We’re heading into November – the remembrance month. A time to reflect and honour Canada’s fallen.
Of all the words that we use to describe what happens during Remembrance month, we never use the word “celebrate.” There is a good reason for this as we do not want to celebrate war but rather honour those who served, were injured and the many who died to defend the freedom that we enjoy in Canada.
I would like to suggest that there is one reason to celebrate during Remembrance month. Peace. This Nov. 11 is not just another Remembrance Day, it is the 100th anniversary of Armistice, the day that the First World War ended. As we reflect and learn about such a costly war, we have many reasons to be sober and somber.
A Tree for Every Hero
Three years ago, we launched a new campaign to acknowledge the sacrifice of many Canadians who served in our Armed Forces during time of war including 117,000 war dead.
The Highway of Heroes, which stretches between CFB Trenton and the coroner’s office at Keele Street and Highway 401, was created during the Afghan conflict. The bodies of Canadians who were lost in war were flown to CFB Trenton and repatriated there, on Canadian soil. As hearses drove down the highway, thousands of Canadians stood on bridges and along the highway to reflect and ponder the loss of life when a Canadian was killed while in service to the country.
No one will claim that this stretch of the 401 should win any awards for its’ natural beauty or for its positive environmental impact.
But that is changing.
The Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is a campaign to plant 117,000 trees on the highway right of way, one for each of Canada’s war dead since 1812. 1.8 million more trees are being planted on “the other side of the farmer’s fence”, one for each Canadian who volunteered for military service during times of war.
Milestones
The past year has been a very exciting one for our campaign, with many positive changes.
David and Sharon Johnston agreed to join our campaign as honorary patrons. David, Governor General from 2010 to 2017, and Sharon the Honorary Captain of the Royal Canadian Navy. Both are committed to helping us reach our goals and have already been extraordinary in doing so.
Don Cherry surprised us with a very kind, hand written note and a personal cash donation just a couple of months ago. He wrote, “I would be honoured to be an advocate for the Highway of Heroes Living Tribute. Please use my name in connection with the campaign. Thanks, Don”. There is no doubt, Mr. Cherry is a beauty of a guy. He now appears in a special video on our website www.hohtribute.ca. In the mean time, you never know when he might just give us a pitch while on tv.
Planting
We have planted more than 90,000 trees, 75,000 in the last couple of months alone. As we ramp up our planting schedule, we are planning on planting many more trees next spring and fall. By 2019, we are targeting 50% of our goal for right-of-way plantings and several hundred thousand of the trees near the highway.
Our partners at the Ministry of Transportation continue to be critically important to the success of this living memorial. Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign is the only organization authorized by the MTO to plant on the Highway of Heroes and we are thankful for their continued help and support on many levels.
Donations
This year we raised over $1.9 million towards our goal of $10 million. Currently, we stand at $3.6 million, with thanks to many Canadians who have stepped up to the plate to make a contribution. Many are individual Canadians, just like you. These include two Silver Cross Mothers, who lost their sons during the Afghan war.
There are many organizations and people who have been generous with in-kind donations of trees, planting services, soil, mulch and more.
And finally, Landscape Ontario and its members have been more than generous in their support.
To find out more, to help us during our public planting days or to donate, please go to www.hohtribute.ca.
Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster, tree advocate and Member of the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Follow them at markcullen.com, @markcullengardening, on Facebook and bi-weekly on Global TV’s National Morning Show.
