Mourning the Givins willow tree
One of the casualties of Wednesday’s storm was a massive, beloved weeping willow tree on Givins Street, just west of Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto. People have been posting their memories of the tree online.
Francis Marrani lives four doors down from where the tree fell. He was out on his porch talking to his neighbour when it came down.
“It was a shock to see the whole thing had completely fallen with the rootball completely off the ground,” he said Thursday, as crews were working to remove the tree; its remains are still blocking the street.
Paula Bowley was less lucky. The tree fell on her car, which is still trapped underneath. She thinks it has major damage, but all she can see is the front of her car and its licence plate.
“I first went out and saw that the beautiful willow tree that we all love was down and [I] was upset about that,” she told me, as she watched crews trying to free her car.
The tree meant a lot to her. When I pointed out her car may be a casualty of it, she told me, “I’m willing to deal with that.”

