Planted trees at Pointe-Claire’s Solidarity Orchard honours those who died of COVID-19

By next spring, the city plans to have a total of 80 trees in place, each one representing the life of a resident who died from the virus.

Pointe-Claire’s Solidarity Orchard has taken root, honouring residents who lost their lives to COVID-19 over the last year.

As of Thursday, 58 trees have been planted in the green space in the shadow of the Pointe-Claire aquatic centre.

By next spring the city plans to have a total of 80 trees in place, each one representing the life of a resident who died from the virus.

Within the next two to three years, Mayor John Belvedere says the saplings will grow and produce apples, pears and plums.

Longtime resident and experienced gardener Susan Weaver was the one who planted the seed of an idea, prompting the city to plant trees in memory of the victims last year.

Walking through the rows of freshly planted trees Thursday, Weaver humbly says she is proud of what her small idea has blossomed into.

“I’m proud to be part of this and I’m proud Pointe-Claire moved ahead with this initiative because it’s great for community building. In this time of change that’s what we have to do to build our community and make it inclusive,” Weaver said.

Belvedere says nearly at the same time, the city was fielding requests from the West Island Mission concerning starting a community garden project in Pointe-Claire.