Post by Kim Gauvin.
If I had been asked to name the defining characteristics of Centretown at this time last year, I would have mentioned the gable-roofed houses, a few key shops and restaurants, and, of course, the eclectic mix of great people. I would have completely overlooked the trees. The trees, as it turns out, are as important as the architecture. They soften some of the edges and make our neighborhood more inviting.
I had not given much thought to the trees until last fall, when I started seeing large tree stumps appear across the city. Big spray-painted Xs on tree trunks everywhere signal that we will lose many more. The loss of ash trees, due to the Emerald Ash Borer, is an issue for Ottawa as a whole, but it seems especially significant downtown. My street has been especially hard hit, with 12 out of 15 trees on one block alone having been removed or slated for removal.
Seeing the bare stretch of streetscape without these trees made me want to highlight the remaining trees and everything that they bring to our shared space. Taking my cues from a public art piece I had seen of trees wrapped in numbered jerseys (as if runners in a static race) and a recent experience with a cast, I created a simple intervention. Hopefully, passersby will find it fun and be drawn to the trees.
To highlight the trees, the trunks of a few on the east side of Percy Street between MacLaren and Gilmour are wrapped in white fabric on which messages are printed. Unlike the big Xs spray-painted on the trees, the new tags are positive or witty, such as “Thanks for keepin’ it fresh” or “That ash is boring me to death”. White fabric was used to represent gauze or plaster, as is used on our own injured limbs, with the messages being reminiscent of the type inscribed on a cast to cheer us up.
Hopefully, this will prime us to be on the lookout for the replacement trees that the City will plant (on City property). The new trees will be vulnerable to the challenges of living downtown, but, with time and support, they will grow into strong members of our community.
The intervention will be in place for approximately one week, unless something or someone takes it down sooner. Such is the free-flowing nature of public spaces.
Kim Gauvin moved to Ottawa from Montreal several years ago and fell in love with Centretown. The storied buildings, eclectic mix of shops/restaurants and awesome neighbours convinced her that this is the place to be. Kim is involved in several community groups, including McNabb Neighbour Improvement and the heritage group of the Friends of James and Bay. She has a BFA and MA (Art History and Social Psychology).
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