I always knew that we had a Dutch Elm Disease problem in the city, and had seen the “red dots of death” for years. During the summer of 2020, however, I really became aware of the extent of the problem in our neighbourhood of Earl Grey.

If you look beyond the weeds and the illegal dumping at the bottom of Middle Gate, you will discover one of Armstrong’s Point’s hidden treasures. Here stands a massive cottonwood tree, largely unnoticed by the public but well-known to arborists. Until fairly recently it was part of a small grove of companion trees. Now it stands alone, a sole survivor.

Kingston Crescent/Row has seen a neighbourhood transition from one of beautiful mature trees to one with a constant thinning of that once-majestic canopy. Nothing less than a call to action was required.

What began as an over-the-back fence conversation has blossomed into a community-wide effort to protect, restore and enhance the public tree canopy in Riverview.