Celebrating RCAF Centennial Groves Completion

On November 5th, just before Remembrance Day, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), in partnership with Trees for Life, made the final installment of their commemorative plantings, honouring their 100th Anniversary.

One of seven such projects spanning the country, 100 trees were planted at Downsview Park in Toronto, in partnership with Canada Lands Company.

Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario with cadets from 188 Cobra Squadron

The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario said a few words and dug in to help the local cadets, 188 Cobra Squadron of North York, plant a special ceremonial tree.  The site is significant because it formerly housed CFB Downsview, an RCAF base.  

Other plantings occurred at Malcolm J Darrach Community Centre, Charlottetown, PEI; Pennfield Ridge, NB; Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, ON; Military Heritage Park, Barrie, ON; A.D. Ross Park, Calgary, AB; and Downsview Park, ON, with a seventh planned in Sydney, NS in 2025. Each has a distinct design of plants, native trees, shrubs, and hardscaping, some roundels are even visible from planes flying overhead. 

The Downsview project is the last Grove scheduled for this year. All sites are living legacies honouring past, present, and future RCAF members, for years to come.  They are all publicly accessible – feel free to visit one near you this Remembrance Day!

Malcolm J Darrach Community Centre, Charlottetown, PEI

A.D. Ross Park, Calgary, AB