Newfoundland and Labrador’s rich history includes many cultures; from the Vikings and the Beothuck Indians, to the English, Irish and French were all drawn to our shores by an abundance of codfish. In 1949, we became a province of Canada. To mark the 50th anniversary of this important date, the Heritage Tree Committee and former Steady Brook Mayor Trevor Bennett installed The Heritage Tree at the base of Marble Mountain.
The Heritage Tree is a symbol of Canadian unity. This 17-metre (52 foot) cedar tree features 50 carvings representing over 1,000 years of human history. Western Forests Products of British Columbia donated the 360-year-old tree to the project and Newfoundlanders all across Canada donated their time and equipment to transport the Tree across the country.
The carved images include tributes to John Cabot’s discovery of Newfoundland in 1497, the landing of the Vikings at L’Anse aux Meadows over 1,000 years ago, and a commemoration of 1949, the year Newfoundland and Labrador joined Canadian Confederation. You can view the Tree for free, but donations to the Heritage Tree Committee are gratefully accepted via an on-site donation box.