Good Samaritans donate firewood to elderly Scarborough couple

An elderly Scarborough couple who thought they were left out in the cold after the wood from a chopped-down tree was hauled away will likely be warm and toasty for many months to come.

Patrice Stephen-Bourgeault and her husband, Laurent Bourgeault, usually burn firewood to keep warm during the winter. Recently, the couple agreed to have cut down a large silver maple tree that was on the property line between their home and their neighbours.

The Bourgeaults say their neighbours, who are building a new home, agreed to pay for the tree removal. The couple believed they would be able to keep the firewood after the tree was gone. But that was not written in the contract, and the tree-removal company took the wood away.

"I didn't think he would take it," Stephen-Bourgeault told CTV Toronto. "I said that's my tree, that's my wood."

Surprised that they couldnt keep the firewood, the Bourgeaults contacted CTV Toronto's Pat Foran to share their story. The report aired on Monday, and shortly after, viewers expressed an interest to donate firewood to the couple.

On Tuesday, dozens of tree companies, arborists and Good Samaritans showed up at the Bourgeaults home to deliver firewood.

"I'm flabbergasted. Toronto is a good place, (there are) good people," Stephen-Bourgeault said. "Thanks to the community, thanks to Toronto."

The Bourgeaults say they likely have enough firewood for the remainder of the winter, and many more to come.

According to tree removal companies, many homeowners often want the wood taken away after a tree has been removed. They say if a homeowner wants to keep the wood, its important that those details are written in the contract.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Pat Foran

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Good Samaritans donate firewood to elderly Scarborough couple