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Thursday, September 4th, 2003
Each year the Winnipeg offices of Industry Canada
host a focus day for their employees. This year the focus was
on 'Sustainability' and Save Our Seine's Coordinator was invited
to present two 45-minute presentations on 'Stewardship'.
The focus day was held on Thursday Sept. 4th at
the Holiday Inn on Pembina Hwy. There were approximately 100 participants
attending the 5 different presentations that morning.
In the afternoon the participants were brought out
into 'the field' to engage in some of the principles that were
raised at the earlier presentations. Save Our Seine's afternoon
activity had volunteers visit the Field of Dreams at the East
end of Beliveau Rd.
The Field of Dreams is a vacant patch of several
acres surrounded by the Seine River. At one time the field was
the site of the St. Vital City dump. Only non-native weeds and
grass grow there today. For the past two years SOS has focused
their annual Greening efforts here planting young, native-tree
species in an effort to enhance the riverbank and 'buffer zone.'
Keeping with the Stewardship theme, the Industry
Canada volunteers planted many more trees. After a quick explanation
of the Field of Dreams mini-forest the volunteers grabbed their
shovels and started digging. Although planting a tree is relatively
simple and quick, watering is time consuming and laborious, but
also critical.
Getting Water
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Hauling Water
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Watering Trees
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Under the hot afternoon sun the temperature was
close to thirty degrees Celsius. The trees seemed to sigh with
relief as the heavy buckets of river water were poured on their
roots. But how could we walk by the trees planted by past volunteers
in June 2002 and June 2003 without watering them as well? We couldn't.
Despite the heat and the long trek with heavy buckets of water
up the steep riverbank, the volunteers gave dozens and dozens
of previously planted little Hawthorns, Green Ash, Chokecherry
and Manitoba Maples got an unexpected bucket of fresh water.
Later the group moved into the nearby riparian forest
that is more established. Here SOS is trying to protect the precious,
mature trees. These trees are critical for a healthy riparian
habitat as their canopy provides shade and shelter and their extensive
root system binds the soil together resisting powerful river forces
reducing erosion.
Save Our Seine appreciates the opportunity to raise
awareness of the Seine River Environment and other natural urban
areas.
If you would like to invite SOS to make a presentation to you
organization, contact the SOS Coordinator, David J. Danyluk at
470-9247 or by email.
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