Former councillor suggests removal of City Hall tree

Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
A former city councillor is leading the charge to have the tree in front of City Hall cut down.

At Monday evening’s meeting, Len Wilson told city council the tree is deterring tourists from taking photographs outside the historic building.

“I’m here on a mission impossible,” he said.

Wilson said there is economic consequences from the tree’s location, suggesting visitors who take photographs in front of City Hall give Stratford free advertising when they take those photographs home and show their friends and family.

Before the tree was planted, tourists would line up to take photographs, something he said no longer happens.

“When the tree went up, the line-ups stopped…the staircase was the perfect platform for taking group photographs. It’s not as useful as it used to be.”

The removal of one tree wouldn’t have a huge ecological impact, he said. An artificial tree could be put up at Christmas, with the tree either purchased by the city, manufactured by local high school students or even purchased through donations from city councillors or the public.

Wilson said though he has no statistics to back up his argument, he is sure fewer people are attracted to City Hall and in turn, it is hurting the downtown.

Mayor Dan Mathieson said the matter is on the agenda for the Aug. 18 council meeting, where a report from Quin Malott, the city’s parks and forestry manager, is expected to be available.

Last year, the tree was infested with spruce budworm, which cause some damage. However, the tree seems to be recovering from the infestation with new plenty of new growth since the spring.