NUMBER ONE JAPANESE TOWN CHERRY TREE PROJECT

AUGUST 2009 CUMBERLAND VILLAGE COUNCIL UPDATE



Background:

July 2008: Mr. Manabu Doi, former resident of No. 1 Town, advised the Committee that a Toronto-based group of former residents and descendants was in the process of applying for a grant from the National Association of Japanese Canadian Endowment Fund for 31 traditional (Mount Fuji) Japanese flowering cherry trees. These would be donated to the Village of Cumberland and planted in the No. 1 town site. They requested and were given supporting data by the Committee.

February 2009: Mr. Doi advised that the grant application was successful and that his group had also fund-raised sufficient money to cover ancillary costs such as protective mesh, ground preparation etc, and had contracted with Art Knapp to supply the trees and landscape company Lavender's Blue to do the planting and follow-up care.

March 2009: In response to a letter form Mr. Doi permission to proceed with the project was given by Council with specified conditions for this approval. The Committee has agreed to meet the conditions, including responsibility for watering. Mr. David Kydd and Ms. Jan Hellerud have agreed to let the Committee use water from their garden hose bib and a hose has been purchased.

May 8,2009: A site visit by the landscaper and committee members determined appropriate locations for most of the trees. The remainder of the 31 sites were decided on and staked over the next few week. Broom cutting and debris clearing began. The final sites will be confirmed once Planner Judy walker has approved the locations and Public Works Supervisor Kevin Fitzgerald has marked any water lines in the area. Planting will likely be done in mid-September.
At the suggestion of Fire Chief Ken McClure, all of the cut broom and considerable other debris has been removed. The regional district granted a waiver of tipping fees for several truckloads of dumping.

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Mr. Tats Aoki has maintained the grassy area around the signs and along with Mr. Ray Iwaasa, blazed the upper road (Ue Machi) site back to the old school foundations. The lower road (Shita Machi) will be completed shortly.
A few years ago 51 heritage fruit trees were identified and flagged. Most of these appear to be where homes stood, ruling out the first suggestion by the Toronto group that the cherry trees be placed on former house sites. Instead they have agreed to the trees being planted along the main road in (commonly known as the Souther driveway), along the two entries to the town, and on the grassy area north of the coal hills. It was an interesting challenge finding room for 31 trees that require 30' spacing, full sun and good drainage, while accommodating a 51-tree orchard, numerous existing large trees; and 39 approximate sites of former buildings!

May 23, 2009: Mr. Doi advised the Committee that there were sufficient monies raised to also donate a bronze plaque, with a dedication ceremony anticipated in spring 2010. In the meantime input for wording and content will be sought from his group and a draft sent for input from the advisory Committee and the Village.

2009: Mr. Doi requested that there be a formal ceremony to recognize the tree planting. The Advisory Committee respectfully requests the attendance of Mayor and Council, and further requests your assistance in the invitation of fellow dignitaries, honoured guests, media etc. As the planting date(s) will depend on the readiness of the trees and the weather, it might be simpler to schedule an event later in the fall around the planting of the last tree. Please advise as to how to proceed.




Yours truly,




Grace Doherty, Chair,
Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee