Frequent users of the Mission Creek Greenway in Kelowna may already be familiar with the lore of the Greenway Tree, a small fir that is mysteriously decked out in ornaments for major holidays such as Valentine's Day, Easter, Father's Day, Canada Day, and of course, Christmas. Who is behind this festive tradition? Some speculate that it's a Greenway fairy while others insist that it's just the goodwill of passersby. The truth lies somewhere in between.

 

The tradition started in 2000 with a Kelowna resident named Pearl Jakins. Pearl walked along the Greenway every day and had noticed a small fir near the Casorso Road bridge on the south side of Mission Creek. Someone had placed a Christmas card in the tree's branches so Pearl decided to add her own touch and brought some ornaments with her on her next walk to decorate the small tree. With the help of a friend, Pearl kept up the tradition for a few years. In those few short years, Pearl's efforts were aided by the kindness of strangers who noticed her work and also felt compelled to decorate the Greenway tree.

 

In early 2002, Mother Nature dealt a blow in the form of an industrious beaver who felled the tree. Devastated, Pearl thought that this was the end of the tradition. It wasn't until 2008 that she noticed that the tree had miraculously grown back, having sprouted from an off-shoot on the tree stump. Once the tree was big enough, Pearl resumed her tradition and Greenway users were once again treated to the festive Greenway tree. 

 

These days Pearl isn't able to get around like she used to, but she still tries to get out to her tree once a week, though she has to drive there now instead of walk. The past couple of years she hasn't been able to decorate the tree, yet the tree continues to bear decorations thanks to the goodwill of anonymous Greenway users who have grown to cherish the tradition. Pearl would like to meet some of the people who have taken up the torch and express her gratitude that the spirit of the Greenway tree lives on.

 

If you have contributed to the Greenway tree or know someone who has, then please contact Regional Parks Services at parks@cord.bc.ca. Happy holidays!        

 

(This history was told to Parks Services by Pearl Jakins. Parts of this story first appeared in 2002 in the Capital News. Read those articles here.) 

.EECO Storytime

This year's winner of the Kokanne Run School Grant Award was KLO Middle School. The KLO ECO Club received $1000 for having the largest number of student participants at the Kokanne Run on October 13th.  

KLO Middle School's ECO Club will use their award towards many projects that they have on the go. The students took Friends of Mission Creek board members on a tour of the projects around the school, including the Western Painted Turtle habitat restoration seen here. Other projects include a school-wide composting program, native species gardens and rain water collection.

The KLO ECO Club has a long-term goal of restoring Fascieux Creek and creating wetland habitat on the school grounds. A fund-raising drive is currently taking place and you can support their efforts by purchasing 'Owl" bird feeders, or a bat box, both made by the students, or a potted Christmas tree. To order please fill out the order form and email to james.chester@cord.bc.ca by Dec 7th. Pick-up of items will be on Dec 14th at KLO Middle School between 3:30 - 5:00pm.

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