THUNDER BAY – The removal of dozens of mature trees along Walsh Street came as a devastating surprise to residents along the south-side thoroughfare, who say they were given no warning of the dramatic change before Hydro One crews began topping the trees on Friday.
Jessica Matyczuk, who’s lived on the street since childhood, sat by the 65-year-old tree in front of her house (though on city property) Saturday morning, sparing it the same fate as others on her block – at least temporarily.
She says a form letter received last month from Hydro One left the impression the company would be performing routine trimming, as has been done every few years since she’s lived there.
“The letter didn’t say anything different than normal,” she says.
A copy of the letter reads, “Hydro One will top or trim a number of trees… and remove dead trees in a few locations throughout the corridor.”
Instead, city trees on both sides of Walsh are set to be removed entirely along about two blocks of the street, just west of Edward Street.
Matyczuk said it’s unclear why the minor trimming that has been done to protect the lines for decades was suddenly insufficient this year.
“It’s just not right,” she said. “They give us oxygen, they give us shade, they give us privacy.”
Another neighbour, who preferred to remain anonymous, also felt blindsided by the development.
“The whole feel of our neighbourhood has changed,” she said. We no longer have a tree-lined street. It is really devastating that they can do this.”
“Some of the trees on the south side of the street are nowhere near the wires… Trimming the trees would have done the job on our side of the street.
City councillor Kristin Oliver, who represents Matyczuk’s Westfort ward, said she was made aware of the plan last week.
She wasn’t aware its implications had not been fully communicated to residents, she said.
“I do see why the neighbourhood would be upset,” she said Saturday. “I don’t know where the communication train came off the tracks.”
Still, she saw the removal as a sad but necessary move to protect energy lines along Walsh, which she said power the city’s entire south side. Hydro One had cited concerns about sag lines along the street, she said.
“I don’t think there was an alternative. I understand the need to protect the asset.”
The city would be replanting the trees she said, and hoped that would involve more mature trees rather than saplings, to provide more immediate benefits to residents.
Matyczuk said she planned to sit under the tree in front of her house as long as she could.
“I may be the ‘crazy tree lady’ sitting here, but I don’t know – it was the only thing [I could think of] just to come sit and send her some thank yous and sorrys of what’s going to probably happen.”
Hydro One had not responded to inquiries regarding the issue as of Sunday morning.
