At a ceremony in Cedar Ridge Park on Saturday, Mayor John Tory declared the oak tree to be one of Toronto's official symbols.
Staff in Toronto worked with Indigenous leaders to choose the top four trees that best reflect the city for public voting. Birch, maple, oak, and pine were among the trees on the list.
The ceremony was held after the city invited residents to vote on which tree best symbolized Toronto: oak, maple, birch, or pine. Residents of Toronto voted between April 21 and May 10. The oak tree garnered nearly half of the over 11,000 votes polled.
The maple tree came in second place with 31% of the vote, beating out the birch tree with 14% and the pine tree with 8%.
Oak trees can reach enormous sizes. Some can grow to be 70 feet tall, 135 feet long, and 9 feet broad.
Acorns are not produced by oak trees until they are roughly 20 years old. Every year, a tree can produce 2,000 acorns, but only approximately 1 in 10,000 will develop into a new tree.
"Trees provide us with so much. They absorb CO2, create shade which aids in energy saving, prevent erosion, which aids in flood mitigation, and so on," Tory remarked during the unveiling.
In a press release, Tory stated, "The oak tree is a vital element of Toronto's urban forest."
"It is an excellent depiction of Toronto and plays an important role in our history." The importance of all trees is recognised by naming Toronto's official tree, enhancing our connection to nature."
Jennifer McKelvie, a Scarborough-Rouge Park city councillor, was present for the announcement with Tory.
As a ceremonial emblem of Toronto, the oak tree will now join the city's flag, coat of arms, and mayor's chain of office.
