Celebrate the 2026 Town of Erin Tree of the Year With us!
September 19th, Arts by the Pond Tree of the Year Celebration was a success!
A huge thank you to the many people who came out to experience the artwork, learn more about the winning tree of the year, and celebrate this remarkable tree. Sad you missed it? The exhibition has moved to the Town of Erin Town Hall until November 2nd: 5684 Trafalgar Road. Discover the work of 28 artists, each interpreting this special tree in their own way, and see how much one tree can mean to a community! Lets celebrate our shared heritage through art and our connection to the environment.
Featured Works and Artists
About the Winner
Henry the American Elm has officially won the Erin 2026 Tree of the Year competition!
Henry received nearly 60% of all votes cast – almost 300 votes total! What an amazing turnout and show of support from our community. Thank you to everyone who participated and celebrated the incredible trees that shape our landscape and stories.
Get to know the candidate trees:
The map below will help you locate the trees and experience them firsthand. Tag us in your photos on instagram (@treetrusttrees), and we’ll share them!
About Erin Tree Trust
Launched in 2025 with generous support from Tree Canada, Tree Trust Erin is one of our newest chapters, dedicated to preserving and protecting mature trees in the heart of southern Ontario. Erin’s rich agricultural heritage, vibrant natural landscapes, and strong environmental values make it an ideal home for the Tree Trust mission.
The chapter hit the ground running with its first public event on May 24th, centred around the care of a significant mature tree in the community. Since then, the team has been active across Erin – planting saplings, engaging with residents at the local farmers’ market, and organizing Community Forest Appreciation Day on October 4th. This event brought people together to celebrate the ecological, cultural, emotional, and climate benefits of the town’s treasured trees.
With the energy of a passionate volunteer team and growing support from local partners, Tree
Trust Erin is already making a meaningful impact, and just getting started!
Erin Tree Trust is:
- A volunteer-led group that is working to:
- Save our community’s eldest trees
- Measure the value of trees in our community canopy
- Build a community of tree-minded people
- Expand its membership (get in touch with us if you want to volunteer!)
- Running the first ever Erin Tree of The Year contest in 2026.
- You can Cast Your Vote up until Saturday on Mother’s Day weekend.
- If you vote, you will be invited to Erin Tree Of The Year Celebration in September (details to be announced)
- The Winning Tree will be announced on Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend.
- After Mother’s Day, we will put a call out to Artists (all mediums) to submit art to be featured at the Erin Tree Of The Year Celebration.
- Working with the Town and other partners to conduct the first annual Tree Audit for the Town Erin in 2026.
- The annual tree audit will measure the social and economic value generated by Erin’s tree canopy.
Meet the Chapter Manager
Erin Tree Map
Erin’s Tree Trust Trees
80 year-old Sugar Maple
All Saints Anglican Church
For more information, feel free to contact us at: [email protected] /// UPDATE 2026: This email address is currently broken. Until further notice, please contact: [email protected]
Chapter News & Events
- Tree of the Year Art Show – Day Summary!
- Erin Tree Trust: Call to Visual Artists!
- Celebrating Environmental Leadership in Erin: Sue Powell Receives Shamrock Award
- Erin Tree Trust: Call to Performing Artists!
- NOW OPEN: Vote For The Town of Erin’s 2026 Tree of the Year!
- Erin Community Forest Appreciation Day Highlights
The Erin Chapter was featured in Guelph Today Check out the article below to learn more.
“Development across the board often treats trees like they are replaceable, like if we take one down, we’ll just plant two. Well, that’s not actually true if that tree’s been there for 200 years. “Seeing them as living beings, it often makes us more hesitant to want to cut them down.”
– Nicola Gailits
Event Organizer
“Erin welcomes the support of Tree Trust to protect our elder trees and to preserve our natural green canopy. Erin is committed to being a sustainable, green, community and this is a wonderful step towards this goal.”
– Bridget Ryan
Erin Town Councillor
To learn more about the work of the Erin Chapter, or get involved, please contact: [email protected].
Erin’s Tree Trust Arborist
Phil Guenter
