Old ash trees get new life as public art installation in Saint-Henri

A Montreal borough hopes a public art installation made out of damaged ash trees will draw attention to the impact of the emerald ash borer, and convince residents their trees are worth saving.

Located near the Lionel-Groulx Metro station in the neighbourhood of Saint-Henri, the installation was designed by Montreal-based artist Philippe Allard and was chosen by the Southwest borough in a contest.

"People discover it, it takes a bit of time to understand," Allard said. "But there's a side to it that's a bit abstract."

• Montreal announces $18M to fight emerald ash borer

Allard, who described the work as minimalist, wanted to evoke the image of dominoes standing on edge and ready to fall one by one.

The borough provided the wood from ash trees that were cut down after being infested by the emerald ash borer, he said.

Borough Mayor Benoit Dorais said the Southwest has worked hard to keep the emerald ash borer in check, adding $1.4 million has been spent over the last four years to fight the invasive species.

"We can't just cut the trees and put some new," he said. "We want to preserve the canopy, we want to preserve the quality of trees."

• Scientists try to fight off emerald ash borer using fungus traps

In 2014 the borough had 5,500 ash trees on public property.

Dorais said with their intervention they've saved about 80 per cent of them.

With the new installation the borough wants to remind residents to take stock of their trees and look for signs of the emerald ash borer. 

"We have to preserve the ash trees on private property, and that's the part that is very difficult," said Dorais.

To help convince property owners, the borough has offered to subsidize half the cost of treatment.