Canadians Unite In a Fight to Save an Ancient Tree Older Than the Country Itself – The Hearty Soul

October 30, 2024

Citizens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada are fighting to save a 300-year-old Northern Red Oak tree from being cut down by the owner of its host property [1]. Homeowner Ali Simaga agreed to a deal with the Toronto City Council to sell the property to the city for conservation purposes.

The tree dates back to some of the earliest French explorers who settled in Ontario. Standing at a stunning 79 feet (24 meters), the beautiful piece of history and nature is one of the oldest trees in the city. This special oak bears a powerful sentimental heritage from Canadians – It was an important landmark that safely guided thousands of native travelers. According to historian Madeleine McDowell, the tree’s current location was formerly the Humber Valley trail used by Indigenous Canadians and European traders.

This tree absorbed some of the most important events in the history of Toronto. It was already there, thriving and expanding when French and British explorers battled for a monopoly over the area. Initially held by the French, the area was later lost to the English who established the town of York, which is present-day Toronto. The tree stands at the back of a small bungalow in the North York neighborhood, the 1960s home bought by Simaga in 2015.