ARBOR WEEK EXPERIENCES 2023
SOS Trees Coalition Arbor Week 2023 (May 20th - 28th) focused on the amazing power of trees and nature to enhance healing mental, social and physical health. Our theme "Healthy Trees, Healthy People" gave citizens of Saskatoon many great events to explore all week. This year Arbor Week stretched out to 17 days and was at 23 locations throughout Saskatoon and Martensville. This event could never have happened without the support of our many partner organizations, financial sponsors and volunteers.
Did you Know? Trees provide a wide range of health benefits
A growing body of research shows that regularly spending time around trees provides a wide range of human health benefits, from lowering stress to improving cognition to boosting longevity, according to experts. - Peter James, assistant professor in Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health's Department of Environmental Health
Civic and Provincial Proclamations
The City of Saskatoon officially proclaimed May 20th to 28th, 2023 as 'Arbor Week'.
The Saskatchewan Government has proclaimed a permanent annual Arbor Week. The province celebrated Arbor Week with a proclamation the last full week in May (Saturday to Sunday) and celebrating Arbor Day on the Friday of that week.
History of Arbor Day in Saskatchewan
For many years within the province an annual spring observance occurred that involved most schools, many community groups and municipalities, and concerned individuals. The day was marked with the planting of trees, the cleaning up of yards, streets and alleys, choosing and protecting a particular area of natural habitat and generally celebrating our dependence upon nature and specifically trees.
Thanks to the efforts of the Yellowhead Flyway Birding Trail Association (YFBTA), the Government of Saskatchewan officially proclaimed Arbor Week dates in 2020. SOS Trees Coalition lobbied to secure Saskatoon's and Saskatchewan's proclamations in 2021 and 2022.
Arbor Day Origins
Arbor Day was recognized as early as April 10, 1872. On that day, American journalist and politician J. Sterling Morton founded Arbor Day as a means of promoting conservation and correcting the gradual deforestation of the prairie. In his words, what sets Arbor Day apart from other holidays is that while other special days commemorate the past, Arbor Day celebrates the future. Read more about Arbor Day's origins here.
