Across the street from Toronto’s Christie Pits Park, a quiet giant stood watch for more than a century. Towering above Barton Street, an enormous American elm (Ulmus americana) stretched skyward—gnarled, majestic, and deeply rooted in place.

In spring 2024, an unofficial heritage plaque was installed to celebrate its legacy and spark curiosity. The plaque honours the elm not as a passive part of the urban landscape but as a living monument: a survivor of disease and development.

Its age is estimated at over 100 years. Its shade shelters passersby and songbirds alike. Its silhouette is stitched into the seasonal rhythms of the neighbourhood.

UPDATE: In spring 2025, the beloved elm did not leaf out and locals have begun to fear the tree may not survive.