Rotary Branches Out!

 

 

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The 5th Annual Rotary Branches Out! – tree planting day saw 1650 white spruce saplings planted at McKenzie Trails in Red Deer.  100 students, teachers, families, Rotarians and members of the 24 Red Deer Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron planted saplings on a beautiful Saturday morning on May 31.  Members of Hunting Hills Environmental Club, Lindsey Thurber, Notre Dame and St. Joseph’s Robotics team represented the four Red Deer high schools.   Exchange students from around the world were there, including our very own Rotary Exchange student Koldo from Spain. 

The two-hour event began at 10:00 am with an Eco Talk from fellow Rotarian Dave Swindlehurst of Weyerhaeuser Drayton Valley, along with their two intern students.  City of Red Deer Urban Forester Susan Katzel showed where to plant and gave reminders  of safety protocols.  The city team provided 40 spades along with the 20 brought by Weyerhaeuser. Dagmar Knutson of the Rotary Club of Red Deer welcomed everyone and thanked them all for coming to “branch out” with us.

In two hours, 1,650 saplings were planted to rewild the area north of the main parking lot, create new habitat, beautify our City park, and reduce our carbon footprint.  The youth enjoyed pizza and pop at noon from Boston Pizza South and Central Alberta Co-op.  Along with our work at Slack Slough, the Rotary Club of Red Deer is pleased to support initiatives that benefit our environment, one of our five pillars of focus.  Rotarians are “People of Action” and thoroughly enjoyed meeting students, parents, teachers, and fellow Rotarians from Lacombe, Drayton Valley, and Red Deer.

Thanks to the sponsors for making this event happen. Prime Boiler supplied tables and garbage cans, and Ten Peaks Innovation provided support for communication and organization.   The Red Deer Advocate is also a proud sponsor.

Mark your calendars for the first weekend in June 2026. Visit the Rotary Club of Red Deer website and check out our social media next spring to learn more details about how you can participate next year!