The fur traders of the northwest used the Winnipeg River for many years as a part of their route in their travels from the east to trading posts in western Canada. Often these fur traders came from England and one of the staple foods they brought with them were acorns from oaks commonly found in England. It is also believed that these and other fur traders from eastern Canada often collected acorns for food from various species of oaks growing in southern Ontario. Scattered specimens of these oaks, probably originating from inadvertently lost or discarded acorns, are now found along the Winnipeg River. The trees are near where the travellers camped or portaged around the rapids and falls on the river.
The two oaks shown here are believed to be swamp white oaks that probably grew from acorns collected along Lake Erie in southern Ontario where they occur naturally. These oaks are located on Mr. and Mrs. Jack McNairney's property, Lot 8, Silver Falls, and identify the site of the original portage around the falls used by the fur traders and other travellers. Recent hydro construction on the river has almost completely flooded the falls. Nominators Name: Mr. and Mrs. Jack McNairney, Lot 8, Silver Falls. Source: Manitoba Forestry Association. 1987. Heritage Trees of Manitoba. Page 14.
*These trees were designated as trees of interest in the Manitoba Forestry Association's "Heritage Trees of Manitoba" published in 1987. The trees do not have any special designation or protection under the Provincial Heritage Tree program.

The fur traders of the northwest used the Winnipeg River for many years as a part of their route in their travels from the east to trading posts in western Canada. Often these fur traders came from England and one of the staple foods they brought with them were acorns from oaks commonly found in England. It is also believed that these and other fur traders from eastern Canada often collected acorns for food from various species of oaks growing in southern Ontario. Scattered specimens of these oaks, probably originating from inadvertently lost or discarded acorns, are now found along the Winnipeg River. The trees are near where the travellers camped or portaged around the rapids and falls on the river.
The two oaks shown here are believed to be swamp white oaks that probably grew from acorns collected along Lake Erie in southern Ontario where they occur naturally. These oaks are located on Mr. and Mrs. Jack McNairney's property, Lot 8, Silver Falls, and identify the site of the original portage around the falls used by the fur traders and other travellers. Recent hydro construction on the river has almost completely flooded the falls. Nominators Name: Mr. and Mrs. Jack McNairney, Lot 8, Silver Falls. Source: Manitoba Forestry Association. 1987. Heritage Trees of Manitoba. Page 14.
*These trees were designated as trees of interest in the Manitoba Forestry Association's "Heritage Trees of Manitoba" published in 1987. The trees do not have any special designation or protection under the Provincial Heritage Tree program.