In partnership with the Village of Beiseker, the Meadowlark Society is unlocking the gates of Meadowlark Trail April 24 for a special Earth Day walk between Beiseker and Irricana.
The Connecting Communities Walk will have a special focus on bringing the two rural communities together, while raising awareness about environmental issues and inspiring the protection of the environment and conservation of wild life.
Brook Swanson, family and community support services (FCSS) coordinator with the Village of Beiseker, said the Village wanted to host an event that could be modified to be COVID-19-safe, and she thought of a community walk to commemorate Earth Day.
“I think the really important thing that we wanted to do – it was about embracing Earth day – but [it's also] really about embracing communities and aligning communities,” she said. “It’s so wonderful that we have Meadowlark Trail that connects Beiseker and Irricana and we thought, what a fantastic way to get people out in nature and connect with their neighbours.”
The Meadowlark Trail, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail network, was developed in partnership with Alberta Trail Map and the Trans Canada Trail. The non-motorized trail is currently in the third phase of development, and is being built on a decommissioned Canadian Pacific Railway line that was donated to Alberta TrailNet in 2005.
“We’ve got this beautiful abandoned rail bed, which makes it the perfect base for a trail to walk on and ride your bike on,” said Jeanette Richter, chair of the Meadowlark Society – a group that stewards and supervises the trail.
Richter said participants of the Earth Day event can expect a “prairie trail that goes in a straight line, rising gently from Beisker towards Irricana” for 7.5 kilometres. She added that if participants are lucky, they might even hear the Meadowlarks singing as they walk on the trail.
Leading up to the event and afterward, the society will be securing the gates and bridges on the trail to prevent further vandalism as they await the completion of the third phase of construction, which is expected to happen this summer.
Richter added that she thinks the event will be a safe way for people to decompress during the pandemic.
“We saw the value of this trail because people can afford to do it and they don't have to drive so far – it’s free, just get some runners and away they go,” said Richter, who added the two communities of Beiseker and Irricana are collaborating to make the event happen.
The event looks to connect the neighbouring communities while maintaining social-distancing measures from non-cohort participants. Starting in either community, the walk will begin at 10 a.m., with meet-ups taking place beforehand in either the Beiseker Village Office or the trail head in Irricana.
“A lot of people are not too sure what Earth Day is, so we want people to understand and also the goal is to connect to nature, and just by doing something simple as walking through our communities, it really does support Earth Day,” Swanson said. “I think the bigger thing is, it really kind of creates relationships – and that’s what we want to do.”
She added people of all ages are welcome to participate in the event and they can walk as little or as much as they want. The trail will be closed at 1 p.m., meaning any transportation from either end of the trail will have to be pre-arranged.
More information about the Earth Day walk can be found at townofirricana.ca
