Five Rotary Clubs in District 7070 hosted 65 Rotarians from Rotary, Rotaract and Interact Clubs in District 7070 at an outstanding Zoom meeting on November 26, to save an important part of Ontario's heritage AND contribute to the fight against climate change. The Evening was hosted by CTV's Colin D' Mello with special guests: Mark Cullen, Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson, Carolyn King, Edith George, Sophia Maiolo and Nilam Bedi. District 7070 came together to help save an Oak Tree that is 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.
Please Read more for the rest of the story. As of 7:45 pm on November 26, all but $40,000 remained to save the tree. You, your Rotary Club , your friends and business associates can still help make this happen. 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. Thanks to generous donations from the like of Mark Cullen and some anonymous donors, the fundraising gap, as of 7:45 pm on Nov 26 was $40,000. The deadline is still there - DECEMBER 12. We need Rotary to come to the rescue.
Here's 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 these outstanding links below and act now to help create a peaceful parkette and save the home of a tree that is older than Canada! And contribute to Rotary's newest Area of Focus - Supporting The Environment.
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)
Meet Zhelevo, Toronto’s ‘Rolls-Royce’ of trees – Globe & Mail – 11 March 2020