Ontario Tree Pageant -

Winner Celebration 2025

On October 4th, 2025 the winning White Oak was honoured in a special celebration in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It made for a very special morning that was complemented with live music, council representation, and words from the Epp family, who have championed and defended this tree over many years.

Check out the news release written by the town of Niagara-On-The-Lake regarding this event!

2025

Entries were submitted from across Ontario during the two-month competition, which invited people to submit a photo of a much-loved tree with a few words about it. Organizers are grateful to everyone who took the time to submit stories and pictures of their beloved trees.

Honourable Mention: White Oak

Among many great submissions, we’d like to include this impressive white oak as our honourable mention.

Third Place: Elm Tree

This majestic elm has survived a decade longer than Ministry of Transportation intended. In 2011, it was deemed “too close” to the highway. It and 4 other elms along the highway were marked to be cut down. Friends of this landmark tree in Huron County emailed and phone and publicly rallied on FB for the healthy tree to remain where it has flourished for 100+ years and M.T.O. decided it could stay. See FB page called “Save the elm trees – Huron County/Highway 4”. The grand old elm is already a winner in the eyes of many people from far and near.

Second Place: Black Walnut Tree

Standing sentinel over Mill Pond in Richmond Hill since the town’s founding in 1872, this majestic Black Walnut has witnessed the unfolding of generations. It has endured the force of epic storms and the relentless pull of gravity—so much so that human hands were eventually called upon to prop up and preserve its great central leader.Within its massive branches, life thrives. Countless species find shelter, sustenance, and sanctuary in its vast canopy.

First Place!

White Oak Tree

The statistics indicated it to be 400 years old and 98 feet tall! The tree had been discovered in 2012 while investigating the anniversary of the war of 1812. ‘This white oak is the official boundary marker in the first land deed Upper Canada signed in 1781 between the Chippawa and Mississauga Native Chiefs and the English Crown. The deed was for a four mile wide strip of land, paralleling the Niagara river, on the west side, running from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. The land was transferred to King George for 300 suites of clothing. In order to mark the boundary of the land, the four First Nations Chiefs chose a large white oak tree, forked 6 feet from the ground near Lake Ontario at a distance of 4 miles from the west bank of the Niagara river.

2025 Runway

This is a wonderful tree that marks a little viewpoint at the bottom of high park. Kids love to play around the knobbly roots. My father loved this tree and we have family photos here prior to his passing. Now I have photos of my son climbing the tree and we continue the tradition of family photos. This tree represents heritage and community.
This Catalpa speciosa perfectly embodies the principle of “the right tree in the right place.” Given the space to thrive, it has grown into a stunning specimen—majestic, resilient, and quietly commanding attention. Though it may seem hidden in plain sight, this tree deserves to be celebrated for the beauty and presence it brings to its surroundings.
This Tri-colour beech is the crown jewel of the street with it's velvety soft, richly coloured leaves. Pedestrians are frequently stopped admiring this beauty, snapping pictures, touching the fuzzy leaves, and oohing at the graceful branches fluttering over their heads. But beauty is deeper than the skin, or in this case the leaves. I received this tree as a father's day gift from my lovely five children. They helped select it with my wife whose father had a similar tree in his Windsor yard. Now here in Toronto - this tree is a reminder of the love of my children, the memory of a well loved father (in-law), and the wonder of passer-byes who can bask in it's triple red canopy.
It is a native tree. The needles are soft and being a deciduous conifer the needles turn brilliant yellow in the fall and is still beautiful in the winter with snow on the branches. The most perfect little cones on the branches. 🥰
This Maple Tree is on Albert Street in Sundridge. Many people stop and take pictures of it in the fall when it is a glorious colour. Often, I have seen cars stop in September and take photos.

This huge Maple is something of a landmark at the yard behind ours.
This London Plane stands with arms open wide, to welcome all who visit Monarch Park in Toronto. I first laid eyes on this beauty when I moved to the area 30 years ago. My young sons and I were fascinated by it. The tree looks as though a human spirit is straining to emerge from its trunk! A face ,body and arms can be clearly seen. Every time I enter Monarch Park I have a ritual of putting my hands on this tree, to feel its calming ,welcoming energy. I say ,"Thank you , I love you and I am grateful for you". This majestic tree deserves to be crowned 2025 Tree of the Year for all the awe it inspires!!
This white oak is the official boundary marker in the first land deed Upper Canada signed in 1781 between the Chippawa and Mississauga Native Chiefs and the English Crown.

" I almost fell over in sheer surprise. Not only did the tree dominate the landscape but it was masting in a drought year. Acorns were inches deep all over. I was moved by the pure dedication and care and passion and preservation that the homeowner has for this amazing and massive heritage tree."
My magnolia was planted 27 years ago by my mum and me when I was in high school. Every spring, it brings joy—not just to me, but to hummingbirds, goldfinches, and hungry squirrels. Though not native, it has become part of the local tree community, shading us in summer and dropping its leaves all at once in fall to mulch the garden. It stands beside our neighbor’s maple, sheltering our serviceberry, and I recently learned its flowers are edible with a ginger-like taste—no wonder the squirrels love them. I nominate this tree for the beauty it brings, the wildlife it supports, and the gardening bond it represents between my mum and me.
Standing watch over Mill Pond since Richmond Hill’s founding in 1872, this majestic Black Walnut has weathered storms and time. Its massive limbs shelter wildlife and quietly serve the community—cooling homes, filtering air, capturing carbon. When gravity threatened its great central leader, people stepped in, propping it up with care. This tree symbolizes a powerful partnership between nature and humanity. Thanks to dedicated urban forestry crews, it continues to thrive. In an age of climate awareness, it reminds us that stewardship goes both ways: after centuries of trees caring for us, we now care for them—one tree at a time.
It's beautiful in its extreme age - sparse, pockmarked and gnarly. It looked the same when my mother was a child, and we guess it's around 200 - 250 years old.
It’s a big beautiful Silver Maple.
This tree is the talk of the neighborhood, due to all the wild life that comes to it. It's a sugar pine tree, the lower branches were just removed this year 2025, due poor circulation. The tree is about 30 something years old and it is singing every day, just a different song from all the birds that come to rest in it. Most days you can see a rabbit, possums, cats, squirrels, and even people stand by it to get shade.
Glorious colours. Many neighbours stop by to enjoy it every year.
This tree amazes me every time I see it, whether it’s once a day or 14 times a day. People come to take their wedding pictures in front of it. I have the nicest view of any backyard I have ever seen courtesy of Mother Nature.
The majestic white pine historically covered the Great Lakes St Lawrence Forest region. Now, due to historically poor past management, wind storms, white pine blister rust and fire, we are losing many hectares every year. Forest practitioners are desperately attempting to managing this species using intensive forest management practices needed to be successful in its regeneration despite the forest industry’s struggling markets. White pine is an important wood product yes, but also provides critical habitat to so many wildlife species. I vote for the white pine tree due to its importance on the landscape and the challenge it represents in being successfully regenerated.
My Service Berry trees provide beauty, privacy, shade, and food for wildlife. They are native to our area and very low maintenance. They have a beautiful canopy and are a compact full size tree which is perfect in many locations including urban. The blossoms are very pretty and the berries are a favourite of birds but do not cause a wasp collecting mess like some trees, such as Crab Apple do.
This Tolman Sweet tree dates from pioneer times and is the last survivor of an orchard that once stood here. It has been home to countless birds, cats, and raccoons and still produces sweet yellow apples every second year.
Here stands Rodney the Tree, with over 230 5 star reviews on Google maps, Rodney is a symbol of the internet communities sense of fun and community. Rodney is just the average tree, but people have flown across countries to meet him. People have met friends by Rodney, and people have had memories next to Rodney. Because Rodney is more than a tree, it is a representation of the good that can come out of having a sense of fun, a bit of humor, and being open to enjoying even the smallest parts of our world.
This 200 year old mighty white oak is a landmark of beauty. Situated behind an elemetary school, this white oak tree has provided shade as children learn and play below. The symbolism of an acorn growing into a mighty oak is fitting for an elemetary school as students demonstrate resilience and mature.
My tree is truly one of a kind -- a rare Northern Catalpa, the only one of its kind in our neighborhood. During the summer it bursts into bloom, with large showy flowers that look like popcorn. Come autumn, the tree transforms taking on a eerie, dramatic silhouette suited for Halloween. Neighbors and passersby often stop to admire it, many remarking on its unusual and captivating appearance.
This beautiful oak stands in the centre of my backyard where I enjoy its immense natural beauty every single day.
Every year this is the very last tree around to come to leaf. Every year I wonder if it's coming back. Every year it seems to come to life overnight and produces the most beautiful, fragrant, orchid-like blooms which lift my spirit in a way I can hardly describe. It is the ugly duckling come to life in my yard, from sparse and bare, while everything else is green and lush, to a breathtaking beauty, to which everything else pales in comparison.
Through over 20 years of advocacy, this heritage red oak was purchased by the City of Toronto in December 2021 and will become a tree parkette. I serve on the tree committee. In 2019, it became the first tree to receive a Heritage Toronto plaque. I’m now working on a provincial plaque with the support of Lieutenant-Governor Edith Dumont, who visited the tree on April 30, 2024. Mayor Chow’s office is also arranging a visit this year. In a letter dated May 5, 2025, the Lieutenant-Governor wrote:

"Standing beneath its vast branches, you can feel the history held in that space. The connection to land, memory and time is almost tangible. More than a magnificent tree, the Great Red Oak is a living testament to this city and province."

She captured it beautifully—perhaps only missing that it is also a living testament to Canada.
This American Beech was brought home from the woods near Ottawa, a sapling, the size of a broom handle, almost 50 years ago. Planted in a then new Ottawa East subdivision, it made it's way growing in blue Leda clay with just a bit of topsoil, and two driveways to live within bounds. Perhaps that is why the root buttresses developed so muscular, as the roots must have grown shallow and directional. It grew to a 40' height and a diameter of 24". Beech flowers and nuts make the soil beneath tannin acidic, supporting a yearly summer blossoming of white mushrooms, probably edible, but not yet confirmed. Healthy and strong, it stands, shading the driveways, and a feature specimen tree in a now half century neighbourhood. It grew to a 40' height and a diameter of 24". Beech flowers and nuts make the soil beneath tannin acidic, supporting a yearly summer blossoming of white mushrooms, probably edible, but not yet confirmed. Healthy and strong, it stands, shading the driveways, and a feature specimen tree in a now half century neighbourhood. The beech has been standing with us for over 50 years, it is our tree. It reminds us of all that is strong.
She is a Mom for all the mini forest.
The shade cast by our massive “Sitting Duck” oak prompted a road redesign to make it last another 200 years amidst climate change.
She is our majestic matron

She is loving arms of Mother Earth reaching out, giving

She is a lace curtain of heart-shaped leaves that allow the early morning sun to peep through

She is home and playground to squirrels, raccoons, and birds

She is kindness, sprinkling her white blossoms over our pool and walkway, sharing and welcoming

She asks for nothing in return but to behold her graceful presence and beautiful energy
This tree dominates our driveway and we recognize its grandeur everyday, privileged to be its caretaker . We just had it professionally trimmed to hopefully extend its life which is approximately 200 years old. This farm was established in 1842 and this Maple would likely have been here then. The property has thousands of trees but this Maple is the star!
Some describe it as magical, others as magnificent, but most who stand beneath the grand canopy of this 380-year-old White Oak are filled with awe. Its gravity-defying branches, some thicker than mature trees, create a shaded oasis stretching over 125 feet. Much like the grand cathedrals of Europe, this extraordinary tree beckons visitors to gaze upward, listen intently, and immerse themselves in the serenity and splendor of nature’s creation.
I deeply appreciate the silver maple on the trail behind my house. Its expansive canopy supports local wildlife such as birds and squirrels, and its vibrant seasonal colours bring a serene beauty to the area. This tree is a vital part of the ecosystem, offering both shade and a tranquil retreat from daily life.
This Maple is the quintessential Canadian tree. Huge, bright and beautiful it is a signature tree on the main street in our community. Beyond its personal beauty, it provides joy year round from its shade, the swing it suspend, the massive leaf pile for diving into or the Maple Syrup it relinquishes.
As a tree grows through the ages, this White Oak in the heart of the Victoria College quad has experienced it all and continues to share its stories with those who would pay attention.
This venerable old Oak was planted, along with its mate (across the laneway), by Dr. Frank Sibbald, in the 1870's. In fact there are huge pines and spruces all along the road, also planted by Dr. Sibbald, which give Hedge Road its majesty. We have been the custodians of the tree for ten years and ensure that it is cared for. We have an excellent arborist in Glenn Ramsbottom of Forest Glenn Tree Care. The only time I truly resent the tree is at leaf dropping time.
This beautiful Dappled Willow tree presents green leaves first, then as the season progresses, the leaves turn white, on into the season the leaves turn pink. She is the most gorgeous tree. And deserves to be honoured.
The first time I saw this tree, I was walking a nature trail with my (now) fiancé and when we rounded a bend in the trail we were met with this tree's majesty, standing out amongst all the others. It looked old and wise. This past spring, we had our engagement photos taken at the tree. Even the photographer wow'd as we approached.
This old tree makes me very happy, she might not look like much but the joy she gives me is Incredible. She is tattered and torn yet year after year she lives on.
This is a very rare fireball tree so if I'm every lost and cold in the woods I can pick a fireball and warm myself up.
It was Robert Louis Stevenson who said "It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit."

I could not agree more. These three majestic trees elevate my mood every day as much as they elevate the landscapes of my retirement community with their beauty. To cut them down would be a tragedy beyond the silence of their leaves, a loss echoing through the seasons, where shadows once danced and roots once held the earth.

I demand they outlive me to witness the seasons after I am gone, to keep breathing where I have breathed, and to stand tall in the sunlight that I will no longer see.
Despite all the twists and turns in my life, this tree has always been a reminder that there can be strong growth on the shakiest foundations. As kids, my parents would often take my siblings and I on walks through the ravine. It was here I fell in love with this tree. We were fascinated with the cavity underneath it and would pretend to be Bears, Foxes, or even Meerkats hiding beneath the roots. Then, as I got older, and family walks turned into solo runs - the only thing that remained steadfast was this tree. Even with all of the wholes life spawned beneath my feet, this tree was a reminder that it didn’t matter. Strength always prevails in the face of adversity, and the largest roots grow in the hardest conditions. This tree has meant so much in every stage of my life, and has been a symbol for my strongest beliefs. For that reason it definitely deserves to win the pageant.
Thought to send a photo of this Black Walnut, Juglans nigra, which has royally stood in Almonte for an unknown number of decades ! It regularly drops fruit every fall, sometimes by the bucket load.
This is a beautiful Eastern white pine which stands overlooking Georgian Bay. The Eastern white pine is deeply rooted in Ontario's history, playing a big role in the province's development and ecology. It was crucial for shipbuilding in the 1800s, and later for construction and other industries. Georgian Bay is known for beautiful granite outcrops and white pines which have been molded by the westerly winds. This pine is still quite young, but is tall and straight, which would have been perfect for the shipbuilding of the past. We are fortunate to have this on protected lands and beside the Parry Sound waterfront trail so that everyone can enjoy it. The statue is of local indigenous man, Francis Pegahmagabow (1889-1952) who was a highly-effective sniper and scout in the First World War, and his military service and passionate advocacy for Indigenous rights continue to be an inspiration to his Anishnaabe community.
Back in 2017-2018 between holes 11&12 we began to clear a grove of three 50+ year old declining silver maples along with two unhealty spruce and a couple of red pine to open up air and light for the turf underneath. As the removals progressed we discovered deep inside the grove quite a tall, spindly, sparsley crowned looking elm that seemed to be doing rather well in that enviornment all things considered. We decided that since it was giving it's all to thrive in those clustered surroundings we owed our Charlie Brown elm a shot at making the big time. The thin crown of 8 years ago is now thick and shapely and what was once a bare trunk is now covered in lower branching that once thriving elm displayed back before the dutch elm eradicated the species in this area. Our Charlie Brown elm has survuved numerous wind storms these past few years and has become a beacon and focal point alongside the buckeye we planted after the removals. We feel that its determination and grit deserves our nomination for the Ontario Tree Pagent.
It’s a big and beautiful maple tree that has been growing in my front yard for years before I was born, and will stay for many years after I go. This tree has been through many different events, including being struck by lighting, from which there is a huge scar down the front. It’s survived many years of childhood climbing, rope swinging, and shenanigans. It’s had many different tree neighbours be cut down from disease and infestation, yet it remains standing. Plus, the maple tree is a symbol of Canada and that just adds to the it’s overall beauty! I hope you select my home tree for this year’s pageant!
This tree is stunning and has survived the municipality wanting to cut it down. It’s beautiful!
A beautiful tree, although technically not a tree, but a rose of Sharon. This wonderful tree is a hub of activity, bees, birds, squirrels alike love the flowers for eating and pollinating.
Between its size, scenic location, and evident age, this lovely tree is a highlight of any walk or picnic through Victoria park.
This tree gets to see the sunrise and sunset each day. Any colour of maple is a personal favorite, but the red or purple maple is also representative of a united Canada. For kids, they are ideal climbing trees, and we have several species of birds who love to build nests in this particular one. We love the shade the maple’s provide whether it’s to be able to play all summer long in the heat or to protect our house from overheating. They’re strong and sturdy. That’s why they’re the best!
This tree, a glorious Tulip Tree, native of the Carolinian Forest, can be found in Dorcheater Ontario as you enter the town from London at the top of the hill. My father, who passed last year at 89, used to take us every spring to see this tree in full bloom as kids and tell us how his father took him every spring as a child to see. I wish I had caught in full bloom so you could this tree's pure majestic beauty.
The Big Pine has been magnificently standing guard over the family cottage for more than 100 years. My aunt was born at the cottage in 1927 and claimed the white pine was as big in her youth as now.
This majestic elm has survived a decade longer than Ministry of Transportation intended. In 2011, it was deemed “too close” to the highway. It and 4 other elms along the highway were marked to be cut down. Friends of this landmark tree in Huron County emailed and phone and publicly rallied on FB for the healthy tree to remain where it has flourished for 100+ years and M.T.O. decided it could stay. See FB page called “Save the elm trees - Huron County/Highway 4”. The grand old elm is already a winner in the eyes of many people from far and near.
If anything, 2025 has given Canadians the opportunity to recognize that communities fare better when individuals reach out to support one another and build upon each other's strengths and resources. Our trees symbolize that these interdependencies occur as well in nature where two white pine seedlings, regenerated within an old abandoned farm yard, have grown stronger in the union of each other.
Gray smooth flawless bark, slow growing with strong roots that tower others, edible triangular nuts, paperlike leaves that hold into spring, elegant and few in a forest.
This year’s Provincial Tree of the Year for our chapter was a glorious 100+ year old copper beach tree located on the 16 acre gardens at the historic Westover Inn in St.Marys. The first building on the site dates back to 1867.
The renonowed English Doctor and scientist Diana Beresford-Kroeger tells us that a single mature tree - like our beech - provides 275 liters of oxygen per day which is 50 % of our daily needs.
Our local Upper Thames Conservation Authority reminds us that Shakespeare (close to our hearts here in Stratford) calls the Beech the Tree of Love, the queen of the woods and the holder of ancestral wisdom.
I was born in about 1876 although no one seems to remember my birth. I was a mere 'key' from my mother who was planted by a well-meaning widow, whose tears nourished us through the years. By the time I was a young sapling, the field I resided in, started to be filled with limestone structures where many other people came to shed their tears at my roots, telling me about their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children and spouses who left this earth too early. Sometimes their words and tears made me tremble and sway and in my sadness for them I often wanted to break, but I somehow knew that I needed to be strong for these people who lived nearby. Through the years, the farm around our field disappeared and the nearby pathways became busy streets and sometimes I rustled my leaves to call attention to the busy passersby who seemed to ignore these grieving people.
My tree is special because my family and I planted it together on May 30th this year exactly one year after my sister Brook who was 7 passed away. We planted this red oak in our pasture where you can see it from all over the farm for family, friends and all who drive by to remember her. Brook was a girl who loved nature, the outdoors and climbing trees.
The Eastern White Pine is native to Ontario, and the official provincial tree. This particular stately specimen resides in a children’s playground, perfectly poised to provide midday shade to young families and support local wildlife. As every parent knows, a well shaded children's park, where the slides don't burn on the way down, is a valuable neighborhood asset!
This hackberry tree has developed a beautifully rounded canopy atop an artfully curved trunk. It shades children zooming around in toy cars while serving as a native host plant for several butterfly species. In the fall, it comes alive with chirping birds flocking to the berries.
I like the wise old oak because it feels alive. It’s like it’s watching over the world in silent thought. It makes the forest feel magical. The face reminds me that nature has stories to tell—if we just take time to listen. The tree reminds me to slow down and notice the beauty around me. Every time I walk past it, I imagine it watching over the forest like a guardian. The wise old oak isn’t just a tree—it’s a friend with a wise, wooden smile.
I would like to nominate this marvelous Catalpa just north of Brighton. A few early members of the Brighton Horticultural Society began caring for and planting trees in the Spring Valley parkette in 1935. I remember when this tree was planted by the Society in 1953. When Northumberland County took back the parkette in the 1990s this catalpa tree was damaged and the main trunk was cut back to 4 feet. Suckers have grown back with great determination and they have become the tremendous tree that it is today.
My tree is an apple tree that was given to my family the day of my sisters funeral. This tree is special because I can see it every day, and it reminds me of climbing trees and picking apples with her.
Majestically towering over the eastern border of Long Branch, this 130 year old Heritage Tree, a Northern Catalpa, is a real showstopper. When in bloom, this Grand Lady fills the neighbourhood with a dazzling white plumage and a seductive floral scent which attracts birds, bees and curious wildlife. Officially recognized as the "Appleby Catalpa "by Forest Ontario, the tree is firmly rooted on the original farm land of The Appleby's, a prominent pioneer family of Etobicoke. Indigenously known as the 'bean,' or ;cigar tree, the clear grained catalpa wood is prized amongst luthiers to hand craft exquisite sounding guitars and similar musical instruments.
Sentinel of Seasons – The Oak That Watches Over Warkworth; On the quiet stretch of Greenly Road, there stands a being older than memory and grander than time. This is no mere tree—it is the Mighty Oak, the unwavering sentinel of Warkworth; This colossal oak has rooted itself deep into the soil and soul of Northumberland County. Its limbs stretch like the arms of a giant, bearing the weight of storms and the glory of sunrises, its trunk weathered and furrowed with the script of decades gone by; This tree is a witness; It has stood as generations walked to school beneath its branches. It has overheard the laughter of picnics, the vows of lovers, the silence of solitary wanderers. Farmers have tipped their hats to it in passing; children have climbed its boughs and birds return to it each spring; In winter, bare and regal, it reveals the architecture of endurance. In spring, it erupts with life, an explosion of green that feels like a resurrection. By autumn, it becomes a cathedral of fire, its leaves an anthem of gold and ember. In every season, the oak reminds us of cycles deeper than our calendars and constancy stronger than our fleeting concerns; In an age increasingly defined by speed and impermanence, the Mighty Oak offers a different gospel: one of rootedness, resilience, and quiet majesty.
This silver maple has stood here, on Elmgrove Farm, for over seventy years. Its broad canopy provides a place to gather or rest and reflect in communion with Mother Earth.
I love the Russian Olive tree located in Arthur Dyson Parkette. Families in the neighbourhood have photos taken, sitting on its horizontal tree trunk! It is beautiful.
The White Pine of which I write is a very old tree. Scientists guess it is "way older than Canada" (170-204 years). This tree is a living testament to the White Pine trees that were once numerous in Ontario. Being gnarly, it has survived generations of settlement on the shoreline of Lake Nipissing. This gnarled but thriving tree is a historic monument in the Municipality of Callander, which has grown up around the tree.
A pair of Bald Eagles chose to nest in this tree some years ago; a celebrated rarity in the area. Interestingly, these eagles do not migrate and spend time adding sticks to their nest year-round, protecting "their tree" from any curious interlopers.
The exposed location of the tree has made it a destination for bird watchers. It is a tree admired by people, local and from afar who proudly take children to this tree, that they might see the Bald Eagles and eaglets that call the tree home.
Sadly, this great White Pine tree which is older than the Municipality, is slated to be cut down in the name of progress. If the Municipal Council has its way the tree will be removed to make way for condos.
Our massive one-sided beech tree at has impressively adapted, reaching for the sun and defying gravity. We love it as a feature in our mixed-zone woodlot hike! the beech tree appears to be free of disease and is still going strong amidst all the shade and lopsided-ness. It also marks the environmentally protected wetland area of the property. It’s a very quirky feature of our walk that everyone loves to point out. The huge arms reaching toward the field are really incredible and I always imagine what it would be like to be a little chipmunk getting to explore it all the way to the top.
This magnificent Black Oak is one of the few remnants of forests cleared for farming in southwestern Ontario. One naturalist estimated it might be as old as 500 years.
Not may be the first tree that will catch your eye but behold the sacred Cedar tree, the tree of life, majestically standing in the land of Katarokwi (Cataraqui, also known as Kingston). From roots to leaves, this venerable tree weaves its own path of aid and comfort through life's varied circumstances. It is used for purification, healing and protection. Rich in Vitamin C, its gifts bolster wellness in times of sickness. Branch that is rot-resilient is used to make houses, totem poles and canoes, a testaments to its enduring strength. The bark can also be made as a diaper, clothing, bedding, baskets, sanitary napkins and so much more, showcasing resourcefulness through tradition. This tree signifies so much resiliency that can mirror a lot of people, especially Indigenous people, withstanding every seasons in life whether it be the harshest winter or the hottest summer, just like life. Its purpose served and ensured the life of Indigenous for millions of years and continues to do so, symbolizing strength and vitality, forever will remain. The Cedar, the tree of life, will always remain a timeless emblem of resilience and spirit.
My father loved trees and building furniture, although he was an apple grower. Tapping trees for maple syrup was something we often did as a family. But my favourite tree now, in my retirement, is this amazing white birch that is on my front lawn. I bought the place 3 years ago mainly because of it. It is one tree widely branched and makes the perfect place to take pictures. The gatherings from several important events have already been photographed under it and in it. Very old for a birch tree I think. The hole near the base of it that you see in the picture goes half way through the main trunk! I don't know how long it will be with us, despite the extra care I give it, but every day we have is precious. I love it.
My tree deserves to win because it is a rare White Oak Swamp tree that is about 250 years old. Its circumference is 18 feet. The St. Clair Conservation Area comes every year to collect fallen acorns that are given to nurseries all across Ontario to grow new trees and continue its legacy.
My tree deserves to win because in 1911, the people who owned the property before my grandparents did, planted three oak trees together to grow into one. They named them Faith, Hope, and Charity. It serves as a reminder of the past, and that love endures.
My tree deserves to win because this willow tree is special to me. It grew from a cutting that my Nona gave me in a big pot from her big willow tree at her house in London. It survived for 2 years in that big pot before my family found a house of our own and planted it outside our back door, where we can watch it grow.
This maple tree specifically, reminds me of the heart of Canada and the people who embraced and gave me a 2nd home. It holds a special place in my heart as an immigrant, I lost and found myself in this country. Forever grateful for maple and its people. Ephemeral yet constant - a cornerstone of home. Our apple tree.
From burgeoning blossoms that tumble and whisper warm winds of spring. A swift fall onto a bed of burnt orange leaves, juices tart and crisp. Bare branches, dipping and swaying in the frigidity of long winter nights. Ephemeral yet constant- a cornerstone of our home. Our apple tree.
The Sentinel Oak – For over two centuries, this majestic Bur Oak has commanded the shaded banks of Hoards Creek beside the Keating–Hoards Marsh. It has borne silent witness to Indigenous life, the arrival of settlers, and generations of farming - a living reminder to honour the history, land and wild beauty that sustain us.
‘Mom’s Tree’ Once a scrappy sapling tangled in the beams of an old shed, this Box Elder was saved and grew into a proud farmyard giant. As a boy, I’d see my mother in her favorite shady spot beneath its branches, smiling as she watched Dad work in the garage. Now that Mom is in long-term care, we think of her every time we see it - a living reminder that with love and care, even the smallest beginnings can grow into something strong and beautiful.
In 1912 the Guelph Country Club Golf Course was established. It is said to be the same year thisbeautiful tree was planted. Located at the centre of the patio on the golf course, it is beloved by staff and patrons alike. Its branches offer shade to the patio. It provides cover for birds and small mammals. The Pignut Hickory produces acrid tasting nuts that were said to be fed to pigs, hence the name. DBH 3'6" ft or 106.68 cm from 11ft circumference. Age est: 113 years
This tree is more than a landmark to those driving into Elora. It is a living part of our evoling family story. For over two decades, our front-yard maple has stood watch as our home at 20 and 22 York Street evolved from a temporary stop into a multigenerational, dynamic hub we now call The Blue Door Community. It has shaded meals, mornings coffee's, listened in and supported tough conversations, and cradled the laughter of three plus generations. Its branches have been monkey bars, bird homes and places for quiet contimpation. Its roots and changing branches have steadied us through phases of love, loss, growth, and wild reinvention. Now, as it quietly ages alongside us, we want to honour its role in shaping not just the land but the people who have been lucky enough to live beneath it. This tree has helped make our house a home and our three front doors a community. This is the idea tree to celebrate the power and meaning of our urban forest.
Located in Mt Forest, 101 cm DBH. This tree is so loud and proud ! Every time I drive by it, it makes me smile . This giant deserves some TLC as it has clearly stood guard at the hospital , has witnessed many joys and grief ,and has great promise to live many more years, with the investment of care. I nominated this tree last year and will continue to nominate it until it wins !
The grandest cedar in a mystic grove, I have named “Grandfather”. He stands majestically tall and proud; his girth wide and limbs strong, standing amongst members of his cedar clan.

Inaugural Year: 2024

Honourable mention:

An ancient Apple tree, dubbed a ‘spirit tree’ that is growing in Georgina Township. This tree has proffered food for 7 generations of
the family living at the homestead.

Third place:

A majestic White Elm gracing Perth’s Stewart Park. It is likely older than the park, which itself was donated to the town in 1947. Miraculously, the tree has avoided the Dutch elm disease, which killed so many Elm trees. Today, it serves as a stunning backdrop to many summer festivals and concerts.

Second place:

A much loved, 380-year-old White Oak with a canopy spanning 125 feet. This healthy giant in Kingston provides a treasured, shaded oasis for its homeowners.

First Place!

Known as the Great White Oak, this landmark tree stands majestically in front of the Royal Ontario Museum, where it was already established when Canada’s pre-eminent museum opened in 1914. Amazingly, construction of the Yonge-University subway tunnels 50 years later managed to dodge its roots. Throughout ROM’s many expansions and renovations since opening in 1914, Museum staff have ensured the protection of the White Oak and its roots. Most recently, this has included the construction of the Michael-Lee-Chin Crystal, the restoration of the Queen’s Park entrance, and the current transformative OpenROM project.

Through it all, the tree – now in the later stages of its expected lifespan – remains healthy and a landmark along the Queen’s Park facade of the Museum.

“ROM’s heritage white oak is a beacon to the region’s past when oak-pine forests dominated the landscape. It, and the other giant oak trees that dot Toronto’s parks and streets, are the offspring of those forest trees. They are the sentinels of today’s urban forest, still producing acorns that will grow into trees gracing the canopy of our city in the future. Thank you to all who cherish this splendid tree and have honoured it in this way”

– Deborah Metsger, ROM’s Assistant Curator of Botany and co-author of
A Field Guide to Trees of Ontario.

A short celebration is being planned at the tree to honour it, with details to follow.

The 2025 Ontario Tree Pageant is proudly sponsored by:

Ecclestone Financial Group Inc.
www.efginc.ca