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North Saskatchewan River Heritage Designation on Sept 12, 2024

From the initiative of the local Smoky Lake community and their partners, a quote “Last week, on Sept 12, we celebrated the unveiling of two commemorative plaques (in Cree/Nêiyawak, Blackfoot/Niitsitapi, French and English), which honor the designation of the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta as a Canadian Heritage River (Canadian Heritage Rivers / Rivières du patrimoine canadien), which was announced by the Province (YourAlberta (Government of Alberta), Minister Rebecca Schulz) and the Government of Canada (Parks Canada Minister Steven Guilbeault) on March 22nd 2024 (World Water Day). 🇨🇦  Thank goodness Métis Crossing so graciously hosted us indoors (🌧️)! And we were officiated by my friend, colleague, and brother from another mother Jordan Ruegg. ✨ We were *extremely* blessed to hear from Elders Jo Ann and Jerry  Saddleback of Samson Cree First Nation, who provided us with a prayer and an honor song, as well as Secretary of Harvesting and Culture for the Otipimswak Méti...
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Flying Canoë Volant Festival 2024

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This is the time of year to be a Voyageur and I am a boat team crew once again for the Flying Canoe Volant Festival!   
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Location: Mill Creek Ravine, 76 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6B 2L8, Canada
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New Years Bird Count #2

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This was a chance to see the birds along the Tawatinaw River watershed and thanks to Athabasca Watershed Council who supported this event on December 30! We talked about Canadian writers who have been sharing their love of bird counts. The canoe expedition for the book by  Adam Shoalts who is also a member of the paddling community, is considered an Indiana Jones for his recent book Where the Falcon Flies .  This was made available to all readers who have an interest in exploring and this is the lesson for students which was broadcast on Exploring By The Seat of Your Pants on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=LTBrpodyN-A This is the next lesson for students in the river valley for Flying Canoë Volant Festival 🧩Travel with Sherry  Heschuk - River Valley Festival and Flying Canoë Volant Festival 💙Time: 10: 00 AM  🏫 : at any age Hosted by Sherry Heschuk, teacher and volunteer from Paddle Canada
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Christmas Bird Count #1

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 Schedryk song began in Ukraine                                                     Photo by Gerald Romanchuk of Edmonton  Nature Club We learned about the Christmas Bird Count in Edmonton and the city itself hold the world record for the most participants, 1288 participants in 1997. The Edmonton count has been conducted 65 times from 1906 to 2013 and continuously from 1955 until today.    Feeder watchers tally birds in their yard and teams of counters, referred to as bush beaters for the Christmas Count #2 , scour the city to gather information on bird numbers. If you would like to join the Christmas bird count, check out https://www.edmontonchristmasbirdcount.ca/participate.html Stay Tuned for the next Christmas Bird Count in Tawatinaw Valley on December 29&30. 
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‘The Sound of A River’

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  For those who enjoy a great story this is a wonderful story about Finn the river  otter and Monica! I thought it would be a nice way to enhance our conversations with those who are interested in otters and river . The Environmental Scientist and an illustrator have written a 20 page comic  called. The sound of a River  for NBS comics was read on August 14 to students in Ukraine for Smart Osvita . https://nbscomics.com/2023/05/ 30/2023- sound -of-a- river WHAT DOES “NBS” MEAN? NBS are about working with nature for people and working with people for nature As well it can be a reference to how these are ecosystems related to our healthy  river  supported by a young girl and a  river  otter.  https://nbscomics.com/author/joeandchris/ Image 8: Willow trees are often associated with riparian ( river  banks) and wetland habitats and their roots can act to prevent erosion and stabilise banks. In some situations, where most other trees have bee...
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A birthday paddle for Ukraine

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 June 5 was like another birthday but it could still not be more important to share a kayak day. I will teach them over the next summer months twice each month with the teachers for Ukraine and my students from Kyiv.  They wanted to see the kayak I had shown them in my canoe post when I was in northern Alberta. The funny thing was students were speaking to me in English and they had asked some really good questions. My favourite one was why do you wear a uniform? I had to tell them it was a life jacket. 
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A love poem to Ukraine

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  An island of normal life': Canadian volunteers teach virtual lessons to displaced   Ukrainian   kids https://www.cbc.ca/news/ canada/edmonton/canadian- volunteers-virtual-lessons- ukrainian -students-1.6496835 https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1. 6496835 This was a great day to share with my friends and family members and those who I teach in Ukraine lessons that started by Smart Osvita and Teachers for Ukraine! I also appreciate that their hard work is providing experiences with the students and to share with them. My poem was sent to them and I am making this available on the links here they heard my poem online a year ago and we laughed when I tried to have Google translate make a link to how this poem was written so thank you Olena for your Ukrainian translation. https://www.arta.net/news- events/general-interest/the- river-and-my-canoe/ Alberta Retired Teacher’s Association News. ARTA News and on ARTAFacts March edition  https://www.arta.net/wp- content/uploads/2018/06/ ...
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