The Freda Wales Trail
Embrace Fitness, Discover Nature
Join us on the Trail Tribute, named in honor of Freda Wales, a remarkable physical education specialist. Celebrating her dedication to physical fitness, this trail invites you to explore the great outdoors while honoring her legacy.
Freda Wales, beloved by Mount Saint Vincent Academy graduates, organized thrilling hosteling trips, canoeing adventures, orienteering challenges, and camping escapades. Her coaching prowess extended to the athletic teams and she found joy in walking and jogging around campus.
Step onto this trail and follow in the footsteps of a true inspiration. Immerse yourself in nature’s beauty while embracing the active lifestyle that Freda Wales championed. This trail is a tribute to her unwavering commitment to wellness, inviting you to honor her memory as you embark on your own invigorating journey.
As you traverse along this scenic trail, keep an eye out for the wildlife that graces the area. You may have the opportunity to spot graceful deer quietly grazing, playful squirrels scurrying among the trees and an assortment of birds soaring through the sky. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of an owl perched on a branch, observing its surroundings with a watchful gaze.
In addition to the wildlife, the trail meanders through sections of the university’s arboretum, where you’ll encounter a variety of plant life. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the diverse flora, as each step unveils a captivating display of colors and fragrances. Along the way, you’ll also come across landmarks that tell the story of the Mount’s past and present.
While the trail offers a serene environment for relaxation, reflection, and appreciation of nature, it remains grounded in reality. So, lace up your hiking shoes and prepare to immerse yourself in the natural surroundings and enjoy the simple pleasures that this trail has to offer.
A Living Classroom for All
Step into our Arboretum, a dedicated space for the culture and display of woody ornamental plants. Derived from the Latin word “arbor” meaning tree, it serves as an outdoor laboratory and classroom for the Mount Community.
While not a traditional park, the Arboretum offers a unique opportunity for all to observe and enjoy a diverse range of plants. Immerse yourself in this living classroom, where exploration, discovery, and a deeper connection with the natural world await.
Join us in this extraordinary environment where the wonders of nature come to life. Discover, learn, and find inspiration within the Arboretum’s vibrant ecosystem. Experience the beauty and educational value that this living classroom has to offer.
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Sister Lua Arboretum
The Sister Lua Arboretum includes plantings throughout the entire campus. The campus map has been divided into sections, with a listing of selected specimens in each section.
It is named in honor of Sister Mary Lua Gavin, Professor Emeritus of Biology. Sister Lua founded MSVU’s biology department in 1950 and was its chair for 29 years. Her intimate knowledge of the flora and fauna on the Mount grounds brought a uniqueness to her classes and joy to her students.
A
- Alder Flycatcher
- American Black Duck Mallard
- American Crow
- American Goldfinch
- American Redstart
- American Robin
B
- Bald Eagle
- Barred Owl
- Belted Kingfisher
- Black and white Warbler
- Black-backed Woodpecker
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Black-throated Green Warbler
- Blue Jay
- Blue-headed Vireo
- Bobolink
- Bohemian Waxwing
- Brown Creeper
- Brown-headed Cowbird
C
- Canada Goose
- Cedar Waxwing
- Chipping Sparrow
- Common Grackle
- Common Loon
- Common Nighthawk
- Common Raven
- Common Redpoll
- Common Yellowthroat
D
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Downy Woodpecker
E
- Eastern Wood-Pewee
- European Starling
- Evening Grosbeak
G
- Golden-crowned Kinglet
- Great Black-backed Gull
- Great Blue Heron
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Great Horned Owl
H
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Hermit Thrush
- Herring Gull
- House Sparrow
L
- Least Flycatcher
M
- Magnolia Warbler
- Northern Flicker
N
- Northern Goshawk
- Northern Mockingbird
- Northern Oriole
O
- Osprey (provincial bird)
P
- Palm Warbler
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Pine Grosbeak
- Pine Siskin
- Purple Finch
R
- Red Crossbill
- Red-breasted Nuthatch
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Rock Dove
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
S
- Sharp-skimmed Hawk
- Song Sparrow
- Spotted Sandpiper
T
- Tree Swallow
W
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- White-throated Sparrow
Y
- Yellow Warbler
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
A
A Japanese Maple
Abbotswood Potentilla
Adam’s Needle
American Beech
American Elm
Amur Cork
Amur Cork Tree
Amur Maple
Annabelle Hydrangea
Arnold’s Red Honeysuckle
Austrian Pine
Autumn Blaze Red Maple
Azalea
Azalea Species
B
Balsam Poplar
Bearberry
Beauty Bush
Black Locust
Black Walnut
Blanc Double De Coubert Rose
Blue-mist Shrub
Bog Rosemary
Boston Ivy
Burkwood Viburnum
Butterfly Bush
C
Camperdown Elm
Capachian Walnut
Catalpa
Catalpa
Cherry
Clethra
Climbing Euonymus
Climbing Honeysuckle
Climbing Hydrangea
Colorado Blue Spruce
Columnar Norway Maple
Columnar Poplar
Corkscrew Hazel
Coronation Triumph POTENTILLA
Crimson King Norway Maple
Cutleaf European
Cypress
D
Daphne
Dawn Redwood
Day Lily
Dense Yew
Douglas Fir
Dwarf Alberta Spruce
Dwarf Burning Bush
Dwarf Yew
E
Eastern Arborvitae
Eastern Hemlock
Emerald n’ Gold
English Ivy
Enkianthus
Euonymus
European Birdcherry
European Clump Birch
European Euonymus (Standard)
European Moutain Ash
European Purple
European White Birch
Excelsior Ash
F
False Cypress
False Spirea
February Daphne
Ferns (various species)
Flowering Dogwood
Forsythia
Forsythia
Fragrant Viburnum
G
Ginkgo
Globe Blue Spruce
Globe Cedar
Golden Threadleaf False Cypress
Goldflame Spiraca
H
Hansa Rugosa Rose
Hawthorne
Hetz Blue Juniper
Holly
Hoopsi Blue Spruce
Horse Chestnut
I
Indian Pear
Ironwood
Ivory Silk Japanese Lilac
Ivory Silk Lilac Tree
J
Jacquemonti Birch
Japanese Kerria
Japanese Maple
Japanese Maple Species
Japanese Quince
Japanese Yew
K
Korean Spice Viburnum
Kwanzan Japanese
L
Leucothoe
Littleleaf Linden
Lombardy Poplar
M
Maidenhair Tree
Manchu Cherry
Mission Cedar
Mollis Hybrid Azalea
Mougo Pine
Mountain Ash
Mountain Laurel
N
Nest Spruce
O
Old Rose Species
Oregon Grapeholly
Ornamental Ironwood
Ornamental Pear
P
Paper Birch
Patmore Ash
Paul’s Scarlet Hawthorne
Pee Gee Hydrangea
Peking Cotoneaster
Pfitzer Juniper
Pin Cherry
Pink Princess Spirea
Plantain Lily
Purple Leaf Flowering Plum
Purple Leaf Smoke Tree
Pyramidal English Oak
R
Red Leaf Japanese
Red Maple
Red Oak
Red Oak
Redmond Linden
Rhododendron
Rose of Sharon
Royal Red Maple
Rugosa Rose
Russian Olive
S
Saucer Magnolia
Savin Juniper
Schlesinger Red Maple
Scots Pine
Siberian Peashrub
Silver Fir
Silver Maple
Skyline Honey Locust
Skyrocket Juniper
Smoke Bush
Snowberry
Snowmound Spirea
Star Magnolia
Striped Maple
Sugar Maple
Sumac
Sumac
Swiss Stone Pine
T
Tamarack
Theresa Bugnet Rose
Threadleaf False Cypress
Toba Hawthorne
Trembling Aspen
V
Various Crabapple
Various Garden Perennials
Various roses
various Viburnum
Virginia Creeper
W
Weeping Beech
Weeping Birch
Weeping Hemlock
Weeping Mulberry
Weeping Nootka False
Weeping Willow
White Birch
White Fringetree
White Pine
Winged Euonymus
Wintercreeper Euonymus
Witch Hazel
Woodward Globe Cedar
Y
Yellow Twig Dogwood
Young’s Weeping Birch
