Residents are lamenting the loss of a pre-Confederation tree that was destroyed in order to make way for the extension of Terry Fox Drive in Kanata.
Along with a stand of 100-foot-tall white pines, the more than 200-year-old black sugar maple was felled over the weekend to make way make way for the road.
Upon discovering the tree stump, botanist Martha Webber verified the age of the tree to be more than 200 years. The tree’s diameter was 109 centimetres. The city has a bylaw to protect trees with a diameter greater than 50 centimetres, but the city is exempt from the bylaw.
“That tree was as old as Confederation. It was on the edge of the roadway, in perfect health, and the city could have easily retained it,” said Paul Renaud, who is part of a coalition of citizens concerned about the impact of the new road.
Terry Fox Drive must be completed prior to March 2011 in order to receive funding.
