Celebrating Thirty Years of Bringing the Park and Community Together, 1992 to 2022
This year marks the Friends of Fish Creek’s 30th Anniversary and we invite you to help us commemorate this important milestone with a truly unique stewardship opportunity. This September, thirty-five balsam poplar trees will be planted within the 30th Anniversary Poplar Grove near the Bow Valley Ranch. Thirty trees will be available to donors and five will be planted by the Friends in honour of the volunteer, partner, and community support that has made our work possible since 1992. We invite you to be part of this unique opportunity to leave a legacy and support healthy poplar populations in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Each 30th Anniversary donation will include: An invitation to take part in the tree planting day on September 17, a limited-edition art print of the 30th Anniversary Poplar Grove created by local artist, Cori Imbery, name recognition on the Friends’ website, and a tax receipt for $475. To find out more, or to donate and reserve one of the 30 trees we have available, visit www.friendsoffishcreek.org/programs/thirty.
Capture Nature Photo Contest
Whether you are an avid or professional photographer or just enjoy walking through the park with camera in hand, Capture Nature is a great opportunity to explore the beauty of Fish Creek as you try to capture the winning image! We have four new and somewhat challenging themes this year: Peek-a-boo, Seasonal Highlights, Repetition, and Shadow and Light. The contest runs until July 27 and all photos must be taken in Fish Creek Provincial Park. Thank you to our 2022 contest sponsors and donors: The Apothecary in Inglewood, The Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, Vistek, RMB Photography, Elements Outfitters, and SportChek. Check out our website for registration details. https://friendsoffishcreek.org/programs/capturenature.
Creekfest – Get to Know Water and Healthy Watersheds
Saturday, July 16, 1:00 to 4:00 pm, Bow Valley Ranch, Fish Creek Provincial Park
Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Creekfest with us as we combine this free summertime festival with our new Get to Know Nature program. This family-friendly event is open to the public and is an important component of the Friends’ Watershed Stewardship program, designed to raise awareness about nature and how to protect it. Discover what makes a healthy watershed, celebrate this province’s beautiful protected natural areas, meet with local community organizations, and learn about the Friends’ ongoing stewardship programs. At Get to Know Water & Watersheds, you can listen to a story and explore nature, learn about the birds and other wildlife, discover what makes a watershed healthy, learn how you can protect our local waterways, and much more! To learn about monthly Get to Know Nature events visit https://friendsoffishcreek.org/programs/know.
Stop into the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre
If you have been down to the Bow Valley Ranch in the past year or so you may have noticed that the Visitor Information Centre is now open six days a week. The exhibit area here features cultural artifacts and a wealth of information about the history of the city and the park. Since the beginning of the Friends’ Enhanced Partnership Project with Alberta Environment and Parks in 2020, we have trained over thirty volunteers in the new role of Fish Creek Ambassador to work in the centre. We invite you to stop into the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre to pick up a park map or outreach material, learn about some of the unique history of this area, and chat with some of our friendly and knowledgeable Fish Creek Ambassadors. If you are interested in volunteering as a Fish Creek Ambassador and sharing your knowledge of the park with others, please email [email protected].
