Why

Soon after the outbreak of war in 1914, when every loyal citizen was considering the prevention of waste, or the utilization of waste products, it was realized that our methods of logging caused the loss of hundreds of thousands of young trees, which were destroyed to permit the removal of larger and more valuable trees. The younger trees were left on the ground to dry or rot, along with the slash of the larger trees and these together constituted a dangerous fire menace which for the past number of years has been draining the wealth of the Province for present and future generations.

It was evident that the conscience of the people should be awakened, there was danger of the history of forest depletion in the east, repeating itself in the west, but the problem was, how were we to arouse the people to the wastefulness of our so-called modern methods of logging-Commercialized vandalism.

There was evidence leading us to believe that the present generation was not seriously concerned regarding our forest wealth, there seemed to be an abundance of trees everywhere, so why worry?

It was to combat this apathy to forest conservation that in 1915, a committee of leading city representatives of all classes was organized, to discuss this topic, with the result that in 1916 an Arbor Day Association was formed to pave the way for an educational campaign regarding trees and to inaugurate the annual celebration of Arbor Day. At that time it was impossible to have a real Arbor Day, because the city had no authority or power to take part; neither had the Parks Board power to co-operate. Any person could plant anything they wished on the boulevard, and any other person could come along and destroy it. The result was that where tree planting had been done there was no uniformity as to the kind of trees or the distance apart. In one part of the city we found six trees opposite one 33 foot lot. Just about the correct number of trees for 5 such lots. Up near Shaughnessy Heights we found Douglas Firs planted on boulevards, these are not shade trees and the boulevard is no place for evergreen trees; in the same block around the corner somebody planted a row of Scotch broom in place of shade trees.

In all those cases no one had a right to plant anything on the boulevard, it belongs to the city, but the people did it and nobody seemed to object.

The first task the Arbor Day Association had to accomplish was to see that the Civic bylaws gave the city power (1) to regulate and protect any planting by citizens who desired to beautify the district around their homes. (2) To authorize Park Board experts to give advice as to the best tree to use for the soil of each area to be planted. (3) To prohibit the planting of trees which encourage insect pests or fungus diseases, and to ensure the maximum usefulness and beauty of shade trees on our boulevards by some degree of uniformity of distance, habit and size of the tree planted.

Another reason why we should enthusiastically support the Arbor Day movement is because Vancouver’s water supply is almost entirely dependent on the trees on our water shed areas across the inlet. Many of you will remember a former presidential address entitled “The Handwriting on the Wall” which was largely instrumental in saving our Capilano water shed from complete destruction, and helped local officials to a realization of the dangers of logging on our water sheds.

We want our children to preserve this heritage for their successors, and I know of no better way of impressing them than by annually reminding them through Arbor Day exercises. A city can be no larger than its water supply, and anything which interferes with our water supply will tend towards the decline of Vancouver.

Another aspect worth considering is the influence of Arbor Day on the community. It tends to fraternize the people of a district when they meet on common ground, the young and old work together for a common object, where all differences of rank, or sect, or party are forgotten. The planting and improvements will remain as silent, but effective teachers of the beautiful to all the pupils, gradually improving their taste and character.