Tree Walk: October 14th Guelph Riverside Park
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Krista Jones
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Resident works with township to save trees
By Olivia Rumbell
McNab Street before construction, May 2023.
When Elora resident Andy Johnston heard 35 trees on his street were scheduled for removal he sprang into action, now of 11 of these trees have been preserved.
Johnston remembers when notice of the scheduled replacement, run by Centre Wellington Township, arrived at his front door. Taking interest in the project that would change the street he’s resided on for twenty years, Johnston decided to look up the construction plans available online.
After taking some time to digest complicated town proposals, to Johnston’s surprise, he realized 35 trees on McNab were slated to come down.
Of the trees slated to go, 16 would come down anyways, as they were a sightline issue on the street, in poor health, had a high potential for disease, or were subject to another issue. Leaving 19 of the 35 coming down as a direct result of the construction.
Johnston notified Tree Trust, local councillors, and Township Project Manager Ryan Maiden to express his concern. He was happily surprised with how accommodating Maiden was, “You hear horror stories about city planners that are inflexible… but Ryan was fantastic.”
“It’s a very passionate street,” said Maiden, adding that he’s never received so much feedback about a project before. He’s glad for the feedback, that’s why they have the public discussion part of the project to begin with. “We don’t take a ‘my way or the highway’ approach to these projects.”
Many of the old trees on McNab Street have root systems very close to where the underground construction will take place. So creative solutions have been developed to save as many trees as possible.
They are either planning to work around the tree or try a trenchless installation method for the replacement instead. This is a less invasive way that avoids having an excavator tear through ground, and root systems. 14 of the 65 services on the street will now be done using this trenchless method.
The township has partnered with Drexler Construction Ltd. for the project, which begins this month.
“You’ve really got to have a look and speak out when you see something that’s a little alarming,” says Johnston on what his takeaway is from this experience.
Meaford Tree Trust Press: Art Auction at Meaford Hall Arts & Culture Centre
Meaford, ON, June 30, 2023 – The Meaford Tree Trust art auction at Meaford Hall Arts and Culture Centre in July and August has morphed into a unique opportunity for area artists to pay homage to one of Canada’s most-renowned artists. The artwork of upwards of 30 area artists depicting the century-old white oak in the Leith Historical Church Cemetery will be on sale during the Meaford Tree Trust’s first-ever art auction and a curated exhibit of Tom Thomson’s photographs.
Tree Trust is a foundation program whose mission is to help preserve legacy trees in communities across Southern Ontario by promoting professional arboreal care as a way to effectively extend the life of the trees. The Meaford Chapter of Tree Trust is one of eight chapters working to preserve these carbon sequestering giants that are so critical in battling climate change. To date, the Meaford Chapter of Tree Trust has funded, through private and group donations, the arboreal care of eight legacy trees, including the white oak in the Leith Historical Church Cemetery.
Last fall, Meaford Tree Trust Coordinator Peter Russell proposed the idea of an art auction featuring artwork depicting the white oak in the medium of the artists choice. Unbeknownst to Pete, the Tom Thomson Art Gallery in Owen Sound was, at that time, in discussion with the Meaford Hall Art and Culture Centre regarding a Tom Thomson: In Photographs exhibition in the summer of 2023. All parties agreed that the exhibit and art auction were a fit.
The Tree Trust art auction and the Tom Thomson: In Photographs exhibit open July 8 at the Meaford Hall Art and Cultural Centre. The photographs will be on display till August 25. The artwork includes paintings, photographs, mixed media, one stained glass and one metal sculpture, all centred around the century-old white oak. Meaford Tree Trust will accept silent bids on the artwork till August 23 unless the artwork is purchased at full value. Fifty percent of the proceeds will go to the artist and 50% to Meaford Tree Trust to finance the care of other legacy trees.
Tom Thomson: In Photographs is a curated exhibition by the Tom Thomson Art Gallery of Owen Sound. The exhibit includes black and white photography prints depicting the artist’s life at Canoe Lake in Algonquin Park, the Mississagi Provincial Forest Reserve, and in Owen Sound. The prints range in size from 16”x 20” to 36” x 60”. The majority of the photographs were taken by Tom Thomson, and a few by people close to him in the six years prior to his death in 1917 at Canoe Lake.
The Meaford Hall Art and Culture Centre galleries are open during the hall’s box office hours, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and during performances unless the galleries are booked for private functions.
For more information, contact Pete Russell at meafordtreetrust.ca.
Mid-winter Sentinel, pen and ink by Mary Anne Young, one of many art pieces depicting the Old Oak of Leith, a century-old oak in the Leith Historical Church Cemetery, for sale during the Meaford Tree Trust silent auction at the Meaford Hall Art and Culture Centre, July 8 to August 23. Opening reception July 8, 2-4 p.m.
Oak Wilt has come to Ontario
Did you know? Oak wilt kills thousands of oak trees each year in urban and natural forests.
What can we do? Don’t move your firewood and avoid pruning Oak trees between June and September.
For fact sheets, resources, and more information: Check out this page
June 2023:
Oak wilt has been found in a residential area in Niagara Falls, Ontario. This is the first confirmed detection of oak wilt in Canada.
To help prevent the spread of this detection, movement restrictions are in place on affected properties. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is working with other federal, provincial and municipal governments to survey the area and determine next steps.
Oak wilt is a vascular disease of oak trees, caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum*. The fungus grows on the outer sapwood of oak trees, restricting the flow of water and nutrients through the tree. Some oak species are more vulnerable than others and can die within a year of infection. In some severe cases, red oaks can mortality can occur within 2-6 weeks following infection.
Oak wilt has been confirmed in 24 U.S. states, some of which border Ontario. The disease was confirmed in Niagara Falls, Ontario in May 2023, making it the first known case of oak wilt in Canada. The origin of the fungus is unknown, but it is believed to have been present in North America since the early 1900’s.
*Previously classified as Ceratocystis fagacearum.
Farewell to the Sugar Maple
After more than a century on the grounds of the former Elora Public School, now home to the Elora Centre for the Arts, we are sad to announce that the last historic Sugar Maple is coming down.
This tree was one of a number that ringed the former schoolyard; they were planted by David Boyle, a renowned and progressive teacher who served as the school’s principal between 1871 and 1881.
Like so many of the old Sugar Maples that grace our community, the tree is in decline. In 2019, Tree Trust spearheaded work in the canopy to help preserve it. It is due for more work, but the Arts Centre’s exciting expansion plans will impact the tree by compacting its roots- which will eventually prove fatal. Thus, the difficult decision has been made to bring the tree down in March.
We invite you to leave a note or picture to thank this tree for its role contributing to our urban canopy, sheltering students and wildlife, storing carbon and … well, being part of the community for generations. Truly, it has stood as a connection between past students and the learning that flourishes in the Centre today.
A new Sugar Maple and a number of saplings – offspring of a similarly aged maple tree – will be planted at a dedication ceremony this fall.
Please visit TreeTrust.ca to learn more about the efforts of our program to help preserve beloved trees in our community.
