<img class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual" src="https://display.blogto.com/articles/20220506-HighParkCherryBlossoms-57.jpg?w=1200&amp;cmd=resize_then_crop&amp;height=630&amp;quality=70&amp;format=jpeg" width="100%" /><p>Toronto's most iconic cherry blossom expert is getting his well-deserved flowers as he receives a special honour from&nbsp;Matsunaga Takeshi, Consul-General of Japan.</p><p>It's almost impossible to discuss Toronto's breathtaking High Park cherry blossoms without the city's resident sakura expert, who fittingly goes by the name Sakura Steve online, entering the discourse.</p><p>Steven Joniak, the man behind <a href="https://www.sakurainhighpark.com/">Sakura in High Park</a>, has been Toronto's (and blogTO's) source for cherry blossom updates ever since he launched his website in 2012, supplementing his journey with extensive research on the trees.</p><p>To date, Steve is the foremost authority for Toronto residents keen to catch the peak bloom every year, providing weekly updates and, at times, braving less-than-ideal conditions&nbsp;from March to May as the trees progress.</p><p>While Steve has certainly earned his fair share of recognition over the years, he's now about to receive an official honour for all of his contributions:&nbsp;a commendation from the Consul-General of Japan in a special ceremony on April 29.</p><p>The honour is being given "in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of friendship and goodwill between Japan and Canada," a release from the Consul-General's office reads, citing the "invaluable service" Steve has provided on a volunteer basis.</p><p>Such friendship and goodwill is, after all, how the trees got here in the first place.</p><p>In April of 1959, the then-ambassador to Canada, Toru-Hagiwara, gifted 2000 sakura trees to Toronto on behalf of Japanese citizens as a thank you for the city's Japanese-Canadian refugees after the Second World War.</p><p>Ever since, the trees have stood, not only as one of the city's most breathtaking natural sights, but as an enduring symbol of peace and collaboration between Canada and Japan. It feels only fitting that, from here on out, Steve will always be a part of this story, too.</p><p>Even more fitting, the date of Steve's commendation ceremony happens to line up perfectly with his <a href="https://www.blogto.com/city/2025/04/cherry-blossom-toronto-2025/">earliest date prediction </a>for the 2025 sakura bloom.</p>