On April 1, 1959, Japanese ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, presented 2000 Japanese Somei-Yoshino Sakurathe on behalf of the citizens of Tokyo, Japan as a gift to the citizens of Toronto for their support of Japanese-Canadian refugees after the Second World War. Many of the trees were planted along High Park Trail and around Grenadier Pond which to this day stands as the most impressive grove of sakura // cherry blossom trees in the park and city.

Since then, the city of Toronto in conjunction with the Consulate General of Japan, created the “Sakura Project” which has continued to plant additional Sakura // Cherry Blossom trees in High Park and throughout the city in the spirit of continued friendship between Toronto and the people of Japan.

Source: http://www.sakurainhighpark.com/history