HELP SAVE THESE TREES

Greeted once more to the sound of chainsaws and branch mashers, someone in the neighbourhood was ILLEGALLY cutting down another 50+ year old tree in the back laneway of the street. (This is an L-shaped laneway that joins Ilford Rd. and Christie St. Toronto). This time it was the largest and most beautiful tree in the lane, behind 72 Tyrell Ave. that provides it with most of it's shade and beauty. It also camouflages the bleak looking parking lot adjacent to the laneway. There is nothing wrong with the tree, it is healthy and alive. The tree does not create an access problem. In the 7 years in the neighbourhood we have seen moving trucks and dumpster trucks larger than fire-trucks move through the laneway without any problem. The laneway is also not a fire route, there are no hydrants there. So when given the mistaken excuse that the tree was an obstruction to fire-trucks by the new owner of the house who was paying for it's illegal destruction by a private company, we decided enough is enough. This is the 4th time a tree has been cut down illegally in the lane when the watchful eyes of concerned neighbours are absent. This tree is special, children in the neighbourhood love this tree, for many it's the first tree they ever learned to climb, and they have often admired it's expansive branches and shape. It was suggested to the new owner of the house that if she was so worried about fire-truck access, or wires or whatever, (although as mentioned it is not a fire route) then cut a branch, but not the entire tree! An appeal to city counsellor's office was made and they informed us that there had been other complaints about the tree being cut down and that it was illegal, as they had no permit. An official from the Toronto Urban Forestry Services came to the site and immediately and stopped the operation. So for now the tree is still alive despite losing many of it's beautiful branches. But the owner has threatened to get a permit and cut the tree down using any excuse at her disposal however baseless. As neighbours who care about the trees on our streets and people who care about urban forestry we can help to save healthy trees from being destroyed needlessly. Because once a tree is gone it is gone forever, you cannot bring it back. And on the street there are several trees that are climaxed and dying that we may lose legitimately, which will drastically change the look of our streets. We need as many heathly trees as possible to remain.
Please join us in helping to save the life of this tree (or as you can see from the picture it is 2 trees beside eachother, they're married). 
We are asking you sign this petition to save these trees from destruction before it's too late. This petition will be taken to the permit application review
board of the Toronto Parks and Forestry.
With our thanks from concerned friends and neighbours of Hillcrest Village.