The history behind Toronto’s cherry blossom trees

We’re just a few weeks away from the prettiest time of year in Toronto (arguably). Soon, the city will be filled with cherry blossoms as the flowers start to bloom on trees all over Toronto — but how did those trees get here? There’s a story behind it all, and I’m here to tell it.

The Sakura Project

Called Sakura in Japan, cherry blossom trees were first brought to Toronto in 1959.

“On April 1, 1959, the Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakura on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, Japan, as a gift to the citizens of Toronto for their support of Japanese-Canadian refugees after the Second World War,” shares Sakura Steve, Toronto’s High Park cherry blossom expert.

After receiving the gift, a large number of trees were planted along the High Park Trail and by the Grenadier Pond. Today, this is still considered one of the biggest hot spots in Toronto to view the blossoms!

The coolest part of this little backstory is that the City of Toronto, in conjunction with the Consulate General of Japan, has since created the Sakura Project.

As part of the project, cherry blossom trees are still planted in High Park and throughout the city “in the spirit of continued friendship between Toronto and the people of Japan.”

Symbolism

Cherry blossoms are the national flower of Japan, representing “a time of renewal and the fleeting nature of life” in spring.

Because the cherry blossoms come and go so quickly, it is said that they come as a reminder to appreciate the time you get in life with the people you love and that beauty is all around us.

Pretty cool, eh, Toronto? The countdown to cherry blossom season is on!

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