Colorado blue spruce planted in 1945 to mark VE Day still stands in Vaughan

Tree planted in front of what was then Kleinburg United Church

Yorkregion.com
July 9, 2019
Megan Ogilvie

This Colorado blue spruce stands tall and slim on the west side of Islington Ave. in the city of Vaughan on the front lawn of what was once Kleinburg United Church.

It is taller than the red brick building, but its trunk only measures 160 cm (63 inches) around.

The tree was planted thanks to Chas MacTaggart, a gentleman who laid out flower beds, planted trees and generally looked after the grounds of Kleinburg United Church. He was a mechanic who operated his business north of the church.

This blue spruce is a memorial tree and was purchased for $15 (equivalent to more than $200 in 2019 dollars) on May 7, 1945, from Dominion Nurseries Limited in Toronto. We know this because MacTaggart wrote a note on the original receipt, which his daughter, Shirley Davis, has kept in her mother’s scrapbook.

This is what his note says: “This tree was bought, on the afternoon of the day Germany was defeated, by Mrs. MacTaggart and myself and planted in front of the church by James Devuns, Urguard Shunk and myself in the evening as a living memory to our boys overseas, especially those who will never come back.”

It’s amazing to think that within a day of the Germans surrendering in the Second World War, a group of citizens purchased and planted the Colorado blue spruce. It was a true team effort, and we can only imagine what a special day that was, bringing defeat of the German forces after so many years of pain and suffering.

At that time, Kleinburg was a small village with great community spirit. Records show that people decorated Islington Ave. with flags and bunting to welcome the men and women home.

Since then, many changes have taken place in Kleinburg.

In 2010, after the United Church’s congregation disbanded, the city of Vaughan purchased the building, which was built in 1926. After extensive renovations, the city reopened the former church in 2018 as the Pierre Berton Heritage Centre.

A plaque installed near the tree tells passersby of its story.

This tree, which continues to stand tall, guarding the memories of all the Canadian forces who served overseas, is also a celebration of the Canadian public spirit, as demonstrated on May 7, 1945, by the MacTaggarts.

Long may it live.