mature beech tree. The area this tree inhabits was purchased by Mr. D.F. Donegan in aims to preserve the species. He gifted the land to Cobourg and as a result the area became Cobourg’s first official park in 1894, now known as Donegan Park. The land became an active park, and was home to several local sports teams and events. The Galloping Ghosts, a local amateur football team saw 8 Ontario and 3 Canadian Championships in this park. Aside from its sports history, the park has also had visits from some significant historical figures including Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfred Laurier. This American Beech tree has withstood several ownerships and redevelopments and is older than the city itself, making it a symbol of health and prosperity for the region. Over the decades, this tree has seen the town, province and country evolve under the shade of its branches.

This English oak tree is historically and socially significant to Leith since its planting in 1905 by a group of youngsters attending Sunday School at Leith Church. The tree sits feet away from the front door of Leith Church, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015. It also sits only feet away from Tom Thomson’s tombstone, an iconic Canadian painter and member of the Group of Seven. Every year many pilgrims walk under the Oaks canopy to lay paintbrushes, rings, and coins to pay respect to the painter. This tree also hosts a ceilidh dancing festival that attracts 500 people every summer alongside several music festivals every year. It is also an important historical marker for the Leith Church, where under this tree the church holds an anniversary service of the Annan-Woodford pastoral charge along with an outdoor luncheon each year. This old oak tree is special to the Friends of Leith Church, a volunteer group that restored the historical Leith Church into a cultural community hub that attracts thousands of visitors each year. This tree has become so precious to the community that Friends of Leith Church will gather its acorns to provide new roots and hope for future generations.

This Sugar Maple signifies the location for trading grounds between early European settlers and the Chippewa, a local first nation’s clan. Arborists estimate that the tree is well over 200 years old. The “Trading Tree”, as locals called it, was used as a trading ground in order for the Chippewa to exchange their woven baskets and fish for the settler’s butter and eggs. This Sugar Maple symbolizes the success resulting from the collaboration between pioneers and the Chippewa in the early settling days. This Tree is located on a historic farm parcel owned by the Reed Family dating back to 1840. The farm stayed within the Reed family until 2013 where it was sold to the Town of Georgina. In 2015, the town gave a 7.5 acre lease to the Ontario Water Centre. This educational charity is turning the farm into a demonstration for eco-farming. The charity will be building an educational garden around the tree.

This Jesuit Pear Tree is a descendant of trees brought from France by the Jesuit Missionaries in the early 18th century. These trees marked the location of early French settlements within Canada. Although historically common to the region, Jesuit Pear Trees are becoming rare. Since 2001, this species has been recognized as the symbol of the Detroit Region`s French-speaking community, which is now focused around the region of Windsor. This tree is located at the North-West corner of the Maison Francois Baby House. The Maison Francois Baby House is a historic residence that was owned by the prominent local politician, Francois Baby. The house has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Throughout the war of 1812, the house was known as La Ferme and acted as a French-Canadian ribbon farm. It was used as headquarters by both American and British forces. Currently, it acts as part of the Museum Windsor, housing permanent galleries about Francophone Heritage and the War of 1812.

This Sycamore tree has been a member of the community since pre-confederation. It has withstood the war of 1812, mass urbanization, and highly present disease. Despite these factors the 225 year old Sycamore on the Roseland Subdivision stands to this day and dominates the landscape of the community, attracting attention from every direction. While the species is not rare, the size and unique health of this tree is unmatched within the municipality and possibly the province. The home owner alongside the City of Windsor have partnered together to ensure healthy maintenance of the tree. In 1926, prior to being the Roseland Residential District, the area this tree populates acted as a golf course and country club. The property was owned by the McKee and Marantette families, both of whom played a substantial role in the development of the Town of Sandwich, now known as part of the City of Windsor. This tree has withstood several ownerships and redevelopments and is older than the city itself, making it a symbol of health and prosperity for the region.

Our first Remembrance Day was marked on November 11, 1919 to mark the end of World War I. As a commemorative gesture for 12 very young soldiers (ages 16-18) from the Lambton community who lost their lives in the war, 6 trees were to be planted in front of Lambton Park Community School. Royal Princes of England- Albert and Edward- were invited to plant these trees, however were unable attend, so it was decided that the mothers of the fallen soldiers would plant the trees. Reginald Gage was an uncle to a young girl named Bonita Nelson. Bonita’s grandmother, Emily Gage, Reginald’s mother was sick on planting day, so Bonita’s mother ( Reginald’s sister) stepped in and, helped with the planting. A plaque commemorating the 12 fallen soldiers where on display in the school foyer. In 1993, the school was torn down and rebuilt. During construction, Madeleine McDowell, a well-known historian, and school trustee at the time, was aware of the importance of the six trees out front of the school, so she made sure they were protected. On September 24, 2016, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary at which time these 6 trees were formally recognized Heritage Trees, and a delighted and proud Bonita Nelson was a guest of honour at the ceremony.

The Coutnac Beach community within Tiny Township of Simcoe County, Ontario, comprises 161 properties and seven held in-common private park lands whichT are home to a large number of healthy and old growth mature ash trees. Located on the north shore of the Outer Harbour of Penetanguishene Bay, Coutnac Beach resides in an area with a rich and steep history of the early settlement and defence of Canada. As early as AD 800, the Huron settled in semi-permanent villages in the area with the young French translator, Étienne Brûlé. Through the present years, many Ash trees in Coutnac Beach have continued to stand tall for over an estimated 130 years being spared from the loggers’ axes and saws and land development operations. In fact the trees were saved by residing within the unique planned common park lands (noted earlier) not having to be removed for subdivision grading and road and home construction. Of significant note, there are nine White Ash trees alone that have diameters at breast height (DBH) and heights at over 60cm and 70 feet tall, respectively, and 18 more White Ash trees with over 50cm DBH.

In 1890, William Lea, a member of the founding family for which Leaside is named, designated a half-acre of his land to erect Leaside Mission. Decades later, St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church replaced the small wooden structure. As the only public building in the area, St. Cuthbert’s became the first “City Hall” of the newly incorporated Town of Leaside in 1913. Over the decades, archival photos make it clear that the beloved white oak tree has witnessed a great many events, including garden parties, bowling on the Green, weddings, funerals and the 1918 celebration to honour veterans returning from the Great War. Since the church lacks a steeple, visitors are often instructed to find the church by looking for the oak tree! This nearly 200 year old great white oak stands steadfast today – a testament to the pioneers who first settled Leaside.

This oak tree was planted as a sapling by the 19 year old Prince of Wales, eldest son of Queen Victoria who later became Edward VII, on his tour to New York & Canada in 1860. After laying the cornerstone of the new Parliament Buildings in Bytown the Prince travelled by steamboat & birch bark canoe, part of a race, to Arnprior, known for its lumber industry. He lunched at the home of Daniel McLachlin, one of the lumber barons of the area, named “The Hill”. This stone home is now the Galilee Centre. After “an elaborate Luncheon” the oak sapling, prepared by the head gardener, was planted overlooking Lac Des Chats, on the Ottawa River. An addition was made to the house in 1963 but the oak tree has been protected. An identifying plaque has been placed at the base of the tree.

This White Oak is approximately 250 to 300 years in age. The tree sits on a designated heritage site known as the Charles Smith House, built in 1828. Charles Smith had purchased 200 acres from the Crown in 1826. The James Smith House built circa 1830 by a New England millwright is an excellent example of early rural vernacular architecture. The site, in the Village of Fallowfield, is on an escarpment known locally as Piety Hill and fronts onto one of the earliest settlement roads in Carleton County. The Charles Smith House was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1983 by Nepean City Council. The last known descendant of James Smith who occupied this property was Doctor S. L. Everett Danby. Articles found in the historical archives make mention that Dr. Danby buried his first two wives at the base of this oak tree. Neighbors have indicated that there once were two head stone markers on the site but they have long since crumbled and no evidence remains of them.

There are accounts of valleys for as far as the eye could see populated by just American Beech. These were the prime locations for settlers to start farming since Beech thrived on fertile, agricultural soil. Wherever Beech plantations were found, they were quickly chopped down to make way for farming. That is why we find it quite miraculous that we can nominate this particular tree. Puslinch Township was no different than any other part of Ontario for its land clearing – by the 1930’s Puslinch was bare of trees. This American Beech tree is on the 100 acres of land originally purchased in 1833 by the John McDiarmid family. The land was heavily forested but soon was cleared for farmland, with the timber used to construct a log cabin along with other farm buildings. In 1864, the log cabin was replaced for the present stone house. For some reason, this American Beech Tree was again spared and stands to the side of the stone house. Now in 2016, this American Beech tree still stands at the corner of the House of Dove and is visited by many people coming to the National Presbyterian Retreat and Conference Centre. It will become part of the growing environmental stewardship program being shared with the public at Crieff Hills Retreat and Conference Centre.

‘The tree that would stand.’

This significant White Oak is more than 250 years old with a circumference of close to 4.5 meters. The current owners of the house, the Kerteszs’, bought the property back in 1954 because the couple loved the tree. The land has an interesting history having been owned by a succession of enterprising people over the years, including the Montgomery Family – of Mongomery’s Inn in Etobicoke (who owned it around 1880). Around 1950, Edmund Peachey, a progressive builder who developed Chestnut Hills where the tree is located. Peachey may have been the first builder to use double paned windows and an experimental product called drywall. This was Peachey’s first major project. He went on to become the award-winning developer of the builder of the iconic, modernistic and very successful Valhalla Inn. And now we come to today – The Kertesz couple. The late Fred Kertesz was an importer and one of his accounts was the Canadian importation of the internationally known PEZ candy. We are lucky that Tilllie and her late husband chose to purchase this property and have been such defenders of this remarkable tree.

The tree is over 125 years old and was planted around the year 1887 on the Bull Family property. The Regal Heights neighborhood’s first settler of the land was Bartholomew Bull from Tipperary, Ireland. He came to this area in 1818. Bartholomew bull founded the Davenport Road Methodist Church. This church started in his house in 1830 and was called “Springmount”. The first school of the area was also founded in Bull’s home. The tree is located in the SW part of the neighborhood in the immediate vicinity of the Davenport Road. This road was originally part of the Aboriginal trail that followed the ancient Lake Iroquois shoreline from the Don River to the Humber River. The Bull family were founders of the Earlscourt district and prominent residents of the Junction area of Toronto. The Bull farm was not sold and subdivided until the early 1900s.

This white oak is the ofﬁcial boundary marker in the ﬁrst land deed in Upper Canada (now Ontario) signed in 1781 between the Chippawa and Mississauga Native Chiefs and the English Crown. The deed was for a four mile wide strip of land, paralleling the Niagara River, on the west side, running from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. The land was transferred to King George III for 300 suites of clothing. As described in the land deed, in order to mark the boundary of the said land, the four First Nations Chiefs chose a large white oak tree, forked 6 feet from the ground near Lake Ontario at a distance of 4 miles from the west bank of the Niagara River. In 1781 an indian trail now known as Lakeshore Road joined the mouth of the Niagara River with the indian encampment in the St. Catharines area. This deed also marked the ofﬁcial birth of Niagara on the Lake which held its 200th anniversary in 1981. The white oak tree and its signiﬁcance was discovered in 2012 during an investigation of the history of the war of 1812-1814 by Dave Lee and Abe Epp, Niagara on the Lake residents. The assessment of the tree was done with the assistance of Andrew Hordyk, a certiﬁed arborist of Arborwood Tree Service.

This large Red Oak was once a part of a 5,000 acre parcel of land originally awarded to Major John Smith in 1792 for his loyal service to his Majesty’s Forces, during the American Revolution. The Red Oak is inspiring, peaceful, strong and defiant having survived fierce storms such as Hurricane Hazel. Its large and beautiful crown provides habitat for squirrels, birds and insects alike and provides a wonderful source of shade for locals.

Over its lifetime, this rare tree has been witness to many changes. In 1851, the Gore Grist Mill stood on sloping land above Spencer Creek to the north-west of this Chinquapin Oak tree. When the mill closed in the late 1920s, the Fisher family gave the entire mill property, including the land where the tree stands, to the Town of Dundas. The Fisher’s Mill Park established in 2008 is now the spacious setting for the Chinquapin Oak, which continues to grow unimpeded and stands as a landmark near the western boundary of Dundas.

This magnificent tree has withstood changes to the local forest and has endured, original settlers/logging, pasturing, farming, and has returned to forest. This Shumard Oak is significant as a symbol for the stewardship efforts in South Western Ontario.

This majestic white oak is a distinguishable landmark in the Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Conservation Area. This site is the largest publicly-owned Environmentally Significant Area in London and has been designated as a Provincially Significant Wetland. Cherished by the community, this beautiful tree is well over 250 years old and may have been witness to the region’s pre-settlement history. In its early days, this tree likely watched over Lieutenant Governor John Graves Simcoe and his wife as they camped at the Westminster Ponds before hiking to the forks of the Thames in March of 1793. This tree also stood in close proximity to Swartz’s Tavern where the prominent Upper Canada Rebellion leader William Lyon MacKenzie stayed a guest in 1837.

This Black Cherry tree is located in Rose Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Prince Edward County. Culturally and historically, this tree has great significance as it is the landmark around which the cemetery was formed in 1790, and around which the first Marysburgh settlers in the County buried their dead. This has been proven by the Rose Cemetery Project, Conduced by Queen’s University, which uses Ground Penetrating Radar to confirm that the first burials emanate outward from the tree’s spokes. The original tree has been cut down but many smaller trees have grown out from this much older stump. This Black Cherry’s will to live on and still stand as a natural marker within the centre of the Rose Cemetery, makes it one of the most significant trees in Prince Edward County.

The bur oaks of Maryboro have lived to witness five empires – Huron, French, Iroquois, British and Ojibwa. The oldest and largest specimen, known to its admirers as the Grand Old Lady, has been estimated from a core at 380 years. For generations the Grove marked the head of the Fenelon Portage on the Trent River – on the fur trade route from Lake Ontario to Lake Huron. With colonization it became a focal point of James Wallis’ 1837 Maryboro Lodge – then the finest home in the region, and the Estate from which Fenelon Falls was subdivided. For the village it has always been a place for community events, strawberry socials and afternoon teas. Born in the era of the canoe, saw the Victoria Railroad come and go, and oversaw the construction of the Trent-Severn Waterway, National Historic Site.

This tree is a fine example of a Carolinian species that is symbolic of the Deciduous Forest Region of Eastern North America. It is part of the most northern population of Tulip Trees in North America. According to local botanist Paul O’Hara, the Tulip Tree at 35 Cross is likely an original, rather than a planted tree. Based on examination of the tree. The tree is in excellent health, according to criteria developed by the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto. It flowers reliably. Tulip Tree seedlings appear regularly in surrounding gardens and many of these seedlings have found homes across the town of Dundas. In addition to its importance to residents of the neighbourhood, the tree is something of a celebrity. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Japanese officials would come from time to time to measure the height and girth of the tree. Apparently there was another Tulip Tree in Japan that was close in measurement to the Cross Street tree … it was important to them to see which tree was the largest. Buses full of tourists visiting Canada and the nearby Royal Botanical Gardens have been known to stop for a look at the tree.

John and Mary moved to Lot 9 on Concession 1. Mary was sent a pear from Boston, MA and subsequently planted it’s seeds on this lot. The tree grew successfully and was admired by many. In 1980 the tree was 165 years old and placed on the Ontario Honour Roll of Trees; but within the 1980’s the tree became dangerous and was chopped down. However, scions were grafted from the original and the Oshawa Community Museum managed to acquire two of these scions. They were planted in the Museum’s gardens in 2001 and continue to thrive there today.

This tree is likely greater than 200 years of age and is part of a remnant Carolinian Woodlot. The tree exists on a sand ridge once used by native indians as a travel cooridor all along Lake Erie. The tree itself is the largest in this woodlot but was once part of a group of large American Beech trees of which it is the only surviving member.

This tree is a distinguishable landmark marking the former border (before 1957) between Burlington and Aldershot; it is of unique age and size in Burlington; it is associated with the area’s first landowning settler, Joseph Brant (1742 – 1807). In 1797 the Crown signed a treaty with the Mississauga nation to acquire the same block of land, which was then granted to Brant. The western boundary ran 45º NW from what is now Allview Avenue near what is now North Shore Boulevard (then a trail) to a point just past the Niagara escarpment. That boundary formed part of an earlier survey of land to the west, previously purchased by the Crown. The Burlington Historical Society Archives includes copies of maps from 1797 to the early 20th century, showing the significance of “Brant’s Block” to the early and continuing development of Burlington. The Burlington Horticultural Society, in association with the City of Burlington and the Royal Botanical Gardens, began a project in 1975 to establish Burlington’s Honour Roll of Trees, which included the Allview Oak and a note about its significance for Brant’s Block. The City of Burlington’s Inventory of Heritage Resources includes the Allview Oak.

Not only is this a SAR tree, and is of considerable size. Its location on the war of 1812 British Army encampment on the Thames River, gives it major historical significance. Early photos of this site, complete with tepees and barracks show the tree standing at approximately 30-40 feet. Tecumseh himself camped here for several days, before heading up the Thames River to be later killed only about 10 km from this site.

Throughout this tree’s 350 years, many changes have taken place to the land that it grows upon. For the last 35 years, it has been one of the focal points of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s maple syrup programs at Kortright Centre. This tree is known as “Grandpa Maple” and has been visited by approximately 1 million people.

This White Elm was identified by Henry Kock from the University of Guelph – Fox Arboretum, as an excellent specimen. Long upper branches sweeping down to street level, which is reminiscent of how the old Elms grew prior to the introduction of Dutch Elm disease. The size and crown shape of this tree, indicate its resistance to the disease and should be noted as an ideal tree to collect seed from for future propogation.

Tree is in front of the Aurora Cultural Centre, also known as the Church Street School, opened in 1886. The building was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1981 and an Ontario Heritage Foundation plaque was erected at the site indicating this is one of the finest examples of a public school in the High Victorian manner. The school was reportedly attended by Lester Pearson who later won the Nobel Peace Prize, became Prime Minister of Canada and oversaw the introduction of the Maple Leaf Flag.

Coronation Park was created in 1934 when the seawall was built from Strachan Avenue to Bathurst Street. A commemorative planting for the park was organized, inspired by war veterans. The planting occurred on May 12, 1937. It was believed to be the largest ceremonial planting in Canada at the time. To provide a central focus to the park, a Royal Oak tree was planted in tribute to King George VI and surrounded by a ring of silver maples, symbolizing the countries of the British Empire. A grove of maple trees was planted in memory of the many Canadian troops who fought overseas, one of which is being recognized here as a Heritage Tree. The significance of this waterfront park was further enhanced when the World War II 50th Anniversary Memorial was unveiled at Coronation Park on November 14, 1995. The memorial is dedicated to the many Canadians who served their country at home and abroad. It was designed by John McEwen and features two pair of bronze gates in the shape of a ship’s prow. The openings and vistas formed by their north-south orientation provide entryways which symbolize the departure of troops and their return home.

This sugar maple stands on a sand dune overlooking the eastern end of Lake Erie just west of the lakes confluence with the Niagara River. The tree overlooks a beach where the Neutral Indians are known to have camped and harvested chert with which they made stone tools. The tree is about a mile from Old Fort Erie and quite likely observed preparations of British and Hessian infantry to retake the fort from American forces during the War of 1812. The tree is a landmark to boaters and fishermen on the lake and holds together the sand dune on which it stands.

Chalmers Presbyterian Church started as a small group meeting in Temperance Hall [current TD Bank site as of 2020]. In 1856 a small roughcast church was built and then in 1877 the present stone structure was constructed. Dr. James Middlemiss was the first minister and served for thirty years. He and his family lived in the large mansion overlooking Victoria Park. Upon his retirement, circa 1907, the church had Mansfield Cottage built for Dr. Middlemiss and his family. This is the site of the tree. Because of shrinking membership, the church closed in 1917. The property was eventually purchased by the village of Elora and was known as the Elora Opera House. During the 1920’s and 30’s it operated as a movie theatre. By the 1940s it was sold and served as a printing shop.Following this the building stood empty for years until in the 1970’s it housed Peter and Nancy’s Pottery. It is currently the home of One Axe; a company that offers zip-lining, cliff climbing and team building. This tree received the first Community Heritage Tree plaque to be presented in Centre Wellington Township through their local Treasured Community Heritage Tree Program, a pilot program for the Ontario Urban Forest Council which paved the way for the Heritage Tree Program.

This Eastern Cottonwood is very well-known locally. While it is not quite the largest Eastern Cottonwood in the area (probably second largest though) it is still quite an attraction. Unlike many large tree specimens, this tree is not growing in a park or along a roadside. This Cottonwood is located deep in the woods at Bakus Mill Heritage Park. The tree is quite the spectacle for any one wishing to go find it. A well laid out trail will take you to the tree. As you approach the tree it is easy to tell why it is so unique. Towering well over the canopy level, this 40 M tall, 6 M around giant dwarfs all other trees around it. It is likely 80-100+ years old, which is bordering ancient as far as Eastern Cottonwoods go. This pioneer tree has helped establish and has witnessed the developement of the forest that surrounds it.

This Black Oak is amongst the earliest living examples of its species in Toronto. A remnant of the aboriginal forest and Black Oak Savannah, it is, with an estimated age of 200 – 250 years, one of the largest surviving Black Oaks. It is within a hundred metres of the Toronto Carrying Place and is on the land acquired from the Mississaugas at the Gunshot Treaty agreement of 1787 for the militarily crucial Carrying Place lands. It is located on the Estate of Jaques Baby, Inspector General of Upper Canada. He purchased the land in 1813, and it remained in his family until the Government of Canada purchased it c. 1909, for use as the New Garrison Common. It was subsequently resold the following year to developer Robert Home Smith, who laid out the subdivision, building the impressive Humber Stone Entry Gates at Jane Street, with his own house at number one Baby Point Road (designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, Pt IV ) immediately inside the Gates. Poet Raymond Souster (winner of the Governor General’s Award for Poetry) has written poems about the Tree – one in 1968 and another in 1991.

This tree is a remnant of the original forest that once resided in this area. The tree has been a landmark rooted at the 18th hole at Cataraquai Golf and Country since its opening in 1917. In addition to this, the tree is a prominant figure on the organization’s corporate logo and has been since 1933.

The Nicholas Family’s red oak is probably one of the largest of its species in Ontario, if not Canada. Part of an ancient oak savannah, this red oak tree is an indigenous species of the Humber River Watershed. This pre-settlement tree established itself before 1793, and grew in the immediate vicinity of the historic Toronto Carrying Place Trail. Worn down through Canadian history, the trail served as a trade link for indigenous people, a route for European explorers, and a military trail for both the French and English. In 1848, the area was purchased by Matthew Griffith, one of three Irish brothers who were the first European settlers of the area. Matthew’s brother, Thomas Griffith, fought as a loyalist in the 1837 Mackenzie rebellion. The land was sold to the Percy Gardiner in 1933 and used as a summer country estate. The estate house, known as “Rivermede,” still remains today. Helen and Paul Phelan (daughter and son-in-law), and Helen and George Gardiner (daughter-in-law and son) were all recipients of the Order of Canada. George and his wife, Helen, would go on to establish The Gardiner Museum, one of the world’s finest ceramic museums. One of the last owner’s of the property had an ancestor named Ebenezer Doane. Doane was the architect of the Sharon Temple in Sharon, Ontario, which was later designated as a National Historic Site of Canada. Interestingly, Doane’s nephew Charles joined the rebels in the MacKenzie Rebellion of 1837. One might wonder if Thomas Griffith or Charles Doane ever met, as two men on either side of the uprising. Though we will never know, this red oak remains to this day, serving as a reminder of all of the history it has witnessed. On Thursday, July 26, 2018, the City of Toronto voted on Item GM29.15 regarding the great red oak. The Item carried 39 to 3 regarding the acquisition of this property to make this as a municipal parkette. Photo courtesy of Mr. Glen Gauslin, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority – August 23, 2006.

This was a young tree when the French established their second trading fort, Fort Toronto in 1749 at the foot of the Portage on which the tree stands – the fort from which Toronto takes its name. It was part of the forest canopy by 1764 when Alexander Henry passed by on June 19th with a group of Mississaugas on his way to Fort Niagara from Mackinac, where he had been taken prisoner the previous year in the Pontiac wars. It was a mature tree when Benjamin Frobisher passed by, recommending in a 1784 report, that the Northwest Company use this as the preferred route to the West. It witnessed the passage of Lieutenant Governor Simcoe on Wednesday September 25th, 1793, on his way to Penetanguishene. The feet of the War Party dispatched by General Brock in 1812 to join Tecumseh and capture Fort Mackinac trod over the roots of this tree. Chief of the Mississaugas, Peter Jones passed by with his people, the Mississaugas of the New Credit, on their way to a meeting regarding their Treaty, with the Inspector General, Jacques Baby on his estate in 1828. In the spring of 1997 this was one of a hundred and fifty oak trees along the Toronto Carrying Place, all 125 years old, which was proclaimed by Metropolitan Toronto as an ancient oak grove and named in honour of Tuhbanahneequay, daughter of Wabanosay, Chief of the Mississaugas at the time of the Toronto Purchase. David Orsini, a local landscape architect, has been propagating acorns from this tree. The continuation of a local gene pool with a pedigree of more than three centuries is both remarkable and essential. It reflects the integrity of our natural heritage as a living entity.

The tree is of Provincial significance, possibly National, through its association with the Blake family. It is located on the headwaters of Garrison Creek in what was the parkland of the Blake Estate, known as “Humewood”.Following a Mission in 1911, the Anglican congregation of St Thomas determined to establish a maternity home for unwed mothers. They purchased the Blake property near St. Clair and Bathurst Streets in 1912. The “Humewood House” opened on April 23, 1912. The Blake house burnt down and was replaced by the present building, which opened February 12, 1925. Partnered with the Board of Education the Agency is one of the oldest and most respected organizations in the country, helping pregnant and parenting young women, ages 13-21. The tree is well known and loved in the community. It was on a list of significant trees compiled by the arborists in the former City of York. It is clearly visible from St. Clair Avenue. It also dominates the well-treed park site despite the fact that it is separated from the park by the width of the roadway.