Oak Tree Planting & High Park Celebration with Grandmother Donna
Description
Join Taiaiako’n Historical Preservation Society, Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle, High Park Nature Centre, and forest ecologist Eric Davies to commemorate the preservation of the Land now known as High Park: a nature space in the heart of the settler city.
In 1873, settler property owner, developer, and architect John Howard and his wife, Jemima, bequeathed the Lands now known in the English tradition as High Park to the City of Toronto. High Park opened to the public 150 years ago. Since then, the public has become more aware of the significance of High Park to Indigenous peoples on whose Lands the park sits.
High Park’s Oak Savannah is a remaining fragment that represents a traditional Indigenous stewardship practice created through controlled burns. The work of THPS and the ILSC is to re-indigenize High Park, restoring the deeper Indigenous history of the Land through stewardship and teachings.
Gather around a Sacred Fire with Grandmother Donna Powless, Eric Davies, and others for song, ceremony, a potluck feast, and Oak Savannah teachings. Together, we will plant four 3-year-old Black Oak saplings grown from acorns gathered from the High Park Savannah.
For those who are inspired and have space, there will be an Oak Tree giveaway (donations accepted to support the work of the Indigenous Land Stewardship Circle). Tree pick-up will be at a later date. More details will be available at the event.
Planting tools will be provided by the High Park Nature Centre.
Special thanks to Dan Vanderkruk of AVK Nursery and Brent Forbes of Somerville Nursery for their support in growing the oak sapplings.
Event Details
Event: Oak Tree Planting & High Park Celebration with Grandmother Donna
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 1PM - 4PM
Meeting Point: High Park Forest School, 375 Colborne Lodge Drive
Audience: Family-friendly
Price: FREE
What to Bring
Please dress for the weather and for working in the outdoors
(Optional) You are welcome to bring your own gardening gloves
Refillable water bottle
Peanut- and nut-free snack
FAQs
- What should I do if I require accessibility accommodations?
We try our best to accommodate accessibility needs on a case-by-case basis. Please contact info@highparknaturecentre.com about any accessibility-related questions you might have as soon as possible.
Hike routes through High Park might include some uneven terrain and mild slopes.
The High Park Forest School building is not yet an AODA-compliant facility.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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