The Mississauga woman abandoned a 26-hour protest up a 250-year old tree yesterday and clambered down into the waiting arms of police, who charged her with trespassing and resisting arrest. She was trying to prevent a developer from chopping down the huge tree to make way for five executive townhouses on Front St., just west of where the Credit River empties into Lake Ontario.

Slept on a branch

Kallis, who climbed up on  Tuesday and even slept on a branch several metres off the ground, said her arrest wasn't the worst part. It was listening to chainsaws tear into the old silver maple as police led her away. "It doesn't really matter about me," she said.  "I feel really sad because the tree is going to be cut down really soon." The first big branch crashed to the ground on the vacant lot only minutes later.  By late afternoon, the job was largely complete.

Second Protest

It was the second time in two months the 35-year old tree hugger has tried to block tree cutters. In July, she and husband Ed Troscianczuk called police when a cutting crew arrived at their rented home on Mississauga Rd. It turned out he landlord was doing nothing illegal and the maples - some 25 meters high were chopped down.

Kallis has tied big white ribbons to those stumps.  She tore down similar bows yesterday moments before she surrendered to police and let fire-fighters lead her down a ladder.

Community supports protest

"I think she's got guts," said nearby resident Elizabeth Clarke, 53.  "If people like that don't do it, who will?  I admire her.  When trees like this come down, we're left with sterile places, boring as hell."

Residents conceded that Legend Homes, which bought two adjoining properties for its project, was within its rights to clear the land. But they were saddened that Mississauga has no bylaw, like one in Toronto, to protect ancient trees.

"I think this should be a wake-up call for the city," said Louie Manzo, who lives next door in the historic Wilcox Inn, built in 1850. "Other cities have bylaws that protect trees, but we don't," said Manzo, 30.  "that's said, because we can't protect this kind of majestic nature."

Mississauga resident June Bradley was also arrested and charged with trespassing yesterday when she refused to leave the base of the tree.
"I believe that too much of this kind of thing, cutting down these beautiful trees, is going on," she said.  "People are letting things steamroll over them. But it's not just trees, it's the whole environment," said Bradley, 47.  "Not enough citizens are speaking out to say this has to stop and demand a display of wisdom. For me, the $65 for this trespassing ticket is worth making that point."

A Legend Homes official supervising the tree removal refused to give his name or comment about the protest.