It was with profound happiness I read the front-page article “Doubt Shrouds OHS Tree's Future,” sent to me by my mother-in-law, Joan Gratz.
I am Dave Herbert's daughter, the landscaper/horticulture college prof who donated and planted the tree.
Although I live in Kelowna now with my husband Derek and two boys, at the time the tree was planted in the 1990s I lived in Olds and worked at OHS as a drama and English teacher.
I knew of the work of our school's environmental club, coordinated by Pierre Lambert—a teacher ahead of his time—and asked my Dad if he would kindly donate a tree to the cause.
All these years later when we visit Olds, seeing the preservation of my father's tree on the old high school site is really a wonderful thing.
It says a lot about Olds and the kindness and caring of the people who live here.
When my Dad was sick, the town rallied over many months to help us out with my parents' farm, and even though he passed away in 2007, it is an amazing thing to know that his legacy lives on in Olds, the place he started his career by attending the college's horticulture program.
My Dad's projects continue on— like the Botanic Gardens and the Wetlands project, his last design for Olds College, which will open on Sept. 5.
We have visited this project several times while we have been back and proudly have the top brick.
It reads: “Dad-Your Dream is Now Reality.”
My Dad's cousin and my uncle will be attending on our behalf as I am teaching now in Kelowna and sadly won't be able to make it.
Whether the tree can be saved or not will be up to the many professionals that have offered their opinions—and most likely to the tree itself.
I truly hope it can be saved and incorporated in new and creative ways to the community, but I think the important thing for me is what this tree symbolizes—that simple acts of generosity can yield wonderful things that last longer than we can ever imagine.
Olds—we may not be able to visit you as often as we like, but we are proud to have called you home and return every time with a fondness that is beyond words.
Thank you!
Bonnie Gratz and family,
Kelowna
