Arboretum History
Arboretum History

The Wall-Custance Memorial Forest

Header image: Aerial view of the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest in the summer of 2020.

In 1989, The Arboretum and the Wall-Custance Funeral Home and Chapel partnered to create the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest. For each donation to the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest program, a tree or shrub is planted in one of the many connective forest corridors that comprise the Memorial Forest. Over 18,000 trees and shrubs have been planted since the Memorial Forest was first established in 1989.

Each year, a dedication service is held in the Memorial Forest to honour the lost loved ones commemorated through the program. A plaque detailing all of the names of people honoured that year is unveiled, as well.

To learn more about the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest, visit the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest page on The Arboretum’s main website.

A tree grove filled with saplings and young trees.

Wall-Custance Memorial Forest tree grove.

A large crowd of people stand under a canopy of trees. They look away from the camera to an unseen speaker.

A large crowd gathers for the annual Wall-Custance Memorial Forest Annual Dedication service.

A large crowd sits on folding chairs in the middle of a green lawn.

The Wall-Custance Memorial Forest Annual Dedication service, 2005.

Four people stand in a semi-circle around a young, freshly-planted sapling. The group of people look at the tree and away from the camera.

A group of people look at the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) sapling planted at the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest Annual Dedication service, 2006.

A sign saying "Wall-Custance Memorial Forest" sits under the canopy of large trees.

Wall-Custance Memorial Forest sign, 2015.

A tree grove with large, mature trees.

Wall-Custance Memorial Forest, 2015.

A wooden boardwalk runs above the water-covered forest floor.

Wall-Custance Memorial Forest boardwalk, 2019.

The land where The Arboretum now grows has been home to plants and animals for thousands of years. It was home to Indigenous peoples before settlers arrived. We recognize the Dish with One Spoon territory, the treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Between the Lakes Treaty 3 lands on which the University of Guelph and The Arboretum now sit. We are honoured to work on and care for this land.