Posted by Mark Chipman, Governor, District 7070
 

You are invited to the 'Save a Tree with Rotary' initiative on November 26 via Zoom.  Please click on the link below to attend. You can also book family and friends

Nov 26, 2020 7:00-8:15 pm on Zoom

On Thursday, November 26 at 7pm, five Rotary Clubs from District 7070 have organized a special online virtual evening celebrating a unique opportunity to save an important part of Ontario's heritage AND contribute to the fight against climate change.

Zhelevo is a majestic Red Oak located in a residential community near the Humber River in Toronto. It is well over 250 years old and was recognized as a Heritage Tree in 2009 thanks to the incredible efforts of Edith George, its neighbour and friend.

This Red Oak has witnessed history unfolding as a lookout tree overseeing the First Nations’ Carrying-Place Trail. Every year, it captures more than 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide and currently stores over 31 tonnes of carbon above ground.

The Evening will be hosted by CTV's Colin D' Mello with special guests: Mark Cullen, Mayor John Tory (invited), Carolyn King, Edith George, Sophia Maiolo and Nilam Bedi.

Come together to help save an Oak Tree that is older than Canada!

Register Online as a Guest (unless you are a member of the Etobicoke Rotary Club).

A Zoom link will be sent during the week of November 23rd to all those who have registered.

Thank you

Mark Chipman,  District Governor, Rotary District 7070 , on behalf of the Rotary Club of Etobicoke

DONATE HERE 

 
 

Help save the home of a tree older than Canada!

Zhelevo is a majestic Red Oak located in a residential community near the Humber River in Toronto. It is well over 250 years old and was recognized as a Heritage Tree in 2009 thanks to the incredible efforts of Edith George, its neighbour and friend.

This Red Oak has witnessed history unfolding as a lookout tree overseeing the First Nations’ Carrying-Place Trail. Every year, it captures more than 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide and currently stores over 31 tonnes of carbon above ground. 

Now the lot on which Zhelevo grows is up for sale and funds must be raised quickly to secure the tree and its home for future generations. 

The City of Toronto has agreed to purchase the property and establish the space as a parkette to preserve and showcase this beautiful example of our natural heritage. However, the purchase of sale is conditional upon the City fundraising $430,000 by December 12, 2020. To date there is a fundraising gap of approximately $200,000.

How to Help! 

Make a donation on the Rotarians for Toronto’s Historic Red Oak page. Donations made on this site will be held in trust by the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation. If the campaign is successful in raising the funds required to proceed, a tax receipt will be issued. If it is not successful, donors will be contacted to arrange the return or reallocation of funds to another project. 

Make a donation on the City of Toronto’s website. All donors will receive a tax receipt. If funds raised are insufficient to purchase the land, donations will go to Toronto Urban Forestry’s programs to support tree planting and stewardship on private land and publicly accessible green spaces.

Make a club or company donation. The Rotary Club of Toronto West is making a Legacy Gift of $10,000 to save the home of the historic red oak and create a peaceful parkette. Donations of all amounts are welcome and needed!

Join the “Rotarians for Zhelevo – Toronto’s Historic Red Oak team.” Help us to spread the word and raise funds. Our team includes members from Rotary Toronto West, Rotary Etobicoke, Rotary Toronto Sunrise, and Rotary Toronto Eglinton. Contact us at Barry.Rotary@outlook.com

Learn more about Zhelevo, the historic Red Oak. Check out the links below and act now to help create a peaceful parkette and save the home of a tree that is older than Canada! 

Help us save Toronto’s oldest tree – 15 September 2020 – Mark & Ben Cullen 

“Trees are Treasures” 10-year-old Sophia in a video by Filip Vukcevic, 2020 

This Red Oak tree is older than Canada – Breakfast Television – 2 September 2020 

Toronto seeks to save tree older than Canada – CTV News – 25 August 2020 (with video)

“If this tree could talk:” The fight to save Zhelevo, Toronto’s most iconic red oak – Canadian Geographic – 7 July 2020 

Meet Zhelevo, Toronto’s ‘Rolls-Royce’ of trees – Globe & Mail – 11 March 2020