Celebrate Alberta Forest Week

Alberta Forest Week provides an opportunity for expanding individual and collective awareness of how important forests are to all of us. This year's focus is to recognize the stewardship role that each of us plays in sustaining Alberta’s forests and natural resources.

Stewardship: It starts with you is this year's theme for Alberta Forest Week and other special weeks that the department of Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) will celebrate in 2006.

Alberta has celebrated National Forest Week in May since the 1920s, when it was known as "Forest Fire Prevention Week." In 2005, the Canadian Forestry Association decided to move National Forest Week from the first week in May to the third week in September. This change left the first week of May open for the celebration of Alberta Forest Week, giving Albertans the opportunity to learn how trees and forests are an integral part of life in this province.

Alberta's forests contribute significantly to the high standard of living, clean air and water that we enjoy and Alberta Forest Week is an opportunity for Albertans to celebrate one of the province's greatest resources. Communities across the province are holding events to celebrate Alberta Forest Week. Find out what's happening in your community…

Calgary

May 13 - Wild thing at Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery. http://www.srd.gov.ab.ca/regions/southeast/bowhabitat/whatsnew.html

Grand Prairie

May 8-12 - Alberta Forest Week Daily Draws for potted Trees/ T-shirt prizes; Grande Prairie Provincial Building Room 2201.

May 8-10 - A Walk Through the Forest Student Tours (grades 5-6); Grand Prairie Nordic Center.

May 11 – City of Grand Prairie celebrates Arbor Day (tree planting); 10:30 a.m. at Harry Balfour Elementary School.

Grimshaw

May 12 – Tom Baldwin Memorial Arboretum Dedication and tree planting; 11 a.m. at the Tourism Caboose.

High Level

May 3 - Northern Lights Forest Education Society Annual Dinner; 6 p.m. at the Stardust Hotel; tickets $20.

May 7 - High Level Forestry Week Community Pancake Breakfast; 9 a.m. to noon at the Fire Hall.

May 8-12 - High Level and Area; Mill Tours

May 10 – Sustainable Resource Development Open House

May 13 - Footner Lake Community Arboretum Season Opener

High Prairie

May 4, June 14, June 21 - Lesser Slave Forest Education Society Student Tours (grades 4 -6)

May 13 – Sustainable Resource Development /Tolko Alberta Forest Week Display and prizes; 9 a.m. at the IGA.

La Crete

April 28-29 – La Crete Trade Show at La Crete Agricultural College.

Peace River

May 9 – Normand Boucher Community Arboretum season kick-off and tree planting; noon – 2 p.m. across from Good Shepard School.

May 8-12 – Alberta Forest Week Daily Draws for potted trees/t-shirt prizes; Peace River Provincial Building Main Floor.

Raven Valley

May 13 – Tree Planting.

Rocky Mountain House

May 7 - Annual Forest Week Free Pancake Breakfast.

Slave Lake

April 28 - Lesser Slave Forest Education Society Auction Dinner; 6 p.m. at the Northern Lakes College; tickets $40.

May 2-3 - Lesser Slave Forest Education Society Student Tours (grades 4 -6).

May 5-7 – Slave Lake Trade Show; Slave Lake Community Arena.

Valleyview

May 11 – Town of Valleyview Arbor Day BBQ and tree planting; noon at the Gerry Lacombe Community Arboretum (4808-49 Street).

Water Valley

May 13 – Tree Planting.