Barrie in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

In Recognition of the Rotary Club of Barrie Tree Planting Program

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024

1. In Recognition of the Rotary Club of Barrie Tree Planting Program Marker

Inscription.
This program has provided hundreds of trees which have been planted throughout the parks and streets of Barrie.

A special thank you to Rotarian “Charlie” Wilson for his many years of “service above self” and his commitment to this wonderful program.

Erected by Rotary Club of Barrie.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list.

Location. 44° 22.453′ N, 79° 40.887′ W. Marker is in Barrie, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It can be reached from Lakeshore Drive 0.6 kilometers east of Bradford Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located along the Waterfront Heritage Trail, just west of the Barrie Canoe & Kayak Club. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 Lakeshore Drive, Barrie ON L4N 7Y9, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country

and specifically in Georgian Bay Country.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and 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 walking distance of this marker: Railyard Workers (within shouting distance of this marker); The Roundhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Coal Chute (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederic Cumberland (within shouting distance of this marker);

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Master Mechanics Building and Stores Department (within shouting distance of this marker); The Railyards at their Peak (within shouting distance of this marker); Barrie's Military Heritage Park (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Military Heritage Park (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barrie.

Also see . . . 65 years of “greening” Barrie.

Excerpt: Serving in the armed forces can make a man think about his mortality and legacy. Upon leaving the Royal Navy and returning home in 1953 Charlie Wilson involved his Rotary Club of Barrie, 30 other veterans and the Boy Scouts to plant 3600 trees near West Gwillambury by the 400 as his legacy and gift to his community. Today these trees are a forest.
The trees weren’t Charlie’s only legacy though. Our club was the first and very few Rotary clubs to form an “Environmental Committee” that would ensure the continuation of the yearly tree planting projects as well as facilitate and encourage other green projects in Barrie. The Rotary Club of Barrie created the “Charlie Wilson Environmental Award”, an annual award given to a person
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 5, 2024

2. In Recognition of the Rotary Club of Barrie Tree Planting Program Marker
Looking west through Allandale Station Park; the Waterfront Heritage Trail is on the right.
or group within the City of Barrie that demonstrates environmental activism and consciousness.
Since that start Charlie Wilson, the Environmental committee and our club have planted about 5,000 trees and shrubs at schools, public spaces, parks, and more around town at a cost of $5,000/year.

(Submitted on May 21, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 20, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on May 21, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.