JULY 24: National Self-Care Day – Unearthing Hidden Legacies and Unveiling Legends

Subtitle: The Reluctant Olympian: A Health and Wellness Biography of George Genereux

Introduction: July 24th marks National Self-Care Day, a day dedicated to prioritizing and nurturing one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. On this occasion, we delve into the fascinating life of Dr. George Genereux, a remarkable man who not only embodied the spirit of self-care but also left a lasting legacy in the realms of sports, medicine, and personal growth. Join us on a journey through the inspiring story of George Genereux and explore the significance of self-care in his life.

Unveiling Legends Journey through Time and Triumph

Unearthing Hidden Legacies: A Journey into Invisible Histories On the eve of National Self-Care Day, the Unearthing Hidden Legacies tour invites participants to discover the untold stories of extraordinary individuals who have championed a healthy and active lifestyle. Dr. George Genereux, born on March 1, 1935, in Saskatoon, Canada, stands as a shining example of perseverance and self-care in the face of adversity.

The Childhood Bonds that Lasted a Lifetime Genereux’s childhood was marked by cherished friendships, forming the foundation for a lifetime of support and camaraderie. Close companions such as Dr. Don Bailey, Peter Semko, Dr. Dick Baltzan, and Dr. W. Earle Decoteau were instrumental in shaping Genereux’s perspective on health and wellness.

Olympic Creed: Struggle, Triumph, and Helping Others In 1952, at the tender age of 17, George Genereux made history by winning Canada’s only Gold Medal at the Helsinki Olympics. Despite his remarkable achievement, Genereux remained grounded, embodying the Olympic creed that emphasizes the importance of participation and the struggle itself. He believed in using his talents to not only help himself but also to serve others, as exemplified by his dedication to advancing medical knowledge.

Legacy and Inspiration Despite the challenges he faced, George Genereux’s legacy continues to inspire generations. His commitment to self-care, perseverance, and helping others serves as a guiding light for those navigating their own journeys towards well-being. Genereux’s story reminds us that true success lies not just in triumph but in how we choose to care for ourselves and others along the way.

On this National Self-Care Day, as we celebrate the life and legacy of George Genereux, let us reflect on the power of self-care in our own lives. Let us recognize that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity, a foundation upon which we can build a fulfilling and purposeful existence. As we unearth the hidden legacies of individuals like Genereux, we unveil our own potential for growth and inspire others to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.

So, on this day dedicated to self-care, may we find the strength to prioritize our well-being, to embrace the struggles and triumphs that shape us, and to support and uplift one another along the way. For in honoring our own self-care, we not only honor the legacy of George Genereux but also contribute to a healthier, happier world.

Unearthing Hidden Legacies: A Journey into Invisible Histories

Sun, Jul 23, 6:30 PM Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area YouTube

Unveiling Legends: A Journey through Time and Triumph

Mon, Jul 24, 6:30 PM George Genereux Urban Regional park YouTube

Historic Places Days!

Historic Places Days Contest!!!
What would you do with $1000, a Parks Canada pass or a VIA Rail travel voucher?
Contest runs July 8 – 23, 2023

#HistoricPlacesDays and #HPDContest2023 Tag the historic place #GeorgeGenereuxPark #RichardStBarbeBakerPark Tag and follow @nationaltrustca

To express your interest or inquire further about the non profit environmental charity as supporter, volunteer or to become a board member, please reach out to us at email: friendsafforestation@gmail.com.

George Genereux (March 1, 1935 – April 10, 1989) photo courtesy SPL b-8759

Forest Events

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park
For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
YouTube
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities
“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker

Olympic Gold Medalist

Every place a story #HeritagePlacesDays

George Genereux Urban Regional Park. #HistoricPlacesDays Heritage Through All the Senses.

Historic Places Days
Every Place A Story

Dr. George Genereux
Olympic Gold Medalist
Sunday July 24 at 2:00 pm
at George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

HistoricPlacesDays Every Place A Story
Engage with George Genereux Urban Regional Park, through hearing, touch, sound, and smell.

Visiting a historical place is an experience that cannot be replicated online – it can engage all five senses! The immersive experience of visiting in-person is something we have all missed during the pandemic, and this is a great opportunity to come and get the full experience of an in-person visit. This is also an opportunity to explore and engage with George Genereux Urban Regional Park, through hearing, touch, sound, and smell.

And there’s a contest with awesome prizes too! #HistoricPlacesDays. Tag your selfie at the afforestation areas for a chance to win $1,000 Post before 07-31

There are so many more ways to explore George Genereux Urban Regional Park than just to have a look around! Visit us during #HistoricPlacesDays to experience the sounds, smells, feeling, and even the taste of our historic site!

George Genereux (March 1, 1935 – April 10, 1989) photo courtesy SPL b-8759

BioDivercity Challenge free iNaturalist App

50th anniversary of World Environment Day, 50th Birthday for Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park in Saskatoon

Contest through @nationaltrustca Sunday July 24 at 2:00 pm
Mark your calendars!
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/olympic-gold-medalist-tickets-360227960527?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Hosted by Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas. http://www.friendsareas.ca/
Learn more friendsarea.ca
Twitter: @nationaltrustca
Facebook: National Trust for Canada / Fiducie nationale du Canada
Instagram: @nationaltrustca / @fiducienatca
LinkedIn: National Trust for Canada

Learn more friendsareas.ca
friendsafforestation@gmail.com
https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

“George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

Where is the “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park in relation to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area?

adapted from the City of Saskatoon Projected Growth Concept Plan map

A NEW map and directions to arrive at George Genereux Urban Regional Park

On any maps showing the city and RM of Corman Park 344, the small square extending west from SK Highway 7 is “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is south of Chappell Yards CNR train station, and north of Township Road 362 A (Cedar Villa Road)  Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is west of the Civic Operations Center (Bus Barns and Snow Dump facility), and east of the Saskatoon Italian Center and Saskatchewan Highway 7.

“George Genereux” Urban Regional Park is directly diagonal across Saskatchewan Highway 7 east.  “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park is a quarter section of afforested land.  Both “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park and Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area were purchased by the City of Saskatoon in 1960 and afforested in a 1972 “War Against Ecology Abuse” programme by the City of Saskatoon Parks Department to be used as a tree nursery.  1972, A. L. Ligtemoet, Assistant Parks Superintendent sets before city council that these first  660 acres of afforestation areas be kept in perpetuity and this is approved.  The trees are much too big to transplant now, in 1979, the naming included Urban Regional Park in the title.

Both Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and  “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park  received their respective names  October 19 1978 (proposal to City Council) – October 30, 1978 (vote by city to approve and finalize). The name “George Genereux” was taken for a pocket park in another area of Saskatoon, leaving this urban regional park without a name.

What land development and growth is proposed for the land around George Genereux Urban Regional Park?

Forest Picture: George Genereux Urban Regional Park looking east from CNR Overpass SK Hwy 7

“The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.”  John Muir

Who was George Genereux?

George Genereux (March 1 1935- April 10, 1989) was a seventeen year old high school student in 1952 when he won the Olympic Games Gold Medal for trap-shooting at the Summer Olympc Games held in Helsinki, Finland with 192 out of 200.  This was Canada’s first gold medal at the olympics since 1932.  Further to this honour, Genereux was bestowed the Lou Marsh Trophy for being Canada’s outstanding amateur athlete of the year, making him the youngest person in history to receive this honour.  The City of Saskatoon declared Genereux “Citizen of the Year” in 1952.  Canada honoured him as male athlete of 1952.  Genereux was installed in the Canada Sports Hall of Fame (1955), Saskatchewan  Sports Hall of Fame on October 31 of 1966, inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame 1986 and the Trapshooting Hall of Fame (1986).(Source, Source, Source, Source, Source and City of Saskatoon archives)

Genereux was born to Dr. Arthur Genereux (b1901 Lethbridge AB – March 12, 1975) and Catherine (d 1964).(Source)  At the age of 16, Genereux was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which ended his sporting career in trap shooting when he was 20.(Source and Source)

Genereux started training with his father, Dr. A.F. Genereux, and Jimmy Girgulis when he was 12 years old. James “Jim” Girgulis, himself won the Canadian Team Trap Shooting Campionship in 1939 and 1941.  Further, Girgulis, won every trap shooting event held across Western Canada.   Genereux went on to trap shooting events across  Canada and the United States.  At the age of 13 Genereux won the Midwestern International Handicap Honours, then he acquired 3 successive Manitoba – Saskatchewan junior titles. (source) Genereux won the Junior Championship of North America at the Grand American Handicap, held in Vandalia, Ohio in 1951.  During this event, Genereux broke 199 clay pigeons out of 200.  Genereux also placed second in the Oslo, Norway World Championships, 1952.  (Source, Source,  Source and City of Saskatoon archives)

Genereux, attended the University of Saskatchewan to earn his Arts and Sciences degree, then he went on the McGill University to study Medicine graduated 1960.  Dr. George Genereux was for years a Professor of Radiology at the Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon.

The biography submitted to City Council stated that “It is considered appropriate to select in his honour this particular tract of semi-wilderness with its favorable habitat for wildlife of many kinds.”

Genereux is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery along with his mother and father.  Genereux died April 10, 1989.

“At the time of his death he was working with three other internationally known  specialists on the third and fourth volumes of a study of chest diseases. ..Despite his own bad health, Genereux worked to advance the cause of medical knowledge.   If you can’t help yourself, you should use your God-given talents to help others,’ he said in one interview.” Saskatoon Star Phoenix April 11, 1989

The above map shows the relation of the afforestation areas to the West Swale, and its confluence at Yorath Island.  The West Swale, and the deposition of Yorath Island were created from the Pleistocene era “Yorath Island Spillway” event.

What land development and growth is proposed for the land around George Genereux Urban Regional Park?

“Trees exhale for us so that we can inhale them to stay alive. Can we ever forget that? Let us love trees with every breath we take until we perish.” 
― Munia Khan 

When walking in either “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park or the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area they can be seen one from the other by peering under the CNR overpass.

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Bibliography:

Sharpshooter George3 Genereux grabs gold – Helsink, 1952 CBC Digital Archives.

George Genereux Canadian Encyclopedia

George Genereux Sports Hall of Fame.

George Genereux Sports Reference Olympic Sports

George Genereux Saskatoon Public Library

James Jim Girgulis Sask Sports Hall of Fame

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area,  George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

P4G Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth The P4G consists of the Cities of Saskatoon, Warman, and Martensville, the Town of Osler and the Rural Municipality of Corman Park; planning for areas around the afforestation area and West Swale outside of Saskatoon city limits

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)? with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Twitter: StBarbeBaker

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail)

Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year).  Please donate by paypal using the e-mail friendsafforestation AT gmail.com, or by using e-transfers  Please and thank you!  Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated.  Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!

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With spirit we are all children of the cosmos; Without it we are orphaned and adrift.
Deepak Chopra

“Healing the broken bond between children and nature may seem to be an overwhelming, even impossible task. But we must hold the conviction that the direction of this trend can be changed, or at least slowed. The alternative to holding and acting on that belief is unthinkable for human health and for the natural environment. The environmental attachment theory is a good guiding principle: attachment to land is good for child and land.”  Richard Louv

“The future of the planet concerns all of us, and all of us should do what we can to protect it. ” Wangari Maathai.