Restoring 71 – A Prairie in Transition

Nicole DollCommunity Features, Featured

Katie and Aaron Suek - Restoration 71

In 2014, we bought a little patch of prairie. After a century of growing crops and hay, this 71-acre prairie was no longer pristine. It was not untouched. This prairie was not a native grassland, it was not a cropland, and it was not a hay land. This prairie was in transition.  

Community Feature: Rollin Baldhead

Stew ColesCommunity Features, Featured

Rollin teaching

Baldhead grew up in Saskatchewan and is now using what he’s learned to move mountains across Canada. Baldhead takes his educator role seriously, from teaching grades kindergarten to 2 through land-based learning to leading culture camps and everything in between.

Community Feature: Woman of the Forest

Nicole DollCommunity Features, Featured

Lynx

I have an inherent appreciation, love, and respect for Mother Earth, my indigenous ancestors travelled, worked, and lived in many of the same areas where I explore. I grew up in the boreal forest in Saskatchewan and I’ve recently reconnected with it. I feel very grateful to be exploring and living on Treaty 6 Territory.

Community Feature: Mike Digout

Nicole DollCommunity Features, Featured

Beaver eating grass

I have always loved nature and wildlife, but prior to 2020, I spent a lot of time driving to find it. The 2020 pandemic helped me realize that nature and wildlife is just outside our front doors; and thrives right here in our city.

Community Feature Matt Jacques, 2020 in Review

Stew ColesCommunity Features, Featured

Deer standing in a dense forest

But this crisis has created opportunity as well. In a rather roundabout way, 2020 has provided a chance to hit pause and re-centre our connection to the natural world around us. It didn’t take long for some to connect the dots between the pandemic and our fractured relationship with nature.

Community Feature: Matt Jacques

Stew ColesCommunity Features, Photography

Matt Jacques COVID19 portraits

By working on stories and projects like these, I have started to build a stronger sense of connection to my community. This is a process which I feel has direct parallels with my appreciation of the natural world too. How many ecological crises are the result of an artificial, unsustainable disconnect between humans and the natural world?