8- The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 16, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com

After 250 years the landmark white oak tree that stands majestically just north of the Halton Regional Centre may have its days numbered thanks to Halton Regional council. Landmark oak tree’s days may now be numbered ■ By Angela Blackburn project specific and not binding anymore SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER — but some felt bound to uphold its spirit. Oakville mayoral candidate Rob It appears the majority of Halton tax- Burton spoke as 10-year president of the payers aren’t crazy about spending Joshua Creek Residents’ Inc. (JCRI) on $500,000 to save a piece of local history — behalf of saving the tree. at least not in the form of the 250-year-old Doug Walters of the Hamilton branch white oak tree in front of regional head- of the Ontario Institute of Agrologists, quarters on Bronte Road. which represents Halton, urged regional It’s doubtful that any recent issue has councillors to "christen the tree the created as much fuss at Halton Region. Woodlands White Oak and tell its story." A plan to save the landmark tree — Suzanne Robertson of Burlington, a going around it by building an internal ring city which has a heritage tree bylaw, urged road likely to be needed in future anyway — the trees acorns be given to school kids to had been passed at Halton’s Planning and plant as it must have “super genes.” Public Works Committee and was at Regional Chair Joyce Savoline said the regional council for voting last month absence of a heritage tree bylaw in when it was sent back to committee. Oakville is "just a technicality." It appears there was a flurry of public The veteran regional chair who is step- complaints over a waste of tax dollars. ping down this fall said she has a box of On Wednesday, Halton’s Planning and acorns from the old oak (her office over- Public Works Committee once again had looks it), which she intends to plant the same staff recommendation to spend "secretly" in Halton during retirement. the cash and save the tree — but on a tie "This is a very special tree. It has out- vote, it lost. Halton’s Legal Services lived a lot of things in the community and Commissioner Mark Meneray said with- is older than the community," she said. out a new motion on the table — and Ward 4 Councillor Allan Elgar noted none was put forward — it will now go to the tree is rare in southern Ontario’s land- regional council Wednesday without a scape. Ward 4 Town Councillor Renee recommendation. And in the absence of Sandelowsky advocated respecting what’s any action, the road widening plan will around us and what has come before. now go forward unamended — right Savoline said Halton has often gone through where the tree stands. the extra mile — or put up extra cash — Numerous delegations appealed to the hoping to save something. committee to save the tree, including Elgar said the Bronte Road widening Bronte Road resident Victor Enns who north of Upper Middle had come in $1.9 spoke on behalf of himself and former million over estimates without complaint. neighbour Dr. George Atkins, an 88-year- The option to relocate the tree was old former CBC broadcaster, who has studied, but recent reports said it would received the Order of Canada and grew up be too risky. "It doesn’t mean there aren’t on the land where the tree now sits. other ways to save the tree," said Savoline. Enns said it was wrong to lump the There was talk about seeking sponsor- approximate $800,000 costs of the ring ship from the community to save the tree road with the cost of saving the tree. and may be brought forward Wednesday. Regional staff confirmed the ring road Even if more trees were planted to will likely be needed anyway by 2009 replace the oak Savoline said, "My grand- when the Region and Halton Regional children, or great-grandchildren will Police expand the Regional Centre by 30 never see a 250-year-old tree from it." per cent — whether or not the planned Burlington Councillor Jack Dennison addition of Halton’s public and Catholic said he couldn’t support the cost or school boards and courts occurs. removal of two, 50-year-old oaks to save Terry Paunkoff, who bought Atkins the tree. Halton Hills Mayor Rick property presented a 1972 agreement Bonnette said he couldn’t support saving Atkins had signed by the Ontario Ministry the tree based on all the calls from tax- of Transportation to protect the tree dur- payers. ing a construction project. — Angela Blackburn can be reached Meneray said the legal agreement was at [email protected].