THE HONOUR ROLL OF ONTARIO TREES

The Honour Roll of Ontario Trees was created by the Ontario Forestry Association in 1967, to mark Canada’s 100th anniversary. The goal of this project is to increase public awareness and appreciation of trees and forests.

The Honour Roll of Ontario Trees is a list of the largest living trees of each species in the province. The largeness is determined by calculating a tree’s height and diameter. The list also includes trees which are especially old, rare, or of a particular historical significance. The public helps compile the list by nominating trees which they think might qualify as the largest of their species, in the province. Through the participation of many interested individuals and groups, the Honour Roll includes approximately 80 species.

To focus public attention on one of our nation’s greatest resources- trees- is the purpose of the Honour Roll.

The Honour Roll of Ontario Trees is one of several educational activities offered by the OFA. Ontario Forestry Association is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to the care and wise use of Ontario’s forests. At present, the Honour Roll is maintained by the OFA staff and friends around the province who find the program of interest and value.

Throughout its history, Ontario’s Honour Roll has spurred long-term and growing interest in trees throughout the province and in other provinces as well. This interest led to the naming of eastern white pine as Ontario’s arboreal emblem in 1984’s Ontario Bicentennial. Nearly all provinces have followed Ontario’s lead in developing an Honour Roll and in naming a provincial tree. To those who participate, we extend a special thank-you for helping us all in maintaining living links with our past.

Trees represent the largest and oldest living objects in our environment. We develop an attachment to these familiar organisms. One way of acknowledging and documenting this interest in trees is through the OFA’s Honour Roll of Ontario Trees. Since this project was launched, the public has responded with an overwhelming number of letters, photographs, tabulations of measurements and clippings from local publications. This response resulted in this list of magnificent tree specimens. Additional nominations and reports on the health of those already on the list will be will be welcomed.

The Honour Roll is not complete – it never will be! The Honour Roll assigns a point value to any nominated tree that is available for public view. Before you nominate a tree please take a moment to review the previous nominees in your desired tree category to see where you tree will fit in with the rankings. The online database will calculate the point value for your tree once you input the required fields.