1. Home
  2. Walks
  3. A Story Walk: Captain Cowley and the Mighty Oaks of Champlain

A Story Walk: Captain Cowley and the Mighty Oaks of Champlain

A Story Walk: Captain Cowley and the Mighty Oaks of Champlain
One of our Champlain oaks coming into leaf in the spring.
One of our Champlain oaks coming into leaf in the spring.

Local Storyteller, Community Activist, and co-founder of the Champlain Oaks Project Dennis Van Staalduinen leads you on a walk through the ages to learn the amazing history of the mighty Oaks of Champlain Park, and some of the incredible characters who lived their lives under the Oaks. 

Find out more about the oaks and about the project to raise awareness and celebrate these magnificent trees at www.ChamplainOaks.com.

Location
Route

Champlain Park is on Cowley Ave, near Carleton & Clearview, east of Island Park, north of Scott St.

Starting at the field house in Champlain Park, we'll walk north to the river, through NCC forest trails, south through Champlain Park stopping at several homes to visit individual Oak trees.  We'll then proceed across Island Park and down Scott St. to view old Cowley homestead, the sad wastelands of Ashcroft Canyon, and ending at Aylen House near Richmond Rd. & Kirkwood.

About the walk leader

Dennis Van Staalduinen is a Local Storyteller, Community Activist, and co-founder of the Champlain Oaks Project.  He loves discovering the hidden connections between cities, stories, and history.  His walks of previous years have been well-attended and well received.  He will also be a presenter at Jane's Talk at Arts Court on May 1 (see Jane's Walk home page for details).

Guide:

Dennis Van Staalduinen

When:
Date:Sat May 3, 2014
Time:1:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Language: English
Where:
Start:Champlain Park Fieldhouse
End:Richmond Rd., near Superstore
Area:Champlain Park, Westboro Beach, Westboro
Distance:3.0 kms
Accessibility:

Most of the walk will be on city sidewalks, but weather permitting we will be spending 15-20 minutes on footpaths in the Champlain Oak Forest.  Wear sturdy walking shoes. 

The paths may be challenging for strollers and wheelchairs.

Gallery
One of our Champlain oaks coming into leaf in the spring.
Volunteer to Marshal This Walk