A Vimy Ridge Oak is planted at Belleville’s Memorial Cenotaph Friday, November 10/17. (from left to right) Councillor Mitch Panciuk, Don MacPherson, Mayor Taso Christopher, Andy Anderson, Larry Shoebridge, Mike Evans, MP Neil Ellis, Councillor Garnett Thompson (Photo: John Spitters / Quinte News).
Belleville’s Memorial Park now has a living and growing tribute to Canada’s fallen
soldiers.
A Vimy Oak was planted near the cenotaph today (Friday), the day before Remembrance Day.
The Vimy Oak project sees direct descendants of a lone oak tree left standing in France after the Battle of Vimy
Ridge being planted from coast to coast.
This is the 100th anniversary of the World War 1 battle. The Canadian Corps fought the Germans
and took a crucial piece of high ground from them in April of 1917.
There were over 10,000 Canadian casualties, including 3,598 dead.
Bay of Quinte riding MP Neil Ellis presided over the planting, describing how a Canadian Lieutenant had scooped
up some acorns from the scorched oak tree after the battle, eventually taking them home and planting them in the Toronto area.
The Belleville oak is one of 4 Vimy Oaks planted in the riding.
