A TREE COMES DOWN IN THE CITY
On July 19, 2013, a storm brought down an aged silver maple tree on Laing Street in Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood. This famed maple tree was the inspiration for the song "Maple Leaf Forever" by Alexander Muir, written in the year of Confederation 1867.
In 1992, the City of Toronto recognized the national importance of the Maple Leaf Forever Tree, and the Maple Cottage land it lived on, by designating 62 Laing Street as an official historic site. The City of Toronto has preserved the legacy of this site and Alexander Muir by creating and maintaining the Maple Leaf Forever Park around the Maple Cottage.
The City of Toronto continues to preserve the historic legacy of this maple tree by working with Toronto's artisans, designers, and woodcraft workers to turn the salvaged wood into community art and cultural pieces that will be distributed to public, cultural and historic institutions across Canada.
Items produced from the tree will be on display for public viewing before being distributed to final recipients. Check back here frequently for current information on displays and events.
ALL THIS FROM ONE TREE?
City staff are working with interested parties from across Canada to use the wood. Currently approved projects include the House of Parliament, the Museum of Civilization, The Royal Ontario Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, and the Queens Own Rifles.
So just how much wood is there to use? Well, we've estimated there is enough lumber quality wood to make over 25 dining room tables! Now just imagine how many products could be made from the almost 200,000 trees that come down in Toronto each year! Learn more about the growing Urban Wood Utilization movement here.
