Lamoureux Trail historical interpretive walk
Join River Valley Alliance and Fort Heritage Precinct at 1pm on Saturday May 28 for a free historical interpretive walk of the Lamoureux Trail, which is across the river from Fort Saskatchewan.
The walk will begin at the trailhead and be at a leisurely pace, with stops along the way for historical interpretation. The route is mostly flat, approximately 4 km, and takes around 1.5-2 hours to complete.
All abilities are welcome. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Dogs are welcome on this walk but must remain on-leash. There is no fee for the walk, but online registration is encouraged. Information and registration at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/trekthetrails-river-valley-alliance-fort-heritage-precinct-trail-walk-tickets-330142624477
Front Yards in Bloom to highlight Edible Yards
Front Yards in Bloom is back and will include a celebration of 2022 being proclaimed Canada’s Year of the Garden. The proclamation celebrates Canada’s rich horticulture and garden heritage, today’s vibrant garden culture and creates legacies for a sustainable future. Year of the Garden 2022 invites us to plant something red to express our Canadian garden pride.
In honour of Canada’s Year of the Garden initiative, Front Yards in Bloom will highlight the Edible Yard category, which includes everything from vegetables and grains to fruiting trees, berry bushes, perennials, flowers and even mushrooms.
Everyone can participate by nominating a yard or space that you admire. Nominees will receive a yard sign and be recognized in one of six categories: General, Natural, Edible, Public Spaces, Tiny Yards, and Balconies in Bloom. Nominations accepted from May 20 to July 5. For more information or to nominate a front yard, public space or balcony, visit frontyardsinbloom.ca
Edmonton River Valley at the Art Gallery of Alberta
Traditional Métis river lots were determined by the river and are a way to share land so that everyone got access to water. A family’s land would extend out from the river in long narrow lots that all had river access.
In the late 1800s, the north and south banks of what we now know as the Edmonton River Valley were divided into 44 river lots. Those river lots dictate much of the layout of contemporary Edmonton, and Métis landowners like Garneau, Fraser and Groat are now memorialized in namesake communities.
Tiffany Shaw has mapped the section of the North Saskatchewan River that flows through the city limits of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton) while thinking about the Métis scrip process. The undulating river is seen from above and references topical mapping and river lots but relies solely on the river itself as land marker.
Shaw's Edmonton River Valley is free of markers of Metis, colonial, and contemporary land division. The rhythm of the river itself is trusted to hold these past and present stories. The exhibit runs until November 13, 2023. More at https://www.youraga.ca/exhibitions/tiffany-shaw-edmonton-river-valley
Common Snowberry a natural antiperspirant
Snowberry is a durable and hardy small shrub which produces small pink flowers and showy white berries in fall and into winter. It is found in dry to moist open forests, clearings, and rocky slopes. This shrub is incredibly adaptable to poor conditions and performs well in shade.
Indigenous people used its berries as a shampoo to clean hair. Crushed berries were rubbed on the skin to treat burns, warts, rashes, and sores; and rubbed in armpits as an antiperspirant. Various parts were infused and used as an eyewash for sore eyes. A tea made from the roots was used for stomach disorders; a tea made from the twigs was used for fevers.
Snowberry berries are an important food for grouse, grosbeaks, robins, and thrushes. The shrub provides good cover and nesting sites for gamebirds, rabbits, and other small animals. Pocket gophers burrow underneath it. The pink flowers attract hummingbirds but are mostly pollinated by bees. Learn more at http://nativeplantspnw.com/common-snowberry-symphoricarpos-albus/
Water spaces at Rundle Park
Sandra writes “Thought I would reach out to you regarding the filling of the ponds in Rundle Park. With one major park closing in Edmonton for two years, I would think the surrounding parks should receive extra attention for the population that needs more green space now. Rundle is a little-known gem. Green space is so important for kids who have had so much home time!”
Comment or contribution
Please note that articles may not reflect the position of NSRVCS. River Valley News is meant to be a clearinghouse for the wide variety of opinions and ideas about Edmonton’s River Valley. Email river valley photos, event information, comments, or questions to nsrivervalley@gmail.com
Sincerely yours,
Harvey Voogd
North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society
780.691.1712