It stands a little shorter than him, and is skinnier than a rail, but one day it will tower over all who visit the Derek Doubleday Arboretum, and specifically those stopping at the Afghanistan commemorative metal structure to pay respects.
It is an historically significant oak tree, that Cloverdale-Langley City MP John Aldag helped plant during today’s Rivers Day celebrations in the Township of Langley.
It’s a Vimy Ridge tree, a descendant of those that loomed over the battle in France more than 100 years ago, explained Aldag.
• Click here to see more photos from Rivers Day
One of the Canadian soldiers “when he was leaving to come back to Canada, he filled his pickets with a number of acorns from oak trees that grew in the Vimy Ridge area, and he planted those in Canada.”
A century later, those original trees that grew in Ontario have produced more acorns that were also planted.
Given the historic significance, and the fact that this is the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge, when Aldag said “Canada really started to come into its own,” he managed to secure three sapling from those Vimy trees.
He drove them across the country this summer – on what he described as the “stinking hot” weather, and is pleased they’ve survived but knows they need some special attention.
The first tree was planted today in the Township park, another will be planted in a few weeks in Cloverdale, and another in Langley City on Remembrance Day.
“Langley had a really special connection, as so many communities across Canada did, but Langley sent a number of men, and frankly boys, to Vimy Ridge,” Aldag said following the planting.
“Hopefully this Vimy oak will be a way of remembering the contributions that Langley and the families made to the war effort.”
He and Township of Langley Councillor Bob Long were joined by Kwantlen First Nation’s elder Lekeyten Antone in planting the tree.
“We hope it will grow strong,” Aldag said, “and really remind Canadians – and in particular residents of Langley – of the important connection we have to that all important battle in Vimy Ridge a hundred years ago.”
The planting ceremony was part of the Rivers Day community festival held in the arboretum, next to the Langley Regional Airport.
Hundreds of people took advantage of the warm, summer-like weather to get out with their families, participate in activities, watch entertainment, and visit information booths that focused on the environment and the contributions of the community’s rivers and waterways.
The event was held by the Township of Langley, in cooperation with the Langley Environmental Partners Society.
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