Group rallies around century-old elm on Parliament Hill

A group devoted to saving a century-old tree on Parliament Hill wants more information about its health to be released before it gets the axe.

The Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital held an information session Sunday focusing on theelm tree, which could be torn down to accommodate excavation work during upcoming renovations toCentre Block.

The tree is estimated tobe about 100 years old.

• Historic elm tree faces axe for Centre Block renovations

• Parliament's Centre Block prepares to shut down for at least a decade

"It would be a shame to remove something like this that has a legacy both a living legacy as well as kind of a cultural legacy," said TomWhillans, one of about 20 people who attended the gathering.

Whillans, who was there with his young daughter,said he's concerned about development projects leading to the lossof large trees, both in Centretown and across the city.

"[They] arevaluable to the community at large," he said.

Owen Clarkin, chair of the conservation committee of the Ottawa Field Naturalists Club, delivered a talk Sunday afternoon.

"I think the more we know, the more we appreciate what's here and the more we protect it for future generations," said Clarkin, who'sbeen researching trees as an amateur for several decades.

Clarkinsaid elm trees are "extremely tough" and are known for recovering fromdamage.

The Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital said it would be callingon the National Capital Commission (NCC), which looks after trees on federal property, to release more information about the endangered elm.

The alliance is making the move after Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), the department responsible for the renovations of Centre Block, pointed to a 2018 arborist's report thatthe tree is in poor condition and is being held together by cables.

"We're thinking there's probably more information about the health of this tree that the NCC might have," said the alliance's chair, Paul Johanis.

The NCC also has to give permission to PSPC to remove the tree, since it's on Parliament Hill.

While PSPC estimates the cost to move the roughly 20-metretree would reach $400,000, Johanis said the alliance isn't asking for it to be relocated just protected during the renovations.

The PSPC has said it'staken the decision very seriously and although no one in the departmentwants to take the tree down, the best course of action would be to remove it and reuse itswood for commemorative purposes.