Since 1919 it has been a U.B.C. custom for the Graduating
Class to plant a tree to serve as a tangible reminder of the class in years to
come. Begun by the Graduating Class of 1919, this custom has been observed by
all subsequent classes.
Only eight of seventy-four trees now planted are not in their original positions.
These eight trees, planted by the first eight Graduating Classes, were moved,
since the University was not functioning at its present site at that time.
The following is a description of the trees that have been planted by the
Graduating Classes since 1919:
- 1919-1930
- Group 1: This group of twelve trees is located in a row running down the
east side of the Geography Building starting from the north end. The group is
made up of two types of trees; oaks and basswoods.
- 1931-1936
- Group 2: These six trees are English oaks and are located on the boulevard
east of the General Services Administration Building.
- 1937-1940
- Group 3: This group consists of four American elm trees located south of
the Library.
- 1941-1946
- Group 4: Six sugar or rock maples constitute this group, east of the Chemistry
Building.
- 1947-1955
- Group 5: This group of nine trees is made up of native dogwoods and is located
on the centre boulevard of the East Mall, just north of Brock Hall.
- 1956-1959
- Group 6: Four oak trees planted beside the Wesbrook Building constitute this
group.
- 1960-1966
- Group 7: This group consists of seven Davidia or Dove trees in the vicinity
of the Biological Sciences Building.
- 1967-1971
- Group 8: These five trees were planted at the new Student Union Building.
Sugar Maples were chosen by the Graduating Class of 1967 in order that they would
blend with the design of the building.
- 1972
- An arbutus was planted at the site of the H.R. MacMillan Building.
- 1973
- Three yellow cedars were planted at the north-west corner of East Mall and
University Boulevard.
- 1974
- A red maple was planted south of the H.R. MacMillan building.
- 1975-1978
- A red cedar was planted each of these years in Fairview Grove.
- 1979
- A fringe tree (old man's beard) was planted on East Mall, east of the Hebb
Theatre.
- 1980
- A Siberian spruce tree was planted on East Mall, east of the Hebb Theatre.
- 1981
- A Japanese cherry tree was planted in the quadrangle between IRC and Dentistry
Buildings.
- 1982
- A Pere David's maple was planted in front of the Barn Snack Bar on April
1st, 1982.
- 1983
- A yellow cedar was planted on East Mall opposite the old Home Economics Building
on Friday, March 11, 1983.
- 1984
- A tree was planted in front of the cheese factory on Agronomy Road on Tuesday,
March 13th, 1984.
- 1985
- A tree was planted between the Aquatic Centre and the Student Union Building
on Thursday, March 21st, 1985.
- 1986
- A tree was planted on the boulevard north of the Bookstore on Thursday, March
20, 1986.
- 1987
- A red cedar tree was planted on the boulevard north of the Bookstore in late
March 1987.
- 1988
- A silver birch was planted across from the Bookstore in front of the Wesbrook
Building on March 31st, 1988.
- 1989
- A red maple was planted on East Mall between the Law and Buchanan Buildings
on March 31st, 1989.
- 1990
- A black pine was planted on East Mall between the Law and Buchanan Buildings
on March 30th, 1990.
- 1991
- An oak tree was planted on the East Mall median between Law and Buchanan
Buildings on April 3, 1991.
- 1992
- A Ginkgo (Maidenhair) tree was planted on the East Mall median between Law
and Buchanan Buildings on Wednesday, March 11, 1992.
- 1993
- A Japonicum tree was planted on the East Mall Median between Law and Buchanan
Buildings, on March 23, 1993.
- 1994
- A Dawn Redwood tree was planted in the courtyard between Buchanan Buildings
C, D & E, on March 7, 1994.
- 1995
- A Pine tree was planted in the courtyard between Buchanan Blocks C, D & E,
on March 17, 1995.
- 1996
- A Dogwood tree was planted in North Meadows, directly across the street from
the Rose Garden Parkade, on March 13, 1996.
- 1997
- A Tulip Tree (Lirodendrum) was planted on the East Mall Boulevard across
from Thunderbird Residences (north east corner of East Mall and Thunderbird Blvd.),
on March 14, 1997.
- 1998
- A Katsura tree was planted on the East Mall Blvd. across from the Thunderbird
Residences (north-east corner of East Mall and Thunderbird Blvd.) on 1 April 1998.
- 1999
- A Honey Locust was planted on the East Mall boulevard across from Thunderbird Residences (north east corner of East Mall and Thunderbird Blvd.), on March 30, 1999.
- 2000
- A Raywood Ash was planted on the East Mall boulevard across from Thunderbird Residences (north east corner of East Mall and Thunderbird Blvd.), on March 28, 2000.
- 2001
- A Honey Locust was planted at the corner of East Mall and Thunderbird Boulevard, on March 22, 2001.
- 2002
- A Japanese Zelcova was planted at the Dorothy Somerset Grove, along East Mall, north-east of the Chan Centre (Gate 3).
- 2003-2006
- Four Zelcova trees were planted in the Zelcova Grove, along East Mall, north-west of the Curtis Building (Gate 3).
- 2007-2010
- Four Zelkova trees were planted north-east of the Chan Centre between NW Marine Drive and East Mall.
