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Spotlight i-- by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff uj "Connected to your Community" Familydevasted byrepeated vandalism of memorial tree ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A memorial tree dedicated to an Oakville grandmother has been vandalized again ... and again and again. In April 2013, the Oakville Beaver reported on the sad story of the vandalism of a memorial tree in Esplanade Park. The tree, which was purchased by the Aziz family through the town's memorial tree program, was dedicated to the family's beloved Nana, Bernadette Mandalho. Mandalho passed away from lymphoma in January 2012 at age 77. Her family described her as an amazing woman who immigrated to Canada from Northern Ireland at age 21. They said she was a classically-trained ballroom dancer and outstanding pianist, who knew all the words to the Disney musicals and would sing them with her grandchildren with unyielding enthusiasm. The Aziz family purchased the tree on Mother's Day 2012 and had it planted in Esplanade Park, where Mandalho spent much time playing with her grandchildren. The tree featured a plaque, which clearly identihed it as a memorial tree. Halle Mandalfino lays daffodils at the memorial tree for her grandmother in 2013. The tree has since been destroyed multiple times by a vandal. Branches cut off tree Not long after the tree's planting, the Aziz family was devastated to awaken one morning and hnd all the branches had been meticulously sawed off the tree, leaving what amounted to a long stick in the ground. "Our children and their cousins visit the tree often and get comfort from it being a living, growing thing dedicated to their Nana who they adored," Anne Aziz, Mandalho's daughter, told the Beaver in 2013. "April is Cancer Awareness Month and given how my mother suffered and died, I, along with our children, are especially aware and deeply hurt by this selhsh, abhorrent act." The family moved forward and the town replaced the memorial tree at no charge. However, in December 2013, Bob Aziz said the vandal struck again, sawing off many of the replacement tree's branches. The attack did not kill the tree; but, by the following summer, in July 2014, the tree was chopped down. "We just said to ourselves, `This is ridiculous,'" said Bob. "You just get angry ... Nobody planted this | Metroland Media tile photo tree for their own pleasure. This was planted to memorialize someone we cared about and loved. She was a terrihc mother-in-law and she deserves more respect than she is getting with this." He noted no other trees in the park have been subjected to similar treatment. The town again replaced the tree at the same spot, with Bob spending an extra $200 to purchase a larger tree, which he hoped would have a better chance of survival. In June 2016, that tree appeared to mysteriously die on its own. Tree poisoned on purpose Town of Oakville parks and open space director Chris Mark conhrmed the town tested a soil sample and found the tree was deliberately poisoned. "We believe it was gasoline," said Mark. "Someone clearly wanted to kill this tree." Mark said the town launched an investigation into these incidents, with bylaw enforcement ofhcers interviewing many people Ontario Press Council along the lakefront; however, no one reported seeing anything or knowing who might be responsible. Bob said a tree that replaced the poisoned one has since died under similar circumstances. Mark said the town suspects this tree was poisoned as well. Bob said he plans to set up surveillance equipment to protect the next tree; however, the town is examining the possibility of planting the next memorial tree somewhere else. "We've replaced this tree now at least three or four times," said Mark. "We're just at the end of our rope in terms of trying to honour this family's desire to have a memorial tree at that location. At this point in time, we just feel we cannot continue to replace the tree at Esplanade Park. It is really not fair to the family as well. They're going through heartache for a loss and then they go through it again because the tree has been killed." Bob said planting the tree somewhere else is completely unacceptable. "That just makes me dig my heels in even more," he said. "What you are effectively doing is saying, `Yes, you win. If you don't like these kinds of things, all you have to do is act illegally.' I'm going the opposite direction." Town will prosecute Mark said the town cannot watch the tree 24/7, cannot justify the cost of putting up its own surveillance equipment and questions the sense of planting a tree in a place knowing it is going to die. That said, Mark noted that if the town does catch the person or persons responsible, it will prosecute. "We've got someone out there who is killing a tree and not only doing harm to the environment by pouring gasoline on a tree, but hurting a family who just want to memorialize a family member," said Mark. "I would like to work with the family to hnd another location where they can plant the tree and have it grow." LLE * m etro land m ed ia A V jI Defending principles la inspire public trust B eaver. Volume 55 | Number 64 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allow ance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertise ments or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice-President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Neil Oliver Advertising Director Daniel Baird / dbaird@metroland.com / 289-293-0624 M anaging Editor Angela Blackburn / editor@oakvillebeaver.com / 289-293-0617 Regional General Manager Kelly Montague kmontague@metroland.com / 289-293-0614 Director of Distribution Charlene Hall / chall@metroland.com / 905-631-6095