Memorial tree clones planted
Colette Derworiz, Calgary Herald
Published: Friday, June 22, 2007
Calgary soldiers killed during the First World War were remembered Thursday as the city planted clones of the poplars originally planted in their memory in the 1920s along Memorial Drive.
Ald. Druh Farrell and Dave Breckon, the city's director of parks, planted three of 500 replacements cloned from the original trees in a special ceremony.
Farrell, who was joined by veterans and other community members, said it was the perfect way to remember the fallen soldiers.
"It was a re-enactment of the original May 10th in 1922," she said. "It's important we remember the commitment made by these young men and it continues that legacy."
The first tree was planted on Arbour Day 1922 in front of the home of a local midwife known as "Ma" Brown, who lived at 932 Sunnyside Blvd. -- the street that later become Memorial Drive.
A total of 3,278 trees were planted over seven years, but only half of those survived drought, vandals and car wrecks along the road.
The trees only have an 80-year life span, and so most of what were left of the degenerating poplars were removed in the spring of 2003.
"When the trees were removed, the community reacted with grief," said Farrell. But a program to clone the original trees from sample cuttings started shortly before the last cull.
The clones, with a direct genetic link to the original memorial trees, will be planted along the inner-city corridor from the community of Parkdale east at least as far as the Langevin Bridge.
Breckon said there will be a total of 500 trees planted this summer.
cderworiz@theherald.canwest.com