On September 26, 2026, a beautiful autumn day set the stage at Thomson Trail Park for a double celebration: the Township of Mulmur’s 175th anniversary and the dedication of the Ken Jewett Memorial Maple Grove.

Nearly 200 community members, friends, family, local staff, and special guests gathered to mark the milestone. Highlights of the event included a moving performance of O Canada by 40 students from the Primrose Elementary School choir, as well as remarks from Mulmur Mayor Janet Horner, Deputy Premier Sylvia Jones, and MP Kyle Seeback. Also in attendance were close friends, neighbours, and former caregivers of the late Ken Jewett, who gathered to honour his lasting legacy.

A Living Tribute to a Conservation Leader

Ken Jewett, was a visionary conservationist and founder of Maple Leaves Forever, which he established in 2000. After moving to Mulmur in 2002 with his wife, Edie, Ken took active care of his own 77-acre woodlot and dedicated himself to encouraging the planting of native Canadian maples across the province. Today, his vision lives on through more than 1,200 kilometres of maple-lined roads and laneways across Ontario.

To celebrate Mulmur’s history and honour Ken’s lifelong devotion to native maples, Maple Leaves Forever donated a memorial grove of 15 native maple trees—10 Sugar Maples and 5 Freeman Maples—along with a memorial bench and plaque, while the Township of Mulmur provided the location at Thomson Trail Park.

Speaking on behalf of Maple Leaves Forever, Board Member Rob Keen shared personal reflections from his two decades of knowing Ken, emphasizing how planting trees connects past, present, and future generations:
“There is something especially fitting about celebrating a community’s history by planting trees. Trees connect generations. They provide shade and habitat, enrich the landscape, and continue to grow long after the people who planted them are gone. Today, these trees represent both the future of Mulmur and Ken’s enduring legacy.”

An Educational Legacy for Generations to Come

In addition to the newly planted grove, the ceremony featured the unveiling of the permanent memorial bench and educational plaque. Located near the park’s playground, the plaque shares Ken’s story and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about Ontario’s native maple species and their ecological importance.

As the 15 native maples mature, they will serve as a living memorial to a man who always looked beyond the present moment to benefit future generations.Maple Leaves Forever extends its heartfelt thanks to the Township of Mulmur, Council, staff, and everyone in the community who helped make a place for this memorial grove, bench, and plaque possible.

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