“Come With Me, This Gentle Way”

“Come With Me, This Gentle Way”
(for National Tourism Week 2025 April 7-11)

Come with me—
the path is not hurried.
It winds gently where the city sighs
into woods, into wild,
into the song of wind on new leaves.

It is National Tourism Week,
fifteen years now of open arms
and stories told in footsteps,
in laughter, in quiet looking.

Let April lift you.
Let the soft days between the seventh and eleventh
carry your family outward—
to the world just outside your door,
to where nature still leans in close
and speaks in the language of chickadees and green shoots.

Then, let Easter’s breath linger
through the City Nature Challenge, April 25 to 29
a scavenger hunt of awe,
of beetles, bark, and birdsong,
where children chase wonder
instead of clocks.

In May, take the Jane’s Walk.
Not to conquer the streets,
but to know them—
to trace the edges where
history curls around the roots of trees,
and every corner holds a whisper.

And when your heart is ready—
when the longing for stillness returns,
come visit the twin quiets:
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
and George Genereux Urban Regional Park.

They are not far,
just a breath beyond the busy.
There, you’ll find
the old companionship of trees
and the hush that lives
in all good forests.

So pack only this:
curiosity,
kindness,
and a willingness to be surprised.

The wild is calling—
not far,
not fierce—
just waiting,
softly,
for you.

www.friendsareas.ca

For directions as to how to drive to “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park

For directions on how to drive to Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

For more information:

Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits

NEW P4G District Official Community Plan

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′

Addresses:

Part SE 23-36-6 – Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A

Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A

S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A

NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063

Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot

Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com

Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map

Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map

Pinterest richardstbarbeb

Blogger: FriendsAfforestation

Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park

Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area

Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas

Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area

Facebook: South West OLRA

Reddit: FriendsAfforestation

BlueSky Social

Mix: friendsareas

YouTube

Support via Zeffy

Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )

Donate your old vehicle, here’s how!  

Support using Canada Helps

Support via a recycling bottle donation and Join the plastic-recycle challenge!

United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”

Richard St. Barbe Baker

A Green Odyssey: Walking in the Footsteps of St. Barbe Baker

In the heart of Saskatchewan, a passionate group is rallying support for an extraordinary journey that transcends borders and echoes the environmental legacy of one of history’s unsung heroes. Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., a non-profit environmental charity, is paving the way for their Vice Chairman to attend the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) in Nairobi, Kenya. This is not just a trip—it’s a green odyssey, a chance to walk in the footsteps of a pioneer, Richard St. Barbe Baker, who founded the Men of the Trees (the International Tree Foundation) in the very heart of Kenya, Africa.

Journey to UNEA-6 Fundraiser.
Journey to UNEA-6 Fundraiser.

The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are on a mission to honor the spirit of St. Barbe Baker, a global environmental champion who left an indelible mark on the world through his dedication to trees and nature. Their Vice Chairman, poised to attend UNEA-6, carries with them the torch of this environmental legacy, seeking to contribute to the global dialogue on climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.

Connecting Roots: From Saskatoon to Nairobi

Why Nairobi? The answer lies in the history of St. Barbe Baker, who planted the seeds of environmental stewardship in Kenya. By attending UNEA-6, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas aim to pay homage to this legacy and bring the issues of their local efforts to the global stage.

The United Nations Environment Assembly is a platform where nations convene to discuss and address pressing environmental challenges. It’s an opportunity to forge alliances, share insights, and chart a course towards a sustainable future. By participating in this assembly, the Vice Chairman and the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas hope to amplify their local impact on a global scale.

Journey to UNEA-6 Fundraiser: A Call to Action

To make this journey possible, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas are launching the “Journey to UNEA-6 Fundraiser.” The goal is to cover essential travel expenses and ensure that their Vice Chairman can represent not only their organization but the collective voice of local environmental advocates on the global stage.

This isn’t just about attending a conference; it’s about fostering change, raising awareness, and catalyzing action. The fundraiser invites individuals, organizations, and corporations to join hands in support. Every donation, every share, and every message of encouragement contributes to the success of this environmental odyssey.

Honoring St. Barbe Baker: A Global Environmental Champion

Richard St. Barbe Baker once said, “I believe in the Oneness of Mankind and all living things and the interdependence of each and all.” These words resonate deeply with the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas, who seek to honor his legacy by making a meaningful impact at UNEA-6.

As we stand at the crossroads of local efforts and global change, the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas invite everyone to be part of this journey. By supporting the “Journey to UNEA-6 Fundraiser,” you’re not just contributing to a trip; you’re contributing to a movement—one that strives for a greener, sustainable future and carries the torch of St. Barbe Baker’s environmental passion.

In the spirit of unity and global change, let us all join hands to support this cause. Together, we can walk in the footsteps of a true environmental champion and shape a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. The FriendsAreas.ca awaits your support, and the journey has just begun.

For more information:
Blairmore Sector Plan Report; planning for the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park and West Swale and areas around them inside of Saskatoon city limits
NEW P4G District Official Community Plan
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Google Maps South West Off Leash area location pin at parking lot
Web page: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com
Where is the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area? with map
Where is the George Genereux Urban Regional Park (Afforestation Area)?with map
Pinterest richardstbarbeb
Blogger: FriendsAfforestation
Tumblr friendsafforestation.tumblr.comFacebook Group Page: Users of the George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Facebook: StBarbeBaker Afforestation Area
Facebook for the non profit Charity Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. FriendsAreas
Facebook group page : Users of the St Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Facebook: South West OLRA
Reddit: FriendsAfforestation
Twitter: St Barbe Baker Charity Twitter:FriendsAreas
Mix: friendsareas
YouTube
Please help protect / enhance your afforestation areas, please contact the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. (e-mail / e-transfers )Support the afforestation areas with your donation or membership ($20.00/year). Please donate by paypal or by using e-transfers Please and thank you! Your donation and membership is greatly appreciated. Members e-mail your contact information to be kept up to date!
Donations can be made through Paypal, Canada Helps, Contact Donate A Car Canada, SARCAN Drop & Go 106100594 for the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Use the UN Decade’s Visual Identity
Make it your own
Spread the word about the UN Decade
Let’s Bring Back Forests
Let’s Green Our Cities
“Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker!

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