Staff
A 112-year-old White Oak tree on the grounds of the Historic Leith Church and Cemetery, steps from the gravesite of iconic painter Tom Thomson, is the first tree in Grey-Bruce to be recognized by Forests Ontario as a Heritage Tree, as part of the Canada 150 celebrations.
“Trees are not just beautiful landmarks and the heart of healthy ecosystems, but characters in the stories that form our history. In celebration of Canada’s sesquicentennial, Forests Ontario and TD Bank Group invite Ontarians to help us collect and tell the stories of 150 Heritage Trees across the province,” said organizers.
The white oak tree is historically and socially significant to Leith since its planting in 1905 by youngsters attending Sunday school at Leith Church. Measuring 30 meters tall, the tree casts a cooling shade on the cemetery grounds. The Church celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015, and this summer is hosting numerous events to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Thomson’s tragic death.
Every year, many pilgrims walk under the oak’s canopy to lay paintbrushes, rings, and coins to pay respect to the painter. The tree also hosts a ceilidh dance festival that attracts 500 people every summer, as well as several music festivals. It is also an important historic marker for the Leith Church, where under this tree the Leith Church holds an anniversary service along with an outdoor luncheon.
Fittingly, a plaque to recognize the Heritage Tree designation was unveiled on July 1, during the evening intermission of a Canada Day concert at Leith Church, part of the Leith Summer Festival.
