History

1960 the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area lands were purchased by the City of Saskatoon; parts of Sections 22 and 23 Township 36, Range 6 West of the third meridian, south of the CN Chappell yards – east of SK Hwy 7
1960 “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park (afforestation Area) quarter section of lands purchased as well by the City of Saskatoon; NE section 21- township 36- range 6 west of the third meridian, west of SK Hwy 7
1972 sees drought resistant trees, Scotch Pine, Caragana, Elm, Balsam Poplar, Colorado Blue Spruce planted in the three afforestation areas; Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area,“George Genereux” Afforestation Area and the afforestation area south of Diefenbaker Park. In total 355 acres of afforestation areas were planted that year. In 1973, 355 additional acres are planted. Originally 2,300 acres were envisioned, and 3,000 acres of summer fallow land were purchased as a "green belt."
Wednesday May 10, 1972 Saskatoon Star Phoenix Green Survival: War against ecology abuse. Three Saskatoon groups organizing main campaign written by Kathy Cronkite.

” The concrete and asphalt jungle, filthy air and cold, stark, angular outlines devoid of greener are the characteristics of the modern metropolis.

But, man is instinctively against this type of life and often retreats to the country to enjoy fresh, clean air and green landscape as far as the eyes can see.

In Saskatoon, three main groups are leading the fight. …The parks and Recreation board has a major program, especially in tree planting.

Saskatoon’s parks and recreation board has preserved the areas of Beaver Creek and Cranberry Flats and the rifle range [Chief Whitecap park] as open space to be enjoyed by Saskatoonians in pursuit of passive recreation such as picnics.

It has also ventured into a massive project of planting 200,000 trees for local parks on 600 acres of land south of Diefenbaker Park and south of the CNR Station.”
1972, A. L. Ligtemoet, Assistant Parks Superintendent sets before council that these first 600 acres of afforestation areas be kept in perpetuity ~ this is approved by city council.
1978 Oct 19 Name “Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area” brought forward to city council along with his biography; George Genereux biography presented to City Council. The name George Genereux has since been bestowed upon a pocket park in Willow Grove.
Dec 28, 1978 proposed that the areas become parks; Jan 2, 1979, this is recommended by council.
1979 The Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) is a conservation organization created by the Provincial Government of Saskatchewan in Canada and is dedicated to conserving the cultural and natural resources of the South Saskatchewan River Valley. Richard Moriyama, architect and planner, of the 100 Year Conceptual Master Plan of the South Saskatchewan River Environment in the Rural Municipality of Corman Park and the City of Saskatoon, stated that the “first elements of that concept are a unique land and a unique people. The objective is balance. The umbrella idea, the broad concept, is health…the continuing health of the river and all its connected parts creek, coulee, ravine, slough, aquifer, land and air.” Meewasin is the means by which the three participating parties (City of Saskatoon, Province of Saskatchewan and University of Saskatchewan) have chosen to manage their lands, through one common authority. In 1979 the MVA took on the management of those afforestation areas within the city limits as of the August 2, 1963 city of Saskatoon land annexation which included the central and easterly portion of the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.
1984 Saskatoon hosted the founding conference of the Richard St Barbe Baker foundation with a planting ceremony. A Linden tree, Tiliaceae, was planted at two locations in Saskatoon; Diefenbaker Center and at the west side entrance of Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area.
1985 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is dedicated June 15, 1985 in a ceremony.
2015 The afforestation area land mass ~Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and “George Genereux” Urban Regional Park ~ were both fully absorbed into the City of Saskatoon boundaries on September 1, 2015
2019-10-08 The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. incorporates as a non-profit environmental charity.
2021-11-06 Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the University of Saskatchewan ceremony whence Chancellor John G. Diefenbaker conferred the honourary Doctorate of Laws upon Richard St. Barbe Baker for extraordinary humanitarian service world wide.
2022 The Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the afforestation of the first 600 acres "preserved in perpetuity." These woodlands -Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park - were planted under the North American horticultural society Green Survival Program as tree nurseries by the City of Saskatoon parks department. Now, 50 years later, the trees are too large to transplant, and these greenspaces are coming into their own as urban regional park as set out in 1979.

Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, George Genereux Urban Regional Park, afforestation, environmental protection, environmental charity, climate action, nature based solutions for climate action, Life on land, Life below Water, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,

“The trees and vegetation, which cover the land surface of the Earth and delight the eye, are performing vital tasks incumbent upon the vegetable world in nature. Its presence is essential to earth as an organism. It is the first condition of all life; it it the 'skin' of the earth, for without it there can be no water, and therefore, no life.” Richard St. Barbe Baker