Port Hope Tree Planting Recognizes The Contributions of Health Care Workers and First Responders

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Community, Editor Choice, Local

A tree planting to recognize the contributions of all health care works and first responders took place in Port Hope on Tuesday, July 27, 2021.

The planting was inspired by the memory of Captain Tom.

Captain Tom’s wish was to recognize the contribution of health care workers through a worldwide tree planting program..

Two local residents Mike Goldstein and Peter de Auer took the lead in creating a tree planting as part of the Commemorative Tree Program of Port Hope.

Among the dignitaries present were Port Hope Deputy Mayor Les Andrews, Cobourg Mayor John Henderson, along with members of the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit, Northumberland County Paramedics and Community Care.

While the location is in Port Hope, the initiative is designed to honour all, with the majority working in positions in Cobourg, as the larger centre between the two.

The wording on the stone identifying the tree reads, “Honouring All Health Care Workers and First Responders in Our communities – June 2021.”

Budget for the project was set at approximately $1700 which they raised through friends and the general public.
The organizers have consulted with major health care provider groups and received excellent support for the initiative.

The tree is a brandy wine maple that has been planted in Wakely Gardens just south of the Port Hope Town Hall on Queen Street.

Captain Tom Moore of Britain was 99 years old in April 2020. Aware of the tremendous work being done by the National Health System in the battle against Covid-19 he decided to raise funds for the NHS charities by walking laps of his garden with the help of his walker. His goal was to raise $1,700 before his 100th birthday on April 30. By the time he died he had raised over $65 million.