The Battle River & North Saskatchewan watershed alliances are partnering with Global Foundation’s new “Miquelon Watershed Stewardship Committee” (MWSC) to co-host an unprecedented tree planting and celebration next June 08, 2025 in an event entitled ‘Great Divide’.
The tree planting will take place at a unique property in Camrose County commencing with an indigenous blessing ceremony, followed by a symbolic planting of trees by public & organizational representatives who will join landowners and volunteers from groups throughout the UN-designated Beaver Hill Biosphere (BHB), in Central Alberta.
The event has been titled ‘Great Divide’ because it will take place along the headwaters that feed both the Battle River and North Saskatchewan River watersheds. For event details CLICK HERE.
A baseline for future tree planting in the Biosphere
The celebration and blessing aims to highlight the need to boost tree planting over the next decades within and around the Biosphere. Landowners and groups associated with MWSC are to follow up with their own tree planting of approximately 10,000 trees throughout 2025, a number which will set a baseline for future tree planting.
Interim Chair of MWSC, Noel St Jean explains that the Miquelon Committee was formed last year with a practical focus to educate and involve landowners in water quality and quantity issues for wetlands within the southern portion of BHB.
Catherine Peirce, Executive Director of the Battle River Watershed Alliance (BRWA) says, “Tree planting is vital to the watershed. Trees promote biodiversity, stabilize soil, reduce erosion, and filter pollutants before they reach waterways.”
She says that BRWA is pleased to support the Global Foundation’s Miquelon Watershed Stewardship Committee & the Great Divide tree planting initiative.
Kelsie Norton of the North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA), emphasizes that “More than ever, now is the time to embrace naturalization.”
She said that “Bringing the community together to restore resilience and biodiversity to our landscapes has lasting impacts for today and future generations.” NSWA looks forward to partnering and supporting this special event in the Great Divide of the North Saskatchewan River and Battle River Watersheds.
The tree planting ceremony will be followed by a potluck social in a nearby Beaver County community hall that is 10 minutes from the planting site, equidistant from Edmonton, Camrose and Tofield.
How to get there: CLICK HERE .
For information or to confirm your attendance, send msg to gf@gfoundation.ca
