Joe McWilliams
Lakeside Leader
On the same day that one trail was closed (temporarily) in the community, another one was opening. Aug. 12 was the day for the grand opening of the FireSmart Interpretive Trail at the Slave Lake Visitor Information Centre. Sponsored by the Regional Tri-Council, the loop was developed over the past year or so by the Tri-council’s FireSmart Committee, with the help of many contributors.
Those contributors included Therese Malatare, a Sawridge First Nation elder, who opened the ceremonies with a prayer. Before that, she’d provided the committee with information for the interpretive signs that form an important part of the new trail. Mainly these are photos and information about various plants growing (re-growing, actually) in the area the trail traverses. The names of the plants in Cree and English appear, along with information about their traditional uses.
The area the trail passes through was scorched by wildfire in the spring of 2011, leaving nothing but ash and charred wood. Eight years later it is lush with plant life, including aspen and birch trees getting up to eight feet high or so. Beneath them, spruce trees are competing for space with raspberries, Labrador tea, highbush cranberries and more.
In his opening remarks, M.D. of Lesser Slave River Reeve Murray Kerik looked back to those dark days of 2011, and to the good that came out of them.
“I think the FireSmart Trail sends an important message about how a tragedy like the 2011 wildfires can be used to make a community stronger, wiser and more resilient,” he said.
Chief Roland Twinn of the Sawridge First Nation echoed the sentiments of his tri-council colleagues and added to them. He spoke feelingly about how much better relations between the three jurisdictions have become since the 2011 wildfire disaster, and how the Sawridge feels more included these days in what is going on.
Besides the speeches, the event included a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, followed by a free barbecue – served up by the Lesser Slave Lake Regional Fire Service. The Forest Protection folks were there with information displays and activities for the kids and a fun time was had by all.
Patti Campsall of the Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation was one of the organizers of the grand opening, and served as its MC. She recognized FRIAA (Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta) as a major funder of the trail project, as well as other groups for their contributions.
Campsall figures 190 people attended the event.
