On May 26, about 50 people gathered here at the foot of a red oak at 200 Smith Street to celebrate its induction onto the select list provincially significant heritage trees.
The tree was likely a sapling during the early settlement of Elora in 1832. The house behind the tree, named the Mansfield Cottage, was built in 1895 and was originally a retirement cottage for the director of Chalmers Church. In 2006, that tree was honoured as a Treasured Community Heritage Tree.
The exceptionally tall and healthy tree is a spectacular focal point in the neighbourhood and is greatly valued by all residents and visitors.
Dignitaries on hand to toast the tree were MP Michael Chong, Lisa Arnott, representing her husband, MPP Ted Arnott, Centre Wellington councillor Kirk McElwain and Trees Ontario chief executive officer Rob Keen.
Al Koop and Gary Bryant stepped back from the pages of history to entertain the crowd with music and poetry from the time when the tree was a sapling.
NeighbourWoods coordinator Toni Ellis used the opportunity to announce the kick off of the group’s Great Heritage Tree Hunt. Residents are encouraged to nominate Centre Wellington trees that are particularly tall, large in circumference, or that have an interesting story that relates to the history of the community.
The contest closes Aug. 31. For more information about the contest, visit www.eloraenvironmentcentre.ca or call at 519-846-0841.
To date, only 14 trees in the province have been recognized by the new Ontario Heritage Tree program, which is a joint initiative of Trees Ontario and the Ontario Urban Forest Council.
