Heritage Tree: 'Big Red' Oak Thrives in Etobicoke

By Joana Carreira and Sadia Butt

Forests Ontario and the Ontario Urban Forest Council maintain a Heritage Tree database for Ontario. Due to some restrictions because of the pandemic, we encourage you to virtually tour our Heritage Trees by visiting the links in our blog posts.

In South Etobicoke, at the corner of Park Avenue and Long Branch Road, stands a Red Oak dating back to the early 1800s. The oak got its nickname, “Big Red”, because its leaves turn a brilliant red during the fall, setting it apart from all others in the area.

This 200-year-old Red Oak’s storied history began as a single acorn that took root in the forests of Southern Etobicoke, now known as Long Branch. In the late 1800s, Big Red towered over a fountain at the historic Long Branch Grove and Resort. The resort burnt down in a fire in 1958, but the Red Oak remained standing.

In 1933, Royal Canadian Legion Long Branch Br. 101 members and Long Branch residents, with help from local merchants, joined together to construct the Long Branch Cenotaph. The Cenotaph honours the memory of residents who lost their lives in World War I, and later in World War II and the Korean War. This tree has watched as the area built new additions, including a carousel, a ballpark, and dance pavilions. It has heard the cheerful screams of children zooming down a waterslide and splashing in Lake Ontario. Big Red has witnessed, and continues to experience, the neighbourhood of Long Branch develop and flourish.

This 24-metre high Red Oak has served as an important member of the Long Branch community – a beautiful living reminder of the city’s history.

Forests Ontario and Ontario Urban Forest Council recognized Big Red, a Red Oak, as a Heritage Tree on April 30, 2018.