City unveils new downtown orchard

A little imagination is required to envision how recently-planted saplings will look in a few years when the city’s new downtown apple orchard and sugar bush trees mature.

A total of 48 apple trees and 30 sugar maples will make up the Etienne Brule Community Orchard on the former elementary school’s property.

“It’s going to take a few years to appreciate the magnitude of it. I think it’s fantastic we have an orchard in this part of our city and I think it’s something people are really going to enjoy,” said Christian Provenzano, mayor of Sault Ste. Marie.

So far, 24 apple trees have been planted in the urban orchard project. 

In the spring, the other 24 apple trees and 30 sugar maple trees are expected to be planted.

Provenzano thanked city staff, who have been involved in the tree planting.

In total, four varieties of apple will be planted, with trees beginning to bear fruit in about five to eight years.

Travis Reid, area coordinator of parks for the city, said once the apple trees reach full maturity they will stand about 25 feet tall.

“It will be outstanding to see in the spring, the blossoms will be really beautiful. I’m sure people will come just to see that,” said Reid.

The urban orchard was possible, in part, due to a $25,000 grant from CN Rail, one of 25 projects across Canada that received funding in the company’s From the Ground Up program.

Drew Redden, community affairs for CN, said the intention of the program is to improve green space in the communities they serve.

“We want to be good neighbours in the communities we live in. One of the ways we try to be a good neighbour is to partner with the communities that we run through. Sault Ste. Marie being a CN town, it’s important for us to give back to the community,” said Redden.

Etienne Brule Public School closed after the 2013-14 school year, but the Algoma District School Board made a commitment to using the building as a community hub, said chair Jennifer Sarlo.

Currently, the property houses the Urban Aboriginal program, a daycare and has served partnerships with Ontario Works and Algoma Family Services and the property is home to a community garden.

The orchard and sugar bush will serve not only as an enhanced green space, but will also be used by Ontario Works programs in the future, said Mike Nadeau, CAO of Social Services.