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In Oakville on Friday, Scot Urquhart witnessed an end becoming a beginning in an effort to return the town to historical roots, literally and figuratively. Once, the oak tree that leant their name to a fledgling town, were easily found. But blight and disease claimed nearly 80% of the old growth red and white oaks native to the area. One significant exception was a giant white oak that became the focal point of a heated municipal battle. When the town and region were seeking to expand Bronte road to four lanes, citizens fought to save the tree and raised $350 000 to re-route the expanded road around the tree.
Eight years later, that bit of preservation and perseverance to root and began to sprout. Acorns from the Heritage Oak produced saplings, which will now be planted in Iroquois Shoreline Woods Park. 250 years ago, American writer, Alexander Bryan Johnson said “mighty trees from little acorns grow”. Now, these little saplings from that mighty tree will help to restore the legacy that was lost and out the Oak back in Oakville once more.
