SOS Elms is a non-profit coalition founded in 1992 by a group of citizens to promote care and appreciation of urban forests in Saskatchewan. In particular, we were concerned about threats to American Elms, which are the most abundant and longest-living of our urban shade trees. At that time Dutch Elm Disease, or DED, which is fatal to the American Elm, was rapidly expanding into south east Saskatchewan.

In the 1990s we concentrated on public education campaigns, on lobbying and working with various government leaders plus officials at both provincial and civic levels. Those efforts led to many improvements in the care of trees in the communities of Saskatchewan. Here in Saskatoon, SOS Elms has had numerous dealings with Council and city staff. We are pleased to congratulate Your Worship and City Council on maintaining the budgets for tree care. We are fortunate that DED has not yet been detected in Saskatoon, which may well be a result of the increased rate of pruning and other tree care programs.

However, we still have serious concerns for the trees of Saskatoon. When we last addressed Council, about a year and a half ago, we reminded you of a number of issues, and we urged you to create an effective Tree Protection Bylaw - one with "teeth" - and with resources to enforce it. Other Canadian cities have strong bylaws which could be used as models for Saskatoon. Mature trees must be protected before developments start, and heavy fines imposed on those who harm trees during construction.

This brings us to the nine mature American Elms which proudly stand today, tall and healthy on the Gathercole site. Our position on those trees has not changed from the one we outlined in a letter sent to the then South Downtown Project Manager on June 1st, 2004. Ironically, the status of the Gathercole Elms has not changed in the interveening five and a half years, in spite of grand development plans. If carried out, those plans would have scarified the site, constructed large buildings, and planted little saplings to replace the magnificent old elms.

In 2004 we pointed out that destruction of the existing mature elms would mean the public's loss of the beauty and the environmental enhancement that those trees provide. The saplings in the development plans, if they survived, would take decades to reach the size and condition of the trees which already exist. American Elms are very long-lived, and if properly cared for they can grace South Downtown for another 200 years. We believed then, as now, saving the elms will allow present and MANY future generations of Saskatonians to enjoy the benefits and unique environment that only these large trees can provide. We concluded with a plea that the Gathercole area be designed so that the elms would be the focus, the heart, of a green space which would preserve their beauty and their heritage value.

Given: (1) the property is now back in public ownership, (2) the elms (fortunately) were protected during and after demolition of the Gathercole Building, (3) five years and a lot of public money have been "lost" while Council has pursued development plans which would have obliterated the elms;

We respectfully urge Council to guarantee the preservation of the nine American Elms in whatever development is to be pursued. We seriously ask that you look at the current state of the Gathercole site as a chance to re-think how that site fits into the whole South Downtown Project. Please do not lose sight of the unique heritage value of these trees. It is no exaggeration to say that they are priceless - they could not be replaced at ANY cost.

SOS Elms appreciates the chance to speak for the Gathercole elms. We would be delighted to be involved with whatever is to transpire with those trees. Our sincere hope is that the City can reach a decision to allow the Gathercole elms to remain a legacy for many more generations.

That concludes my presentation. I have copies of it and of our 2004 letter for your reference.