Friends of Mother Maple, a huge THANK YOU to you, our 779 local petition signers. Your clicks of support and comments, along with Olivier Lauren’s front-page article in the Saanich News on Wednesday July 23, 2025, are truly what saved Mother Maple from the chainsaw.  In reversing its decision to remove north Wesley Rd’s iconic boulevard tree, Saanich acknowledged the strong community support for Mother Maple, specifically citing the number of petition signers and the Saanich News article.  

Mother Maple also received support from all levels of government, federally from MP Elizabeth May, provincially from MLA Lana Popham, and municipally from Saanich Councillor Nathalie Chambers.  And the famous Canadian poet Lorna Crozier offered Mother Maple a poem of support (see below).  Thank you so much, ladies!!  Also, the neighbours of Mother Maple are very grateful to Bartlett Tree Experts for offering to adopt her care.  

But the neighbours of Mother Maple have just learned of some majestic Garry oaks on Lynnfield Crescent in Saanich that are currently under threat from development pressure.  Some of these trees are estimated to be over 200 years old, more than twice the age of our maple.  Unlike in Mother Maple’s case, however, these oaks are on private land, not a Saanich-owned boulevard, so they are at even higher risk of being destroyed.  

Until last year, these oaks were designated by Saanich as sensitive ecosystem inventory (SEI) due their woodland (WD) designation.  In a previous proposal for development of the same lots in conjunction with an adjacent subdivision, none of these Garry oaks would have been removed.

These Garry oaks should and could be worked into the new development, which would be all the more valuable and impressive for retaining its old-growth tree assets.  But without strong community pressure, these beautiful trees are likely to be destroyed in the upcoming weeks.  After all, it only takes a chainsaw a couple of hours to take down a tree that has been growing in place for a couple of hundred years.  

Please consider adding your signature to the Mount Doug Neighbourhood’s Change.org petition, "Save the Garry Oaks And Tree Canopy on Lynnfield Crescent.”  Hopefully with enough community support these Garry oaks will, like Mother Maple, be worked around, not taken down.  To quote Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” 

Thank you!    :)  

Suzanne
iacobus@shaw.ca

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-garry-oaks-and-tree-canopy-on-lynnfield-crescent

SOME PEOPLE MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT LIVING

Some people offer you respite

 in the heat, a reprieve from worry, 

the coolness of their take on things 

a small relief 

from the madness of the day.

Some people hold to their chests a stillness— 

a stone forgotten at the bottom of a bowl, 

bone in a button, the long sleep of seeds. 

There when you need them, 

deep rooted, cloud-wise,

some people are more like trees. They bend over water,

stand tall above you, soften the rain that batters your hat.

They listen with the listening of a thousand glistening leaves;

 they eat the light and speak it 

in dappled dialects of green.

When you feel dull and far away from

   beauty, they wait for you 

to open –some people are more like trees—

to break –no matter 

what the season—into blossoms.

copyright 2025 Lorna Crozier