Conserving the heritage landscape – Tree Management

Severe windstorms over the last six months have caused damage and destruction of aged trees at Parkwood.  Grounds Foreman Brad Beer and Curator Samantha George recently grappled with various tree issues, and with the advice of City of Oshawa Forestry Supervisor Rob Fennell, have identified Parkwood’s  TOP TEN TREE PROJECTS.

Parkwood has some incredible trees, many of which were already here when Sam McLaughlin purchased the property in 1915 to build his dream home.  Working with top garden designers over the next 20 years Sam and his wife Adelaide then planted many more trees – to achieve the complex compositions and layered views we enjoy today.  Most have reached a venerable age and beauty that you just can’t find elsewhere.

Sadly, like us, trees can age gracefully or quickly lose their looks and faculties, move into a slow or a rapid decline.  The plug must be pulled at some point.

Trees are part of Parkwood’s overall heritage conservation, an interesting and challenging process that includes:

Collections Management & Curatorial

Trees are considered in the same way that the mansion, furnishings and archives are - catalogued, monitored, with threats identified and addressed if possible through conservation “spa” treatment.  Trees are researched individually and as part of the design, social and family histories of Parkwood, for interpretation and educational purposes (eg. tree walks, garden tours, lectures, future virtual).  

Evaluation/Assessment

Trees are assessed with regard to overall health and appearance.  Treatments are devised to improve health and increase life-span (root feeding, pruning/thinning, cabling, pest management)

Risk assessment is an important factor, to ensure the safety of garden visitors, staff and volunteers.

Removal becomes necessary at some point, and planned according to urgency and equipment access.  Late winter often provides the best opportunity for tree work, with frozen ground and leafless trees.

 

Replacement

Research and site assessment is undertaken to determine if replacement is desired or possible.  Heritage conservation dictates replacing like with like, which is always our preference but not always possible.

The replacement trees are chosen by species are size, taking into account the location, season, time frame to do the work, and equipment access (eg. tree spade or truck) and of course COST!

Site preparation is undertaken to provide the best head start for new trees.

Funding Tree Management

It’s always a challenge to find the operating and capital support needed, with so many heritage resources and competing priorities at Parkwood.   Effective tree management requires a sustained effort, which isn’t always possible.  Parkwood is grateful for individuals and businesses who provide generous assistance.

 

Tribute/memorial planting

Generally, Parkwood plants trees strictly within the context of historic replacement.  We maintain lists of historic varieties/priorities for replacement, to respond to donor requests to plant trees to mark occasions or in tribute/memorial.

Once in a while a unique opportunity arises.  In 2011 Finance Minister Jim Flaherty and Landscape Ontario planted a native maple tree, the first tree planted to mark the first National Tree Day in Canada.  This took place in a non-historic space (altered in the 1970’s for the parking garage), so was a happy exception.  Do try this at home!  The next National Tree Day is Sept 25, 2013.   

Tree Selection process

Parkwood adheres to landscape conservation principles of the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, which address land patterns, landforms, spatial organization, vegetation, viewscapes, circulation, water features, built features.  Many of these guide or inform tree replacement selection, to which factors we add Parkwood’s particular history.

The Dunington Grubbs Landscape Architects

Historic & Design considerations: 

 

·         What inspired the choice of species and placement originally?

 

·         What were the original design considerations, characteristics and functions, we want to respect (eg. size and form within the treescape, colour and texture of leaves & bark, intended to blend or contrast with neighbouring trees)?

·         Was the tree a particular favourite of Sam or Adelaide, a gift to them, planted to mark an anniversary or occasion?

Site Conditions Then & Now

·         Are there site conditions that contributed to the failure/decline of the tree (sunlight, moisture)?  Can they be remedied so that a replacement can flourish?  If not, do we reconsider the replacement? Do we delay replacement for years or decades?

·         Would you replace a Dutch Elm or other disease-prone species? 

 

 

Parkwood National Historic Site

TOP TEN TREE PROJECTS

 

Parkwood acknowledges with appreciation the advice of City of Oshawa Forestry Supervisor Rob Fennell.

1.      WHITE SPRUCE Location:         North End of Arbour Action:             Remove to ground level and clean up/dispose of all brush Replacement:  Not advised at this time	Cost:$ 2,000
2.      SILVER MAPLE Location:         South Lawn, along Terrace                           walkway Action:             Deadwood prune and remove all stubs and hangers;                                 clean up/disposal of all brush	Cost:$    300
3.      SIBERIAN ELM  Location:         3  trees - Rose Garden, 2 trees – South Lawn Action:              Remove trees in Rose Garden to ground level, clean up &                           dispose of all  brush, plant and stake new Replacement: 80mm caliper Siberian Elm (3 to Rose Garden, 2 to South                           Lawn, per previous storm damage/removal)	Cost:  removal              $6,000               replacements    $ 1,000
4.      SILVER MAPLE Location:         Border planting area along Simcoe Street fence Action:             Remove to ground, clean up/dispose all brush  Replacement:  Not advised at this time	Cost:$ 1,500
5.      SCHWEDLAR MAPLE Location:         South Lawn Action:              Remove to ground, clean up/disposal, grind stump  Replacement:  15’ to 18’ improved Schwedlar variety	Cost:  removal $ 4,500                replacement  unknown
6.      SILVER FIR Location:         Main Entrance driveway Action:              Remove to ground, clean up/dispose of all brush Replacement:  Not advised at this time	Cost: $ 300
7.      BASSWOOD Location:         Main Entrance driveway Action:              Remove old trunk to ground, clean up/dispose of all brush Replacement:  Not advised at this time	Cost: $ 300
8.       RED OAK Location:         South Lawn Action:              Deadwood prune, clean up/disposal of all brush	Cost: $ 700
9.      CEDAR & WHITE SPRUCE Location:         South Lawn, east of Summer House Action:              Removal to ground,  clean up/dispose of all brush                            3 Cedars & 1 White Spruce Replacement:  Not advised at this time	Cost: $ 400
10. WEEPING ASH Location:         South Lawn Action:              Deadwood prune, clean up/dispose of all brush	Cost: $300
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST                                                         $ 17,300

Parkwood Volunteers 2012

I was counting up the hours of contributed volunteer time yesterday and although the year has not officially ended, the amount of time donated by our volunteer corps surpasses 10,000 hours. That's 10,000 hours of interpreting McLaughlin family history to the public; condition reporting and updating collections management records; cups of tea and scones served; special events organised and executed; walls washed and silver polished; floors waxed and buffed; gift shop merchandise priced; gardens weeded and watered and clocks wound and worked on. What amazes me is that these 10,000 hours are achieved with rarely a grumble and often a very vocal thank you to me for allowing people to volunteer at Parkwood and experience what a gem of Canadian heritage this National Historic Site is.

2012 was not without its challenges to the volunteer either. Much of our year and regular operation was disrupted by film production. Disruption that was welcome and sought by management, since those who follow our blog understand the financial necessity of filming at the site, but this limits the amount of time that I am able to dedicate to the important part of the volunteer experience, retention. Although the parking lot was filled with transport trucks, lighting cranes, generators and the mansion filled with equipment, 100 extra people, cardboard protection and mats, our volunteers rallied and continued to offer the best "experience" for the visiting public.  

 

They perservered and met each Tuesday and Thursday for croquet matches, continued to attend their regular volunteer shifts, often parking off site, or arranging for drop offs and pick ups to avoid film crew vehicles, and even covered our reception duties when our small staff was pulled into the fray of film production hours and needs.



The volunteers embraced the creation and put up with the floundering Museum Morsels, our historic culinary club, now in full swing, but were patient as I slowly pulled it together despite overnight shifts, with on again, off again enthusiasm (on my part) for the project. Their attendance to our sessions, where we delved into food and social history (they all know my area of passion) reignited my personal interests and zest for the program amongst the craziness that surrounded us. Their combined excitement for the goals I established when I set out to create this program has generated a keenness among the corps that it is hard not to be caught up in their eagerness to experience food history.

Over the last few quiet days at Parkwood, I have been working on my volunteer programs, you remember, the retention pieces I neglected in 2012, and I am very energized about what 2013 will have in store for Parkwood NHS and the 160 dedicated volunteers we boast about with frequency.

Canada's Garden Route Winners, Susan & Melissa at Parkwood

Parkwood welcomes Canada’s Garden Route contest winners, Susan & Melissa.

Canada’s Garden Route is a showcase of gardens coast to coast presented by VIA Rail.  The route was recently promoted in an e-mail contest with Scotts & Miracle Gro, and the winners chose a Canadian garden journey aboard VIA over other international garden offerings.  And more exciting for Parkwood, the winners selected our historic gardens (one of the 25 feature gardens along the route) as one of five stops!

Winners Susan and Melissa experienced a sense of the lavish lifestyle enjoyed by the family at this Canadian autobaron’s grand estate during the inter-war years, and what it took to maintain it.  Susan & Melissa sampled the worlds of both the wealthy owners and the large house and garden staff: cutting fresh flowers for the mansion; trimming up the mosaiculture beds in the Italian Garden; lunching fountain-side at the Formal Garden teahouse; going behind the scenes in the greenhouses and in the mansion; even meeting up with a crabby cook and an errant parlormaid.

Garden Voices of Ontario’s Historic Gardens

This is a new initiative organized for 2012 by Parkwood National Historic Site. Prompted by interest expressed by participants at a 2011 historic gardens workshop at Parkwood, it was then organized with grant support from the Ontario Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Strategic Initiatives Fund.  Ontario Garden Tourism Coalition and National Historic Sites Alliance for Ontario came on board as collaborative partners, and a steering committee was formed with representatives from historic gardens, tourism and related sectors.

Project Aims

We set out to tell the stories of Ontario’s historic gardens, with enriched programs and experiences that would motivate Ontarians to get out and explore them.

We knew a little about some of the recognized names associated with some of the garden designs, such as Dunington-Grubb and Olmstead, and we hoped to increase greater awareness of our design roots.

We considered a single week or timeframe to create an event (such as Historic Gardens Week in Virginia), but from submissions we found that best-viewing times and programming themes were too varied to bring together in a single week. 

We left it to each garden to devise its best showcase opportunity, and established a broader scope and a sort of umbrella theme for the project –
taking inspiration from the wonderful publication Garden Voices:  Two Centuries of Canadian Garden Writing by Edwinna Von Baeyer and Pleasance Crawford.   For in a sense, we can hear or experience the voices of the owners, designers, workers, and era influences that have shaped our historic gardens, in the physical evidence and in the animation of those voices through interpretation and programming.

The project received a lot of good feedback anecdotally from colleagues in the museum, garden and tourism communities.  The project gave support to broader garden tourism initiatives, as a complimentary stream to other garden attractions, festivals & events generally, and as part of a build-up toward major international garden showcases in Ottawa and Niagara to mark Canada’s 150^th in 2017.

The project was intended not only to increase awareness about historic gardens, but also to increase visitation and visitor revenues, attract volunteers and dollar support.  Given provincial investment and perceived interest of gardens and historic gardens as “new” tourism offerings, the project was timely.  Readiness of the gardens to participate was a challenge however.

 
Project Results

Thirty-five historic gardens were identified, and grouped together perhaps for the first time.  Eight feature gardens came forward with experiential offerings beyond the standard fare.

The project prompted dialogue about what constituted a historic garden or landscape.  Notable 20^th century gardens for example are clearly preserved historic gardens, while many other gardens would be considered recreations of gardens lost to time.  For that matter, gardens we would call historic are still on the drawing board.  Historic garden movements or practices also draw in cemeteries, forts, railway gardens and parks, and merge with the broader idea of cultural landscapes – all Intriguing and useful discussions.

More problematic were discussions about garden tourism, particularly experiential tourism which calls for a much richer visitor offering than the typical talk & point garden tour.  As many owners or operators of historic gardens do not speak “tourism”, we worked with Brain Trust Marketing & Communications to develop a number of tools and materials.  These can also be adapted to other projects or used in future. 

A new website was created, www.garden voices.ca, to showcase the feature experiences and the rest of the historic gardens.  It too  can be adapted for future use and linked to any related historic, horticultural or tourism site.  Other marketing efforts provided an opportunity for gardens to maximize on their own budgets (eg. with placements/publications not normally within reach of small organizations). 

A number of difficulties encountered illustrate, in our view, that historic gardens and landscapes need to be better understood and supported.  They are generally lacking in resources, volunteers, and the will to present gardens as more than “second-fiddle” to buildings & collections.  Programming is generally quite limited, and the historic garden voices are often not well-articulated. Recreated gardens aspire to period-correctness and authenticity but often lack resources for research, design and upkeep.

As  project milestones and submission dates approached, some gardens dropped out as feature garden contenders, finding themselves unable to make the programming leap, or that their gardens would not be up to scratch in terms of conserved state or event basic maintenance.   An additional aggravation for some gardens was centralized budget, programming or marketing controls that did not allow for decision-making at the site level. 

We prefer to view this as not a sad state of affairs, but rather as a new beginning for Ontario’s historic gardens and landscapes.  Indeed, those gardens that declined to participate as feature gardens were quick to add “this year”, adding their pledge to resolve their readiness issues or other challenges in preparation for next year, suggesting life beyond the project.

Parkwood honours longest-serving volunteer at 40th Annual General Meeting.

Bill Smith received accolades from the Board of Directors, Members and staff for his volunteer service through most of Parkwood’s history as a heritage institution and charitable organization.

Executive Director Brian Malcolm offered a partial view of Bill’s extended service:

“My direct knowledge about Bill’s volunteer service only covers the last 23 years or so.  Most of you know Bill as our Comptroller, our behind the scenes accounting guy, and that certainly is the case these days.

But there was a time when Bill got dragged into just about everything – from barbecues and bulb planting, to Easter Egg hunts and Swing Band concerts, helping put budgets and financial reports together since the 1970’s.   As a member of the Management Committee from the1980‘s to the mid 1990’s, Bill was often called on to leave his ledgers and files and get involved with urgent matter du jour.  Later, Bill got us all to leave our ledgers and files, as he helped shepherd Parkwood through the early agonies of computerized accounting.

Until recently, Bill kept daily hours and had the misfortune to have an office right between Jane’s office and mine, and right across from our sometime development office.  We had constant access to him, and what a fantastic resource for us.

But think for a minute about the volunteer hours and the level of service contributed each day, each week, year-round and each year. Truly, I can’t imagine how Parkwood could have made the strides it has without Bills’ constant commitment, and faithful attention to some of the most important matters.

Over the last few years we have focused on sustainability.  Frankly, we have been acutely aware of the value of Bill’s volunteer services.  It’s beyond any typical measure of expectation.   I can’t think of another organization that has enjoyed such a gift.”

Treasure Scott Smith introduced a special motion at the 40^th Annual General Meeting

“BE IT RESOLVED THAT that, as The Parkwood Foundation celebrates its 40^th anniversary, it recognizes the decades-long volunteer contribution of William Smith as Comptroller – with resounding gratitude for his long-service, dedication and wise counsel.”

Rules of order were thrown out as several attendees clamoured to second Scott’s motion.  Here’s a sampling:

 “ I have worked with Bill almost as long as he has been here, when I was a Director and more recently as Chair of the Finance Committee.  I came to rely on Bill’s work, and trust on the information and advice he has brought to the Board and the committee.  It has been a pleasure working with him over the years.

I second the motion, with my confidence and thanks”  Arthur Lovell

“I probably work the closest with Bill, about 14 years if anyone is counting.  For me Bill represents one of those un-sung heroes, who work quietly but effectively behind-the-scenes, on things that are important and - let’s face it, nobody’s  idea of interesting or fun - and seeking no recognition or praise.

Bill, I second the motion, with my thanks for your patience, guidance and commitment”   Jane Battersby, Administrative Assistant

“In 1990, Marion O’Donnell & I became really active in Parkwood’s rejuvenation.  Along with Bill, we formed a sort of dynamic trio – a restructuring task force to push forward the new future for Parkwood.  It was somewhat daunting and a bit radical and we relied heavily on Bill’s financial good sense to help guide the changes.  Bill was also far more involved in events and doings than he ever hoped or wished to be.  His thanks are truly well-earned.

I second the motion, with the knowledge of Bill’s many skills and broader contributions to Parkwood’s success.” Patricia O’Neill, Past President

Parkwood has not stood still, nor has the world.  During my term as President I saw increased demand on our accounting requirements.  But, Bill remained unflappable and slow to complain about new reporting requirements and regulations, fundraising and grants, new budget lines and inter-fund complications.  It was a pleasure working with him and, with a shared hospital background we even commiserated a little about our health care system

I too second the motion, with sincere thanks and admiration.”

Sharon Swain, Past President

“I get the prize for working with Bill the longest, and I might just have the best perspective on just how valuable his service has been to Parkwood.   He has been a constant resource during various ups and downs, a great source of knowledge and a sounding board too, a man of integrity and solid values, and an exemplary volunteer.  For so long, there was just no question about who would be doing what Bill was doing, next week, next month or next year.  That’s an amazing comfort level for me, with a perpetually under-resourced organization, and it represents a rare & outstanding volunteer contribution.

I second the motion with my personal thanks and knowledge that Parkwood and I have been spoiled!”  Brian Malcolm

Needless to say, the motion passed – with hands raised in the affirmative and then in applause (followed by a standing ovation!

Thank you Bill!

Come Sail Away- Yachting & the McLaughlins

As most of you are aware, one of the many gems in the Parkwood Archives collection is the family home movies. These home movies catch a glimpse of the McLaughlin Family at home and abroad, a snippet of time, at parties or relaxing and sharing each others’ company.

A favoured home movie to watch is the family out on their yacht at the Belleville Yacht Races throughout the 1920s. This shows groups of people lounging on the deck, soaking up the sunlight, and sporting the latest yachting fashions of the “beautiful people” decade, the roaring twenties, with its wealth and luxury.

Tonights' Parkwood 2012 Benefit Gala, Come Sail Away, is celebrating Sam McLaughlin’s love of boating. He is quoted, “when in 1924 I decided to "ease off" I found there were many avenues of new interest. From my bicycling days I had loved speed - competitive speed. When I grew up I became the proud possessor of a fast motor boat - fast for those days, because it would speed from the Oshawa waterfront to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club in Toronto in an hour and a half. Late in 1925 I commissioned an R-class yacht to be built in an attempt to bring the international Richardson Cup, emblematic of the championship of the Great Lakes in that class, to the Royal Canadian Yacht Club of which I was a member. She was designed by Bingley Benson, built at Oakville, and named after my youngest daughter, Eleanor.” The Eleanor did go on to win the Richardson Cup, in 1926, for Sam McLaughlin.

Come Sail Away  will offer this evenings guests an opportunity to see Parkwood and the history of this National Historic Site in a different light, celebrating a snippet of the family history, while raising funds to preserve the property as it approaches its centennial. The funds raised this year being applied to the Greenhouse Conservation Project. Like all things that age, living through a century of seasonal weather changes, hundreds of thousands of people in and out the doors; changes in technology and modes of thinking; the walls of Parkwood have marvellous stories to tell, when they speak, and Come Sail Away is an opportunity to tell one of those stories.

Bug Hunting in the Mansion (Museum Integrated Pest Management Programs)

Have you ever been on tour at Parkwood, or another museum, and noticed the insect traps? Or for that matter the mouse traps? It's all part of an Integrated Pest Management Program at your local heritage site and a large part of our preservation work. Our insect traps are pheromone based and yes, every couple of weeks, I look at them, and log what and whom I find in there ( glamorous, isn't it?) or on occasion I find an envelope containing some DEAD creature with several legs, with a note, "found in tub in Col. Sam's room, just in case you need to know. "
Book lice, cockroaches, moths, silverfish, the house spider...all sorts of creepy crawlies exist at Parkwood, and yes, the cause of many itchy sessions in my office, a major cause of concern with regards to the preservation matters of our significant collections. For example, the American cockroach feeds on leather and the lovely proteins it can find in all the leather Parkwood has to offer to sustain a single cockroach life. Leather top tables, leather upholstery, leather bindings in the pipe organ, leather book covers, etc. A variable feast for a tenacious roach!

This week I have been battling the carpet beetle. Treatments of boric acid along baseboards, rooms being closed to public tours, and staff, to ensure there is no beetle migration to other rooms, or our own homes; massive cleaning with HEPA vacuum filters; covert visits to darkened rooms to seek entry or nesting points; book collections being frozen in the "curatorial" freezer in the basement; etc. have been part of the Parkwood fight to ensure we rid ourselves of these pests, and prevent any further damage to the collections.  It is this sort of outbreak that has Parkwood revisit our museum practises and procedures when it comes to the estate and our role as stewards of such a magnificent site. 
The first question I receive is how did the beetles get into the mansion? For the most part, we will never know. I cannot blame a single source. Think about the foot traffic and if the beetle came in on someones shoes; a propped open window, although we enforce screens, if a window must be opened, there are times that a screen is not guaranteed; and lets face it, the doors open and close with frequency. The standard policy in the estate is no live flowers, although, from the curatorial perspective, I am torn, because the McLaughlins' had fresh, live florals in the house everyday, and accurate interpretation would want us to replicate (although current budgets dictate otherwise); there is the introduction of prop furniture and carpets for the film industry; there is food consumption in exhibit areas with regards to the weddings and rentals (completely ancillary business and a violation of museum standard practise, but 100% necessary to cover our costs). So, no easy answer.
Parkwood staff and volunteers continue with our regular days and duties, in between bug hunts and treatments.  Museum work is not all about research and pushing paper, curators often get to be amateur entomologists, although not by choice, nor fondness for several legged creatures.

Service Staff Reunion

Many of you are aware that we avidly seek out and record the oral histories of the former domestic staff of the McLaughlins. The collection of the oral histories; photographs of the staff from various years; and maintaining the relationships with these folks is integral to our interpretation program at the National Historic Site.

In the past, I have mentioned how fortunate I am to be able to call upon a few of the grandchildren to help elucidate fact from fiction in what we hear and read about Parkwood, and the same is true with the former staff. Opportunities, like this upcoming reunion, provide us with the chance to reunite, chat about old times, allow current staff to communicate exciting news about current projects, but most importantly, allow us to capture the memories of the very human moments of what it was like to work at Parkwood, know Sam and Adelaide McLaughlin, and what the atmosphere was like in the bustling estate.

Often the very description of a bustling estate with parlour maids to and fro, and the laundry facilities going full throttle, while freshly washed linens hung on the long lost clothes line; the smells of polish; silver, leather or shoe, hanging in the air mixing with the tobacco of pipe, cigar, and cigarette smoke that enveloped the mansion elude us in our current "pristine and reverently quiet" museum setting and it is through these reunions that we catch a glimpse of the daily lives of the entire estate family. It was never documented in any archive in the Parkwood holdings about which stair creaked on the service steps, alerting the head housekeeper to a maid sneaking in after breaking curfew, or the cat that was rescued and kept "hidden" in the greenhouse with veterinarian bills being hidden amongst other household documents, hoping to escape Sam McLaughlin's keen eye during review; or the quiet generosity of a wealthy family and their private philanthropic offers towards their household staff . All of these stories come to light during the reunions, stories which help round out our interpretation programs, and often create the parallels, while on tour, with the lives of the general public visiting the Estate. We look forward to seeing everyone again on Sunday and I look forward to being able to share with our audience new stories about the life and times of Sam and Adelaide McLaughlin and the people who worked at Parkwood, while it was a family home.

Lord Jellicoe's 1931 Visit to Parkwood

As an early curatorial Christmas gift to our loyal followers, here is another Parkwood home movie uploaded.

I love watching these and they are a primary resource gem for the historian.
They provide a wonderful glimpse at the life of the McLaughlins, a snapshot of history, but more importantly I like to watch them frame by frame, looking past the action in the foreground and observing items in the background. For example, did you notice when reviewing the images, that the fanlights on each side of the front door had etched glass in 1931? or the grass mat with a series of rectangles lying beneath the screen door? I just noticed the mat today, as I was uploading to the web. Now I am on the hunt for a mat that looks the same, to place at the front door.

Lord Jellicoe was a famous WWI military hero, who, depending on the year, was in and out of favour. He held the Admiral of the Fleet title from 1920 to 1924, and was Governor General in New Zealand for a period in the 1920s.  According to an article that I was able to locate on the web this afternoon, thanks Montreal Gazette, Lord Jellicoe visited Oshawa in August 1931 as part of an official party at the provincial conference of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Montreal Gazette, May 26, 1931

He was in Ontario for the British Empire Service League meeting in Niagara, so a quick visit to Oshawa, and Parkwood would be the thing to do.

At the formal reception, on the grounds of Parkwood, notice the Sunroom has not been added to the south facade of the estate, and the line of marquette tents that dot the landscape, and the obligatory group photo, but I enjoyed the section that follows the reception, the official party in their military dress, having the young McLaughlin grandchildren posing in the official military hats, while chauffeurs wait to commence the departing drive through the gates onto Simcoe Street.