Perth

After months of anticipation and careful planning, the community of Perth came together in Stewart Park to celebrate elder trees. This event, held in collaboration with Our Perth Trees, was a great success, bringing together residents, council members, tourists, and local tree advocates to honour a remarkable Silver Maple in need of arborist care. 

The event began with a memorable welcome from Town Crier Brent McLaren, followed by words of encouragement from Mayor Judy Brown and Tree Trust and Tree Canada representatives Toni Ellis and Kayleigh Hutt-Taylor. Alan Humphreys from Our Perth Trees shared more about the purpose of the day and invited attendees to head across the footbridge and watch conservation pruning of the mature Silver Maple.

Mayor of Perth, Judy Brown and Town Crier, Brent McLaren welcome the crowd to the Perth Elder Tree Care Day. 

Tobias Effinger, owner and lead arborist of Arboreal Tree Care, then led an informative discussion about the work his team would be doing in the tree’s canopy. Tobias even shared data from an earlier tomography session, a fascinating method that allows tree professionals to “see inside a tree without cutting it down”. This non-invasive technique helps tree professionals identify internal cavities, decay, or rot, enabling them to make informed decisions about the care and treatment the tree requires.

Next up was a unique and informative tree planting demonstration led by Ashley Cochrane and her team at North 44 Land Design. No stone was left unturned as they shared their expert tips for planting healthy, long-lasting trees. The team carefully walked attendees through the planting process, emphasizing how to make thoughtful decisions based on location, environmental conditions, and available resources to ensure the best chance of success.

Following the tree plant, attendees of all ages gathered in the shade to escape the heat and enjoy the infamous Professor Elmwood Pricklethorn presentation. With his signature humour and enthusiasm, the Professor highlighted the many benefits of elder trees, from carbon sequestration to maple syrup. By the end, one thing was certain: everyone who attended would be singing, “All we are saying is give trees a chance…” for days to come.

Professor Pricklethorn entertains the crowd with fun tree facts and demonstrations – he also shows off some moves while he’s at it!

Tree Trust’s Braedon Witt led a walk through Stewart Park where the group practiced identifying tree species, learned of common health indicators, and discovered how to measure and assess different types of trees.

Lastly, the Tree Trust team was thrilled to visit the “Grand Old Lady Elm,” a 2024 Ontario Tree Pageant Top 3 finalist! She proudly wore her sash for the day and grabbed the attention of many curious park visitors.

Thank you again to everyone who came out and to those who helped make this day a great success! 

Is there a tree you love or one that simply catches your eye?  Submit your tree to the 2025 Ontario Tree Pageant by clicking here. The contest closes on August 15, 2025.