A huge thank you is extended to all the volunteers who showed up at the 2016 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Clean Up on Saturday July 9. There were so many people to thank it is hard to know where to start. Thank you also to the event day sponsors, EcoFriendly Sask and Sk Energy! Meewasin & Affinity Credit Union Clean-Up Campaign supplied a large number of trash bags, and amazingly nearly everyone of them was used in the clean up effort. The City of Saskatoon arranged the Loraas bins onsite, and very kindly waived both the Loraas fees and the tipping fees at the landfill, which does add up for a clean up of this enormity, indeed.
As the Afforestation Area was held during Canada’s Corporate Clean Up Week, the support of businesses in Saskatoon was absolutely phenomenal! Thank you to the Real Canadian Superstore, Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop Saskatoon Blairmore, Panago pizza, Fit 4 Less, A&W Restaurants, Cowtown Pets – Saskatoon – EverythingPets.ca, Motion Fitness Saskatoon, and Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt
The Honourable Pat Lorje, councillor Ward 2, came out to the clean up effort offering gifts, as did Verity Moore-Wright from the Meewasin Valley Authority Additionally, one could not have really asked for a better day, the weather was spectacular.
The team work by the youth groups, and community volunteers was absolutely fantastic! Thanks are extended to everyone who came out on Saturday, July 9 for either the 8:00 a.m. shift, or the 1:00 p.m. shift, and to those who stayed the full day. Whether you stayed for a short while, or for the duration, thank you for donating your time, your equipment, and showing such dedication and enthusiasm for the clean up. The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is truly fortunate, indeed to have such committed volunteers as you are.
At the 8:00 a.m. shift, volunteers began on the far west side of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, leaving the South West Off Leash Recreation Area after the health and safety meeting, and drove west along Cedar Villa Road towards Saskatchewan Highway 7 to enter the afforestation area far west entrance. Partway through the morning the Peace Bus Youth Group [CISV International] youth arrived. Another group who contributed their time were the Mormon missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints and youth from the Multi-Faith Youth Group. We are very sorry if we have not mentioned your participating group, please drop us an email and we will acknowledge your groups efforts additionally.
The volunteers arriving at 1:00 p.m. divided into two groups, supplementing morning volunteers at the west end with fresh energy. The other afternoon arrivals cleaned in the east side [between the SW OLRA and the COC] finishing up the superb 2015 spring clean up, and attending to the garbage dropped off over the winter months, which thank goodness was not a huge amount. It looked like the clean up efforts of 2015 were respected.
Can you believe it, at the clean up, there were volunteers helping out in Saskatoon at the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area from Winnipeg, Utah, Philadephia, Quebec, British Columbia, Victoria, Toronto, and Halifax!
Many users of the afforestation area who could not make it out to the clean up, contributed monetary donations towards the Meewasin Valley Authority Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area trust fund [MVA RSBBAA trust fund]. These folks received a huge round of applause and recognition for the contribution they brought forward.
Please don’t allow the clean up day to only be one day, but every day of the year. If we all follow in the footsteps of Richard St. Barbe Baker, and do one good deed every day, what a phenomenal environment the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area would remain. Just picking up one piece of garbage does go a long way to maintaining the environment. Perhaps place a trash bag in your pocket while out for a stroll, filling that one trash bag when you are out walking will also carry on the pride in the afforestation area and keep the forest clean.
Paul Hanley and Robert White who both knew Richard St. Barbe Baker personally were out at the Richard St. Barbe Afforestation Area Clean UP and posted these fantastic images on facebook and these.
Each one of our volunteers are truly an inspiration. A heartfelt thanks to everyone, your dedication is a testament to the pride taken in the afforestation environment, and the respect afforded to the West Swale Wetlands. The Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is a much safer and cleaner place for both wildlife and users of the forest.
“The ultimate test of a man’s conscience may be his willingness
to sacrifice something today for future generations
whose words of thanks will not be heard.”~Gaylord Nelson, Co-Founder of Earth Day
“Man must resuscitate his planet with trees, his heart with faith.”~Richard St. Barbe Baker
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:
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
Facebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
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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| Membership : $20.00 CAD – yearly Membership with donation : $20.00 CAD -monthly Membership with donation : $50.00 CAD Membership with donation : $100.00 CAD |
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What was Richard St. Barbe Baker’s mission, that he imparted to the Watu Wa Miti, the very first forest scouts or forest guides? To protect the native forest, plant ten native trees each year, and take care of trees everywhere.
“We stand in awe and wonder at the beauty of a single tree. Tall and graceful it stands, yet robust and sinewy with spreading arms decked with foliage that changes through the seasons, hour by hour, moment by moment as shadows pass or sunshine dapples the leaves. How much more deeply are we moved as we begin to appreciate the combined operations of the assembly of trees we call a forest.”~Richard St. Barbe Baker
“St. Barbe’s unique capacity to pass on his enthusiasm to others. . . Many foresters all over the world found their vocations as a result of hearing ‘The Man of the Trees’ speak. I certainly did, but his impact has been much wider than that. Through his global lecture tours, St. Barbe has made millions of people aware of the importance of trees and forests to our planet.” Allan Grainger
“The science of forestry arose from the recognition of a universal need. It embodies the spirit of service to mankind in attempting to provide a means of supplying forever a necessity of life and, in addition, ministering to man’s aesthetic tastes and recreational interests. Besides, the spiritual side of human nature needs the refreshing inspiration which comes from trees and woodlands. If a nation saves its trees, the trees will save the nation. And nations as well as tribes may be brought together in this great movement, based on the ideal of beautifying the world by the cultivation of one of God’s loveliest creatures – the tree.” ~ Richard St. Barbe Baker.
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 