The enthusiastic crowd that participated in the successful ‘Great Divide’ tree planting event last June has prompted the Global Foundation for Social Harmony & Sustainable Development (GFoundation) to revise plans for its 2025-26 work program when it holds its Annual General Meeting later this summer.
The 2025 Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday August 24 at 1:00 PM at the Spilstead Hall southeast of Edmonton, (directions below).
As with past AGM’s, a tree planting and a potluck social, complete with campfire, will take place afterward.
In addition to its regular business, the AGM will take stock of the ‘Great Divide’ in which more than 100 participants (dignitaries, official representatives, landowners and volunteers) swelled a unique tree planting event throughout the day, within the UN-designated Beaver Hills Biosphere in central Alberta.
CLICK HERE for Great Divide video
The ceremony and tree planting were organized by GF’s “Miquelon Watershed Stewardship Committee” (MWSC), in partnership with the Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) and North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA).
Representatives of adjacent counties and several organizations and institutions took part in the community building program, which included an indigenous ceremony, live music and a celebratory meal.
The Chair of MWSC, Noel St Jean, said his group will now be undertaking an evaluation of its own, as the success of the Great Divide event provided for a fresh perspective on what could happen for next year’s tree planting and for activities this Fall, leading up to it.
“I want to extend a sincere ‘thank you’ to the people and organizations who supported and became involved in our event”, said St. Jean. “It has inspired me and many others to continue expanding the work we’re doing to protect and preserve the unique environment in our portion of the Beaver Hills Biosphere.”
GFoundation President Winston Gereluk said the enthusiasm generated by the Great Divide event signals a growing appetite amongst people for more concerted action on wetland protections and for more effective policies to deal with water issues in our part of the world. He praised and thanked the many GFoundation and other volunteers who made the event possible.