Walsingham in Norfolk County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

First Forestry Station

- 1908 -

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 8, 2024

1. First Forestry Station Marker

Inscription. Here, on 100 acres of wind-eroded sandy land, the Ontario government established Canada's first provincial forestry station. The father of reforestation in Ontario, Edmund John Zavitz, was born July 9, 1875, graduated from McMaster, Yale and the University of Michigan and taught forestry at the Ontario Agricultural College. He entered this province’s public service 1905, was Deputy Minister of the Department of Lands and Forests 1925-34 and served thereafter as Chief Forester until his retirement 1953. Through his leadership, large areas of waste land have been restored to productivity.

Erected by the Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 42° 41.83′ N, 80° 26.688′ W. Marker is in Walsingham, Ontario, in Norfolk County. It is on Regional Road 24 half a kilometer west of Forestry

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Farm Road (Norfolk Road 16), on the right when traveling west. The marker is on the grounds of the forestry station, approx. 100 metres from the entrance on Road 24. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 885 Regional Road 24, Walsingham ON N0E 1P0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Southwest Ontario Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Story of my Life (within shouting distance of this marker); Port Rowan History (approx. 8.3 kilometers away); Our Oldest Heritage (approx. 8.3 kilometers away); Bird Studies Canada (approx. 8.3 kilometers away); Long Point Bay (approx. 8.3 kilometers away); Long Point (approx. 8.3 kilometers away); Long Point Biosphere

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 8, 2024

2. First Forestry Station Marker

(approx. 8.3 kilometers away); Port Rowan Cenotaph (approx. 8.4 kilometers away).

Also see . . . St. Williams Conservation Reserve. Website homepage:

The St. Williams Forestry Station, established in 1908, was the first reforestation project in Canada. It was established to convert blow sands back into woodlots and to grow and ship seedlings all over southwestern Ontario. There were 14 full time employees at the Station by 1917 and annual production of seedlings increased in to the millions. Seasonal employment during the depression was a major plus for the area.

(Submitted on July 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

Photographed by Tim Boyd, July 8, 2024

3. First Forestry Station Marker

St. Williams Forestry Station, 1919 image. Click for full size.

4. St. Williams Forestry Station, 1919

(Public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 213 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.