December 18, 2025

Adults, from left: teacher Trevor Smith, land donor Dr. Indu Gambhir, teacher Alyson Dionne, and RRCA staff Claudia Munafo. Contest winners, from left: Bella D., Krishna J., Sage, G., Kaden V., and Avery L. (missing: Luke R.).

Dr. Indu Gambhir, a former local physician, sponsors an annual tree-themed essay contest for grade 4 and 5 students at Eamer's Corners Public School. The contest is connected to an annual tree planting event made possible by Dr. Gambhir, where Eamer's Corners students plant trees at the nearby Gambhir Memorial Urban Forest. The 2.7-acre urban forest in the City of Cornwall was donated by Dr. Gambhir to the RRCA in 2015 for perpetual preservation. So far, Eamer's Corners students have planted over 1,000 trees at the site. Dr. Gambhir announced the contest winners at the school on December 17, 2025. 

Memorable excerpts from the prize-winning essays include:

“What would a world without trees look like? It would be horrible.” (Kaden V.)

“We need trees to live because trees provide oxygen for us.” (Avery L.)

“I believe without trees everything would be sand and buildings.” (Sage G.)

“Trees can also speak in an underground network.” (Luke R.)

“…some bears use [trees] to scratch their backs, you see how convenient trees are?” (Krishna J.)

“…all of us should do our part and plant some trees to replace the ones that got cut down or damaged from a storm.” (Bella D.)

The Gambhir Memorial Urban Forest is part of over 2,000 acres of environmentally significant land owned and managed by the RRCA to strengthen our region's tree canopy, mitigate natural hazards like flooding and erosion, preserve habitat, and provide recreation and eco-tourism opportunities. To learn more, visit rrca.on.ca or contact (613) 938-3611 or info@rrca.on.ca.