On Friday, May 24 Arbor Day was celebrated at the Churchbridge Rest stop with a jointly sponsored event held by the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA), the Town of Churchbridge and Churchbridge in Bloom.
The event honoured Warren Kaeding, MLA for Melville-Saltcoats Constituency, who played a key role in having the Province of Saskatchewan proclaim and promote an annual Arbor Day/Arbor Week.
A Siberian Larch, the tree of Warren’s choosing, was planted and a dedication ceremony took place.
Churchbridge Mayor Bill Johnston welcomed the attendees, thanked MLA Kaeding and his family, and spoke about his personal experience with Arbor Day.
He shared, “Shortly after we moved into our house in 1988, our youngest daughter, Julia, came home from school with a spruce tree seedling, which had been given to all of Churchbridges elementary school students.”
Soon enough the tree was tall enough for Bill to decorate it with one string of Christmas tree lights. He added, “ through the years 1 string became 12 strings. The upper branches are now taller than our two story house. A tree, whether it’s planted on Arbor Day or any other day, serves as a good reminder of how fragile and momentary we humans are as compared to the strength and longevity of the trees, which we’re fortunate enough to have around us”.
Martin Phillips with the YFBTA/Yellowhead Nature Society acknowledged MLA Warren Kaeding for “his interest and hard work convincing our government to declare Arbor Day. I’m pretty sure without him, it would never have happened”.
Walter Farquharson spoke next and said, “Promoting and planning for Arbor Day/Arbor Week is much like planting a tree in Saskatchewan. It’s an act of faith, of hope and of trust. It is about all of us, and the heritage that we wish to leave for the children and youth of this province”.
In 2018 the YFBTA started talking about Arbor Day and their group shared experiences with the annual event from earlier in life, as well as its potential to be celebrated again moving forward.
Walter added, “Few recognize the importance of trees and the planting of trees for personal community and global health. YFBTA reached out and gained support for our endeavour from SOS Trees in Saskatoon and the Saskatchewan Forestry Association. We made our appeal to the Government of Saskatchewan, the premier and the ministries we thought most likely would be interested in it. We immediately had the support of Warren Kaeding. If it had not been for Warren and his work with others in the legislature, there would not have been a proclamation of Arbor Day/Week within the province”.
The proclamation of Arbor Day and Arbor Week occurred in 2020. In 2022, the group was assured that Arbor Day and Week would be proclaimed and promoted annually.
Lyn Cayo, member of Churchbridge in Bloom, thanked everyone for the support shown to their committee. She thanked Warren for his work and spoke about the Siberian Larch tree that was chosen. “The First Nations people used all the parts of the Larch for medicines and it has spiritual significance. We hope that it flourishes here like the way that it flourishes in Saltcoats; they’re so pretty in the fall”.
Warren Kaeding spoke and mentioned he “truly appreciates the honour that’s been bestowed on me”.
He added, “Why is the Siberian Larch so important? I look at it as a constant reminder of renewal. It changes with the seasons. Each season brings a new look on the large tree and it expresses itself in unique, different ways. It’s a hardy tree that can withstand the test of time, which I think is truly indicative of we as Saskatchewan people. It thrives in cold and challenging environments, and in warm and lush environments. Its slow and steady growth has many different uses”.
MLA Kaeding mentioned the importance of youth to help look after our world, mentioning he feels the world is in good hands with our environmentally focused youth today.
He ended his speech by talking about the importance of planting trees and what they mean to him and his family. He said, “Just south of town, there’s about 20 acres of trees that are planted there, very lovingly planted by dad, mom and our family. It’s one of those little legacy things that I know people enjoy. People go out and walk through them. I spend time out there. That’s my getaway place”.
