Sometimes we forget they're here, but the trees in our city are getting some attention. 

Each year the city of Moose Jaw hosts a campaign called the Tree of Significance, where they accept nominations from residents for trees in our city that they feel deserve some praise. Parks Gardener, Sarah Regent, said they received an average number of responses but noted that the explanations were quite detailed this year. However, they can only pick one piece of our urban forestry and that tree has now been selected. 

"This year's tree is actually on the Sask Polytechnic Campus here in Moose Jaw. It's on the south side just to the right when you're facing the main building and you'll see it because we've put a nice big red bow on it and we gave it a little sign letting you know that it is the Tree of Significance," explained Regent. "It is a Tartarian Maple which is an unusual maple species for our area."

Part of the reason this tree was chosen was because of the role it played in the Red Dress exhibit earlier this year according to Regent. 

"In this particular case, they hung a bunch of red dresses from this tree when there was no leaves or anything else on it so that they really stood out. It has had that special role being apart of the red dress exhibit and it is in such a high traffic, central location where a lot of people pass by, gather and look at this tree."

The exhibit brought attention to missing and murdered indigenous women and Regent said it was very touching to witness it. 

She also added that they continue to host the annual campaign because the Parks and Recreation department feel that it's a positive initiative that reminds residents of some of the beauty we might be taking for granted. 

"Especially living in a place like Moose Jaw which is really well treed. People many years ago had the foresight to plant a lot of trees in Moose Jaw, so we're really enjoying the benefits. They are providing a ton of shade and shelter for us, they're wildlife habitats, they are cleaning our air, they're increasing our happiness and property values, there are just endless benefits from these trees."