In 1979, the City of Saskatoon, the University of Saskatchewan, and the provincial government decided that the land bordering the South Saskatchewan River Basin was worth preserving.
This year, the Meewasin Valley is celebrating its 45th birthday as it continues to provide habitat and recreation for those who live near it. Meewasin CEO Andrea Lafond says 2024 was full of growth for the Meewasin Valley Authority.
She says over the past year, the Meewasin Valley Authority has been busy adding to its tourism portfolio, making trail enhancements to increase safety and accessibility, and taking part in initiatives that protect the valley itself.
“Leafy spurge flea beetles. Leafy spurge is a noxious weed throughout the valley. Our resource management team travels down south and collects all of (81,500) these beetles, and they bring them back and release them in key areas where we’re having significant issues managing the leafy spurge, and they eradicate that.”
When it comes to tourism, Lafond says Meewasin has expanded its educational component to be accessible through experiences, so all ages can enjoy the valley. These experiences have also brought profits back into the valley.
‘(Those experiences include) everything from Naughty by Nature, our Grazing Dinner, and pretty soon we may have snow, so you may want to join us for Sip and Skate.”
She adds that are paid experiences that incorporate nature, education, and environment with local food and beverage.
Also in 2023-2024, numerous trail improvements allowed for over 2 million people to visit the picturesque paths that surround the river. Staff with the MVA burned over 458 hectares of land to promote new growth and keep invasive species at bay, as well.
She says these initiatives are only possible through the generosity of donors.
This year, in celebration of Meewasin’s 45th birthday, a fundraising campaign has been launched where every donation of $45 or more receives a pack of four unique cards showcasing Meewasin’s plants, animals and views. Those are being sold now through until December third, and they can be purchased at meewasin.com/cards.
Looking forward to 2025, Lafond says the MVA is slated to complete the Kiwanis Promenade, a trail enhancements project that is in the works. She also tells the public to stay tunes for new volunteer opportunities and tourism experiences.
“Generally, Meewasin is such a trademark of how partnerships can do better together, and it isn’t just the foundational partners…but it is our donors, and it is our community. It’s such a living example of how much can be accomplished when we work together.”
