Surrey History: Charlie’s Tree
Driving East along Highway 1 through Surrey you may have spotted what used to be a tree, now covered in ivy, a Canadian flag, and sometimes a sign or two. Ever since I was little, and we would drive out to my grandmother’s house in Langley, we would pass this tree and I wondered — was it a memorial? What made this tree special? Turns out, it’s Charlie’s Tree.
Many decades ago Charlie [Perkins] and four of his chums used to splash and play in a small swimming hole near that tree. All five went into battle when the First World War began. Only Charlie, a flight instructor with the Royal Flying Corps, returned. As a remembrance of his friends he planted ivy around the base of the tree and dedicated it to the memory of his friends.
Then, in 1960, Highway 1 began to be built through Surrey. Its proposed route would put it right through the little glade Charlie had cleared. The memorial tree would have to go. Charlie, now a senior citizen, protested, and friends and neighbors joined him in that protest. They were heard by Highways Minister Phil Gaglardi, and the highway engineers curved the road to go around the tree.
This is perhaps the only instance in Canadian history where a major highway was diverted to avoid harming a tree. You can see the bend in the road to the right of the eastbound lanes of the Trans-Canada between the 176th Street and 200th Street exits. [Source: KnowBC, Chuck Davis]
According to Surrey History, “Charlie took action and sat in a chair with a gun across his knees defying the bulldozers.” This bold act to save a 210 foot Douglas Fir changed the course of the Trans Canada Highway as we know it.
In 2005, MP Nina Grewal (Fleetwood – Port Kells) began a campaign to get Charlie’s Tree recognized as a National Historic site.
@miss604 Two views of the tree from September, 1964. twitter.com/SurreyArchives…
— Surrey Archives (@SurreyArchives) July 11, 2012
Charlie’s Tree doesn’t look much like a tree anymore as vandals set fire to it years ago and as a result, it was topped. However, every year the Whalley Legion places a wreath at the tree and recently a sign that reads “Charlie’s Tree” has been added. Some leave flowers, flags, or other tokens near the site. Next time you drive by, just East of the 176th exit, you can think of our veterans, cherish your friends, and remember Charlie.
Thanks to Alex for emailing me about Charlie’s Tree and to Antonio for letting me use his photo in this post.
Entries on this website use the 
I’ve driven by that twice a day for years and always wondered what it represented. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this local piece of history!
The fight to save Charlie’s Tree had two other consequences, both difficult to substantiate but highly plausible. First, it created a focus for an embryonic environmental movement in the Lower Mainland. People who questioned the mantra of progress viewed the Tree as a symbol and rallying point. No Charlie’s Tree, no Greenpeace? Probably too much to assume, but there’s a connection in the people involved and influenced. Second, the tree became exactly what the Highways Dept feared it would: an obstacle. As we document in Private Grief, Public Mourning, the killer fogs of the 1960s made for poor driving conditions and the tree was repeatedly hit. Fatalities occured.
Thanks for digging this one out of the archives!
John.
Thanks for writing this!!
What a great story!
Rebecca I love your Surrey history profiles! I can see you’re a major history buff like me
For those interested I want to share some other historical stories from Surrey area.
45in45 blog has several heritage articles:
http://45in45.tourismsurrey.com/category/heritage/
This collection includes a great one by Miss604 herself on the old street names in Surrey which frankly I wish they would still use:
http://45in45.tourismsurrey.com/surrey-street-name-game/
I have done a couple myself, here’s a touching story also about WWI survivors and Whalley Legion
http://surrey604.com/pipe-major-newlands-story/
Also here’s some interviews and profiles of local Surrey historians
One of whom has lived both in Surrey, England and Surrey BC 
http://surrey604.com/heroes-of-our-history/
Another on using paintings to tell the stories from Surrey’s past
http://surrey604.com/where-the-old-surrey-meets-new-surrey/
If anybody else has great historical posts please share!
I remember that tree, when we would travel east along the highway to anywhere our trip home was almost over when we would see the tree. It was the becon to us that we would soon be home. I hope that it has that same meaning for others, but most important the rememberance to those that fought for our country. ~Å~
50 years of wondering, now I know! Always wanted to stop and check it out. To bad there isn’t a safe place to stop there. Let’s get a rest area built there. Thanks for your time and caring to post this story
We were just talking about this yesterday, as we passed by! as a child , I remember asking my Dad about it, but really wasnt sure what it was.. yesterday we saw the new bright wreaths,and sign.. ! thank you for sharing this ! now we can share with our children, and I love the old photos!
Thanks for sharing! Had noticed the “Charlie’s Tree” sign a few months ago on a drive by & had made a note to Google & find out what it was all about. Just did that now — thank you Charlie Perkins for contributing to Canadian heritage and freedom of choice. Definitely a different age now in the iApple world compared to the WW1 era. It’s hokey tapping on a tablet sreen but thanks to ALL Canadian Veterans for the service you have given! Charlie Perkins is a good example of someone who cared.
Richard Saunders
Prince George B.C.