The maple tree at Duncan’s Island Savings Centre that has been the focus of a dispute over whether or not it should be cut down as part of a parking lot reconfiguration will come down.
While it will be sad to see the venerable old tree, which is more than 100 years old, come down, the elected representatives who made that tough choice did the right thing.
It is always a little heartbreaking when a big, old tree comes down.
There is something majestic and a little mystic about these old giants. They remind us of the brevity of our own time here on this planet that boasts many things that were here when we were born and will be here after we are gone.
That’s why preserving stands of old-growth forest is so vital. One cannot stand among those towering trees and not feel small. It’s something we should all do once in awhile.
But even these great giants have a lifespan, and the maple was come to the end of its natural cycle.
With this aging, according to professional arborists’ reports, came the increased risk of limb failure, which, because of its location, created a risk to the public and to property.
It would have cost, we are told, many tens of thousands of dollars to try to preserve this tree so that it did not run the risk of dropping possibly large bits of itself onto heads and vehicles.
The Island Savings Centre Commission therefore made the choice to remove the tree.
It might hurt our hearts, but it makes sense.
So we were disturbed to hear that commission members have taken abuse as they struggled to make this choice, up to and including a death threat.
That’s nuts.
Politicians, even local ones, are used to taking flak for decisions they make, as you can never please everyone.
But nobody deserves to have their life threatened when they are just trying to make the best choice they know how with the information they have.
It must be mentioned that the commission members also heard from many members of the public who did not wish for the public purse to be used to preserve the tree at the price it would cost.
While they may not have been made in the context of a very public protest surrounding the tree, their views also deserve to be taken into account.
We have great respect for those who have so passionately defended the ancient maple.
But the time has come to say goodbye. Time to plant some new future giants.
