Ontario Bicentennial White Pine - Guelph Ontario - Community Commemoration on Waymarking.com

Located inside The Arboretum at the University of Guelph is this large white pine, which is approximately 35 years old. It was planted in June 1984 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Province of Ontario. The plaque associated with the tree reads:

WHITE PINE Pinus strobus L. In celebration of the Bicentennial of Ontario 1784 - 1984 this white pine, Ontario's Arboreal Emblem is dedicated to the continuance of good relations between the Province and the Univeristy of Guelph Dr. Burton C Matthews, P.Ag. President, University of Guelph June 23, 1984

It's not immediately clear to me why the year 1784 was chosen as the "creation date" for the Province of Ontario. Technically, Ontario did not become a "Province" of Canada until Canada's Confederation in 1867. As is probably common, it may be difficult to say when a particular region "began". The year 1784 appears to be tied to the earliest European settlers to the area (although various explorers had been through dating back 100 years or more beforehand). It's worth noting that this date follows the American Revolution (1776), which saw a large number of American (collectively known as United Empire Loyalists) leave the United States for the British colony to the north

The tree species is appropriately a white pine (Pinus strobus), Ontario's official tree. It was dedicated on June 23rd 1984 by Dr. Burton C. Matthews, who at that time was President of the University of Guelph. This recognition is fitting, given that post-secondary education falls under provincial jurisdictions

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