Six ginkgo trees were the only survivors in the immediate blast area of the world’s first atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945 during World War II.

Thanks to their deep roots, the trees survived this catastrophic act of war that destroyed 90 per cent of the Japanese city and killed about 100,000 people. With time, new buds appeared on the burned trunks and the trees became a symbol of hope in Japan.

Seeds from Green Legacy Hiroshima

In partnership with Westmount United Church*, Dawson College received seeds from the Hiroshima surviving trees.

The seeds are distributed by Green Legacy Hiroshima, a voluntary initiative that shares with universities, botanical gardens and symbolic institutions worldwide the survivor trees’ seeds, and their dual message of caution and hope. The trees recall “the dangers of arms of mass destruction and nuclear weapons, the sacred character of mankind and the resilience of nature,” according to the GLH website.

“We will probably end up with about 12 seedling trees,” said Chris Adam of Dawson’s Sustainability Office. “In the next 10 days or so, we will plant our Hiroshima ginkgo in Dawson’s Peace Garden near the Peace Pole.”

Nurtured in Three Sisters rooftop garden

The other saplings will be nurtured in a baby tree nursery in the Three Sisters rooftop garden at Dawson. In the fall, around the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, they will be given to an interfaith group of churches, synagogues and other faith communities who are committed to peace.

“The ginkgo tree is symbolic,” said Chris. “A ginkgo can live thousands of years. This tree represents hope and resilience in times of crisis.”

Native to China, the ginkgo (also known as maidenhair) is found in fossils dating back 270 million years. The tree is a witness to history and the only survivor in its category of species.  

Holding on to hope

Chris has worked through two difficult and sad periods at the College: the shooting in 2006, which took the life of student Anastasia De Sousa and injured others, and now the prolonged closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have to hold on to hope and we need to have the courage to go towards what that hope represents,” Chris said. “These are times of reflection. There are things to learn and there are always opportunities when you look for them.”

The special ginkgo trees represent peace and “demonstrate what happens when you let Nature come back,” said Chris.

Peace pilgrimage

The vision of Dawson College and Westmount United Church is for Montreal to have a line of gingko trees. Nurtured at Dawson College from the Hiroshima trees, these ginkgo trees would create a peace pilgrimage trail across the city.

*Westmount United Church is working with Dawson to become a Living Church based on Dawson’s Living Campus model.