Downtown in St. Catharines in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
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The History of Vimy Oak Trees
Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 11, 2025
1. The Battle of Vimy Ridge / The History of Vimy Oak Trees Marker
The Battle of Vimy Ridge
The Battle of Vimy Ridge, in which 3,598 Canadians soldiers paid the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the rights and freedoms of all Canadians, was a significant moment in our Nation's history and the development of a sense of Canadian identity. Where allied troops had struggled and failed, Canadian soldiers overcame great odds and captured the ridge after four days of fighting.
This tree has been gifted to the City of St. Catharines by the Green Advisory Committee through the Vimy Oaks Legacy Corporation for Memorial Park as a living tribute to all Canadian soldiers who fought in the First World War.
Non Nobis Sed Patriae
Not for us but for our country
The History of Vimy Oak Trees
This oak tree is a direct descendant of acorns gathered from the many fallen oak trees that were destroyed in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, France, by Lieutenant Leslie Miller, Canadian Signal Corps, in April 1917.
He sent them home to Scarborough, Ontario with instructions to have them planted on his family farm. They were later named The Vimy Oaks and still flourish there today.
Erected by City
this page online
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • War, World I. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1917.
Location. 43° 9.275′ N, 79° 14.78′ W. Memorial is in St. Catharines, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Saint Paul Street West, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 4 St Paul Street W, St Catharines ON L2R 3N8, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this memorial is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe and in Niagara Canada. 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 Ruperts Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Catharines Cenotaph (within shouting distance of this marker); Anglican Church, St. Catharines (within shouting distance of this marker); 1796 - 1935 (within
Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 11, 2025
2. The Battle of Vimy Ridge / The History of Vimy Oak Trees - Marker in context
This marker is along the north (right) edge of Memorial Park, and near the east (front) edge of the park, under the stand-alone maple.
More about this memorial. While the street name is St. Paul Street West, the street is actually aligned north-south at this point. Memorial Park is on the west side of St. Paul St West. The marker is at Memorial Park, under a maple tree, at the front of a flower bed at the north (right) side of the park.
Photographed by Kevin Westell, June 11, 2025
3. Looking across St. Catharines' Memorial Park
St. Paul Avenue is across the east (right) side of the park. The marker is under the towering stand-alone maple on the right, which is near the front of the park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 12, 2025, by Kevin Westell of St. Catharines, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
