The violent storm that swept across Toronto, as well as most of central and eastern Canada, has destroyed what is arguably the most famous tree in Canada.
shown lying across Laing Street in Toronto. Many were
eager to get branches in hopes of growing them as a way
of preserving the tree © CBC
The silver maple which stood for more than a century and a half and which inspired teacher Alexander Muir to pen the song “The Maple Leaf Forever” was knocked down by the powerful winds last week.
The huge tree stood at the corner of Laing Street and Memory Lane in the small neighbourhood of Leslieville, in the heart of Toronto.
All that is left now is a large stump.
The stirring song was for a long time in strong contention for becoming Canada’s national anthem, and many still believe it to be a more rousing tune than, “O Canada”.
Muir wrote the song in 1867, the year of Canadian confederation.
The Maple Leaf had been used as a symbol of Canada as early as 1834 by the St Jean Baptiste Society of lower Canada, and was often seen adorning books and journals throughout the mid 1800’s as a ways to indicate the Canadian sentiment of the emerging nation.
According to Canadian music historian Helmut Kallmann, it was this tune that song and stirreing melody that really more than any other artistic endeavor began to weave the maple leaf into the fabric of Canada’s national identity, at least in English Canada.
The strongly pro-British lyrics which call General Wolfe , who defeated the French at Quebec, a “dauntless hero” and who “And planted firm Britannia’s flag On Canada’s fair domain.”. It also mentions the “thistle, shamrock, rose entwined” ie Scots, Irish, English heritage. T
These lyrics were not well-received in French Canada and is thought to be the reason why the song was not given official status, even though Muir later added “the (French) lilly” to the lyrics.
It is however the second regimental march of Ontario-based the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada of Ontario, and the British Columbia-gased Royal Westminster Regiment.
It has since become the most recognizable image of Canada, appearing on almost all things Canadian, including money. The maple leaf flag is one of the most recognizable flags worldwide
As for the original tree, even as work crews used chain saws to remove it from the power lines and street, dozens of residents were eager to collect branches in hopes they will be able to get the them to grow as a way of preserving this most famous Canadian tree.
The 48th Highlanders play “the Maple Leaf Forever”
Maple Leaf Forever, sung (choir unidentified)
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