The arrival of fall is always associated in my mind with the TreeFest event on the Riverview Hospital grounds in Coquitlam. Held this year on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., this annual event provides a wonderful opportunity for everyone to join free tours through Riverview's fantastic tree collection and around its impressive heritage buildings.

Riverview played a key role in the history of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam. Established in 1904 as a Hospital for the Mind, it was designed to dispense state-of-the-art care to the mentally ill in campus-like surroundings that provided a therapeutic and healing setting.

The original land acquisition included the existing hospital site plus upland areas, including what is now protected as Riverview Forest, the surrounding Riverview Heights residential areas and the land on what is now Colony Farm Regional Park.

After a design competition for architects, West Lawn was built and opened in 1910. The grand architectural style of the buildings at Riverview influenced the design of government buildings around the province.

For many years, the hospital was known as Essondale and provided employment for many local residents. Essondale became the site of western Canada's first arboretum (i.e., tree collection) and botanical garden.

John Davidson, the first provincial botanist, was recruited from Scotland to spend his time at Essondale until UBC was established. When Davidson moved to UBC, he took the botanical garden with him but left the trees behind; these trees now form the core of the arboretum.

The arboretum currently consists of almost 2,000 trees representing species from all temperate regions of the world. Many of these trees are now majestic and mature specimens, and some of them are thought to be the oldest of their kind in the Vancouver area.

For many years, patients provided the labour for grounds maintenance at Riverview as well as at Colony Farm until it ceased to operate as a farm in the 1980s.

As the hospital expanded in the first part of the 20th century, more buildings were added. One of the more spectacular of these, opened in 1934, is the Crease Clinic, a stunning art deco building close to Lougheed Highway.

Don Luxton, an author and well-known heritage architect, will conduct a heritage building tour at TreeFest on Sunday for those who wish to learn more about Riverview's architectural gems. In recognition of its heritage buildings, graciously designed grounds and second-oldest arboretum in Canada, the Riverview Hospital site was added to Canada's list of historic sites this spring.

In addition to the regular tree tours, TreeFest this year will also feature a special tree tour with Terry Taylor, a well-known naturalist with Nature Vancouver. Taylor has an amazing knowledge of vegetation, especially of the native trees and shrubs of B.C. He has many fascinating stories to tell of the special relationships that fungi and lichen have developed with the trees they grow upon.

Another event at TreeFest will be tours of Finnie's Garden, complete with displays of art, including some intriguing sculpture. The photographic displays will feature the work of nature photographer Kiyoshi Takahashi, whose work often accompanies this column and who will be on hand to chat with attendees.

Finnie's Garden was established by nurse Art Finnie in 1954 as a sanctuary that patients could call their own. Today, Finnie's is maintained as an award-winning naturescape garden. With the regular help of several volunteers, it continues to offer respite and a quiet place for patients, their families and other visitors. TreeFest will provide an opportunity to enjoy blackberry tea at Finnie's, explore the garden paths and encounter art in a natural environment.

As special a place as Riverview is, it is sad to realize the provincial government is preparing to shut the hospital down. While some new facilities on site managed by Fraser Health will continue to provide a few beds for the mentally ill, the days, when Riverview provided care for over 4000 patients, appear to be gone.

Not too long ago, rumours circulated that the provincial government was poised to permit a number of residential highrise towers on the site. While such rumours have faded for the time being, the fate of Riverview remains uncertain.

TreeFest will provide an opportunity for everyone to tour the site, understand its remarkable past and contemplate what might be its best use for the future.

Elaine Golds is a Port Moody environmentalist who is vice-president of Burke Mountain Naturalists, chair of the Colony Farm Park Association and president of the PoMo Ecological Society.