In early September Hydro One workers chose to clear-cut 29 mature trees that had grown too close to the power lines over Robertson Davies Park — shocking local residents. 

The park is located on Avenue Road between the rail tracks and Cottingham Street. According to local residents, the old trees offered a natural barrier between the trains and the local community. Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow was shocked by the clear-cutting. According to Matlow, residents met with the hydro company in 2012 and requested that they prune the trees rather than bulldoze them, and Hydro One agreed.

In an email to Post City, Daffyd Roderick, director of corporate affairs at Hydro One, said the decision to remove the trees was made by the crew on site. Roderick said the crew was unaware of the company’s long history of working with the community to protect them.

“The trees were removed in error by a crew acting outside of their work instructions,” noted Roderick. “Work should have stopped, and the crew should have contacted their supervisor when they had to deviate from the plan.”

Like Matlow, residents were baffled by the news. “It’s hard to understand how something like this could happen, given there was quite a lot of discussion between the councillor’s office and Hydro One,” said Nichole Anderson, a member of the Rathnelly Area Residents Association.

Roderick said Hydro One will work with the community to invest in the park and remediate the damage to their satisfaction. 

“Hydro One is committed to rebuilding the community’s trust and is planning a community meeting to discuss the replanting plan for the park,” he said.

Matlow will meet with City of Toronto staff to discuss what can be done to fix the park. A community meeting with Hydro One is to be scheduled. 

Anderson said she hopes Hydro One will make additions to the park as an apology. 

“Perhaps further landscaping or a children’s play set, in addition to new trees,” she said.