“And a Cyclone Hit Us”
During my early years including the first 25 years of working full time in a family business, I was exposed to the world of a dreamer, serial entrepreneur, and an ideas machine. His name was Len Cullen and he was my father.
I had no idea at the time, but my experience with Dad was a college education for what would happen next: meeting Michael de Pencier. The two never met, as Dad passed away in 2006 and I met Michael in 2012. I had 6 years off to gird myself for the experience of a lifetime: one that would change me in ways that I could not have anticipated.
Michael Christian de Pencier passed away suddenly, at 89, on October 6th, just a few weeks ago. In spite of his age, all of us who knew him were shocked at his departure, such was his endless energy: a powerhouse of forward motion.
Without Michael, the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign would never have happened. Nor would GrandTrees Climate Solutions or this organization, Canadian Trees For Life.
This does not suggest that he carried the torch without many other people doing the heavy lifting: he would agree that our success in each case was a collaboration.
Michael’s leadership motivated us and pushed us forward, even when we felt lost and unsure of our future in the not-for-profit tree business.
In the early days of the Highway of Heroes Tree Campaign Michael said to the founding directors, Tony DiGiovanni and me, “Let’s go to Ottawa and tell Trudeau what we are doing. Start at the top and get his endorsement of our plan. Then our relationship with the Feds will fall into place”
“Great idea Michael. And how do we connect with the Prime Minister?”
“Leave it with me” he said.
We did. And when he returned from Ottawa he reported, “Trudeau’s Chief of Staff gave me an audience. Gerry Butts has informed Trudeau of our plan. Now let’s get to work on the minister of Vet Affairs, Seamus O’Regan”
Which we did and, with full credit to Mr. Butts and Mr. O’Regan, our first official endorsement fell into place.
The rest is history.
What history?
2.5 million trees on and near Highway 401.
$10 million, half public/government funding and ½ private sector funding.
4,000 individual donors (this may include you).
4,500 volunteers.
Eight years and the final tree planted by The Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, to commemorate the 117,000 Canadians lost at war since the war of 1812, plus over 2 million more Canadians who volunteered for military service during times of war. We over-planted as some trees, we knew, would not survive.
I can say confidently, that every person we intended to honor with a living tribute: a tree, was.
This history is Michaels story.
He continued to inspire us with Grand Trees, an idea hatched while having lunch with old friends in the print business one Christmas a few years ago. (Michael founded Toronto Life among many other notable Canadian-based magazines).
Michael told us that the group pondered the question, “What will our grandchildren say when we are gone about how our generation treated the planet?”
The answer was, “Let’s plant trees to honour their future: to acknowledge that we have created an environmental mess of things AND that we take some responsibility for it.”
But then COVID hit. Michael's great plans for a big, multi-generational GrandTrees fundraising event in Toronto had to pivot. But trees still needed to be planted. In typical creative style, Michael took this campaign to a different, (no contact) path, and in about 2 years, raised $1M, planting over 230,000 trees near and in the Greater Toronto Area.
Michael then folded the resources of Grand Trees into the newly hatched Canadian Trees for Life resulting in wonderful new partnerships for the charity.
He was unselfish, and not afraid to challenge the norm.
When National Geographic published an extraordinary issue focusing on the world of trees and forests, Michael arranged for the publisher to donate 1,000 copies for us to send to every member of parliament and many provincial Premiers, Ministers of the Environment, and other related ministries.
When I reported to Michael that the job was done, he asked if we could use 1,000 more copies. “Of course we can,” I replied. (not thinking that it was a serious question).
A month later we were back to work, preparing 1,000 copies for mailing to the CEOs of lumber companies and other notably connected people. Michael said, “I had to agree to pay $2 for each copy. Do we have a budget for that?” We did.
But the invoice never came.
Someone at National Geographic magazine respected Micheal enough that they gifted all 2,000 copies.
This story is one of many that reflect the incredible cyclone of ideas and boundless energy that describes our good friend.
The fact that you are reading this newsletter is a tribute to a great Canadian, an environmental activist, a giver, a man of words, and a man of action.
Had my father met Michael they would have made fast friends.
That was Michael: fast and forever persistent, a hero to us.
We will miss him so.
Read Michael de Pencier’s Obituary
Mark Cullen
Chair, Trees For Life
P.S. With the approach of Remembrance Day, please consider planting a tree to honour your hero, perhaps one who served in the military, or who otherwise has positively impacted your life.
