Meewasin

The City of Saskatoon has announced that both the height and speed of the river are rising due to releases from the Gardiner Dam, increasing potential safety risks.

Due to increased flows on the South Saskatchewan River, the following Meewasin-administered beach access sites are temporarily closed:

• Poplar Bluffs Conservation Area
• Fred Heal Canoe Launch
• Paradise Beach

Higher water levels, faster-moving currents, and changing river conditions create a serious safety risk for visitors. We ask everyone to stay out of the river and avoid accessing these areas until conditions improve.

Cranberry Flats Conservation Area and Chief Whitecap Park remain open; however, visitors are urged to use extreme caution near the river.

Increased flows have resulted in higher water levels and faster-moving currents, and river conditions can change quickly. For your safety:

• Stay out of the river.
• Keep children and pets away from the water's edge.
• Be alert for changing conditions and debris in the water.

Please continue to exercise caution and respect all posted signage. Visit the link for more information: https://www.saskatoon.ca/news-releases/increased-flows-prompt-safety-warning-south-saskatchewan-river

Photo by Sarath SunilDutt

This past Saturday, June 6th, Meewasin hosted its 40th Anniversary Dedication Ceremony at Remai Modern, bringing together dedication donors, recipients, family, and friends to celebrate the lasting impact of giving back to the Meewasin Valley.

The morning began with a beautiful musical performance by Erica Maier and Sarah Denis, followed by an opening prayer from Lyndon Linklater and remarks from Meewasin CEO Mike Velonas, Karen Heise, Riley and Cassandra Thiesen, Grant Wood, and Meewasin’s Senior Programs Coordinator of Experiences, Sam Cowan.

This year’s theme centered around the idea that planting a seed today is believing in the future. Over the past year alone, 21 trees and shrubs, 15 commemorative bricks, and 15 benches were dedicated throughout the Valley. Each one represents more than a tribute. They become places of rest, reflection, celebration, remembrance, and connection for generations to come.

For 40 years, Meewasin’s Dedication Program has offered people a meaningful way to honour loved ones, celebrate milestones, and leave a lasting mark on the places they care about most. What begins as a deeply personal gesture grows into something shared by the entire community. A tree planted today will provide shade decades from now. A bench becomes a meeting place for friends, families, and trail users. A commemorative space becomes woven into the stories and memories of countless visitors to the Valley.

Together, more than 5,000 dedications across the Meewasin Valley help care for these spaces,supporting trails, restoring native prairie, protecting biodiversity, and sustaining wildlife and pollinators. These contributions ensure future generations can continue to experience the same sense of connection, beauty, and belonging found in the Valley today.

Thank you to all that contributed to Meewasin, you are apart of this living, growing legacy.

If you want to celebrate a moment, honour a special person in your life, mark a milestone, or create something lasting to remember, please reach out to our Donations Specialist, Nikki Moggey, at [email protected].

This could be your view at a Meewasin Dark Skies night.

Escape the city lights at Beaver Creek and embrace the beauty of the night sky in a pristine natural setting during our special Dark Skies Bat Blitz on June 19th. Join Eric Gignac from Meewasin’s Resource Management team to learn about Meewasin’s bat surveys, discover how you can contribute as a citizen scientist, and take part in an exciting night hike as we search for bats in their natural habitat!

Complimentary hot cocoa, coffee, and tea will also be available during the evening.
This family-friendly event has limited tickets available, get yours now through the link: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/dark-skies-4241023

📸: Tim Yaworski.

This week is PlayCleanGo Awareness Week, and we’re highlighting the important role everyone can play in preventing the spread of invasive species in the Meewasin Valley!

One of the most challenging plants we deal with is Nodding Thistle (Carduus nutans), an invasive plant that can quickly take over native grasslands and outcompete the vegetation that local wildlife depends on. Because a single plant can produce thousands of seeds, early detection and removal are critical to protecting healthy ecosystems.

Whether you're hiking, walking, running, or biking, you can help stop the spread of invasive species in the Valley by following the PlayCleanGo principles: clean your boots, bikes, and gear before and after using the trail system. To support these efforts, Meewasin has installed boot brush stations at several unpaved trailheads throughout the Valley, including Crocus Prairie, Northeast Swale, Saskatoon Natural Grasslands, Cranberry Flats Conservation Area, Poplar Bluffs Conservation Area, and Beaver Creek Conservation Area. Taking a few moments to remove soil and seeds from your footwear can help prevent the unintentional spread of invasive species along our trail network.

This week, we also have two volunteer invasive species removals taking place: Nodding Thistle removal on June 10th and Yellow Salsify (Tragopogon dubius) removal on June 13th. You can sign up for these events and future invasive species removals through the link: https://meewasin.com/volunteerschedule/

Meewasin’s invasive species work goes far beyond Nodding Thistle and Yellow Salsify. Our teams and volunteers also work to remove species such as Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata), European Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), Narrow Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula), and more. In the last 5 years , Meewasin has treated over one million invasive species throughout the Valley.

Protecting the places we love is a shared responsibility. Together, we can help keep the Meewasin Valley healthy, resilient, and thriving for generations to come.

We're hiring an Accounting & Payroll Coordinator!!

Working alongside a collaborative team, this position supports financial operations, payroll processing, and administrative systems that help keep Meewasin running smoothly.

If you are detail-oriented, organized, and passionate about contributing to meaningful work, we would love to hear from you.

Submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected] by June 15, 2026.

For more information on the role, visit our careers page: https://meewasin.com/careers/

Happy Pride from Meewasin!

This Pride Month, we’re celebrating a Valley that belongs to everyone, a place where all people can connect with nature, community, and each other. The Valley is blooming with pride. 🌸

We’ll be at the Saskatoon Pride Festival all weekend! Can't wait to see you all there.

With warm weather here, river activity increasing, and local beaches becoming popular, it’s a great time to review river safety so everyone can enjoy the beauty of the river valley responsibly.

The South Saskatchewan River is a beautiful waterway, but like all bodies of water, it can be dangerous. Take a moment to swipe through our River Safety Guide so you are prepared for a safe day by the water. Have fun and stay safe!

Thank you Saskatchewan Marathon!
 
Yesterday was an energy-filled day as our team at Meewasin cheered on runners while handing out water and electrolytes. Huge congratulations to all the participants!
 
As charity of choice, Meewasin was incredibly excited to be apart of race day, and we had a blast!

School's almost out and summer camp season is approaching!

Want your kids to have a fun, educational, and creative experience this summer? Send them to Meewasin’s Eco-Adventure Camp, where participants explore and experience the unique local flora and fauna of Beaver Creek Conservation Area through guided nature hikes, hands-on activities, and creative projects.

Ideal for young explorers aged 8–11, our 3-day camps run Wednesday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM during select weeks in July and August.

For more details on what a typical day looks like at camp, what dates are still available, and to purchase tickets, click the link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/cc/eco-adventure-camps-2026-4824027