A Vaughan mother has dropped her controversial bid to see young oak trees, whose acorns she believed could pose a health risk for those with tree-nut allergies, removed from a local school.

In a letter sent to city staff and councillors Tuesday afternoon, Donna Giustizia said she has endured cyber-bullying and hateful letters since she made the request to the city this month.

“On a personal level, the cyber-bullying and hate-filled sentiments my family and I have had to endure because of my simply acting in a voluntary capacity, making a friendly request to my city council on behalf of small children, is ridiculous,” said Giustizia. “In a free, civilized society we should be able to voice our opinions and make our requests to elected officials without fear of reprisal, ridicule, or regret,” she said.

At a committee of the whole meeting on Nov. 6, Giustizia told councillors the oaks were littering the property at St. Stephen Catholic Elementary School with acorns that could be life-threatening for students with allergies to tree nuts. The school is otherwise nut-free.

Giustizia, who was chairperson of the Allergy Awareness Committee at the Woodbridge School, said she came to council to learn whether the trees could be safely moved away from the playground area, where children with allergies could come in contact with acorns, or where they may feel stressed by being near a potential trigger of an allergic attack.

She says she never asked for the trees to be destroyed.

Giustizia could not be reached for comment.

At the time, councillors said they were concerned about setting precedents and asked staff to come back with a report for the following meeting, next Tuesday. The report will now not be presented.

According to an allergist, the acorns could trigger a local reaction such redness or hives, though a more serious reaction would require eating the naturally bitter nuts.

“The only situation I could see is if they were bullied and forced to eat them. You really have to eat them to have a reaction,” Dr. Paul Keith, an allergist at McMaster University, told the Star.

In her letter, Giustizia says there are students at the school whose pediatricians have recommended they not come in contact with nuts.

“I would think that the recommendation of a child’s attending physician who has first-hand knowledge of the child’s medical condition, records and history would have satisfied the city to act on the side of caution.”

Instead, she says, sensational media coverage of the story has “carelessly and cavalierly hurt those who we were trying to protect.”

The story was picked up by local and national media outlets, with readers and viewers weighing in on the issue. Most, including those on thestar.com, felt the request was going too far.

The local trustee, Dino Giuliani, said he is sensitive to Giustizia’s efforts since he has a severe allergy and carries an EpiPen. He says he is “confident that the St. Stephen’s senior administration, teachers, staff and community at large will continue to do a great job in keeping all our allergy students safe.”

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May Moore, communications manager with the York Catholic District School Board said falling acorns are a seasonal issue and the school will work with its allergy committee to deal with the issue when it comes up.

With files from Jessica McDiarmid

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