Two people spent 28 days in the canopy of an ancient western red cedar in Tofino, British Columbia , to protest plans to cut it down. The protest brought national attention to the tree and prompted efforts to find an alternative to removing it. One proposed solution involved using engineering expertise to design a metal brace anchored into the bedrock beneath the tree.
John Eik came to Canada in 1891 at the age of 22. In 1896, Eik claimed 152 acres of land and initially built a cabin on a low plateau near the waterfront. In 1913, Eik built a two-storey family home using timber from the property. The Arts Council’s account estimates that the western red cedar was already about 700 years old when Eik acquired the property. Resolution 301-01 required the developer to provide an engineering proposal along with financial security to maintain or replace the support structure. The financial security had to equal 120% of the structural engineer’s estimated construction costs.
The resolution therefore set out both the requirements for a possible preservation structure and the conditions under which the municipality would proceed. This tree grew on the land that was part of John Eik’s holdings, who was a Norwegian settler. Eik was a Norwegian settler whose family history in the area is documented in the Tofino Arts Council publication Eik Street/ Eik Cedar . He worked on fishing schooners operating out of Seattle. During one voyage, his ship took shelter in Clayoquot Sound, where he decided to settle. The location offered fresh water, space for a garden, and a suitable anchorage. He later married Serianna Flovik, and the couple raised two children, Amelia and Hubert. The family also established the Fernwood Chicken Farm, supplying eggs and poultry to early settlers. The protest brought attention to the tree; however, finding a resolution required practical measures. The council also placed conditions on the arrangement. Before municipal staff could act on the proposal, the protestors had to leave the tree and remove their equipment, signs and other objects from District property. All demonstrations relating to the cedar also had to stop. As the community became more and more popular with tourists and developed, residents faced the challenge of accommodating growth while preserving the natural features that had helped shape Tofino’s character. The tour provides visitors with information about the Eik family’s original homestead and the tree’s significance in the community’s history. Its preservation followed efforts by residents, the municipality, and engineers to find an alternative to cutting it down.
Today, the cedar is one of the stops on a cultural walking tour organized by the Tofino Arts Council.
