The document summarizes the Champlain Oaks Project which aims to designate and protect a group of approximately 24 bur oak trees in Ottawa's Champlain Park neighborhood. The trees are among the oldest in Ottawa, dating back to before Confederation in 1867. They provide a living link to the area's early French exploration history and are a defining characteristic of the neighborhood. The project seeks to have the group of trees designated as a heritage forest under the Ontario Heritage Act for their historical, cultural, and environmental value.