Woodlands marked a milestone in its Park150 project on Sunday, Sept. 14, with former governor general Adrienne Clarkson planting a shooting-star northern pin oak — a living tribute to the community’s past and its ambitions for the future.
The ceremony capped an intimate dignitary heritage luncheon at the Woodlands Museum, hosted by volunteers and attended by local officials and guests. The gathering set a reflective tone for the afternoon, linking heritage, community service and the vision behind Park150, a public space being developed ahead of Woodlands’ 150th anniversary in 2030.
Coun. Bryan Myskiw welcomed Clarkson and highlighted her decades of leadership as a journalist, public servant and advocate whose influence reaches far beyond Ottawa. He underscored Park150 as a “living legacy” designed to honour the past, reflect the present and grow with residents in the years ahead.
“The tree we plant today will stand tall for generations, much like the example you have set for all Canadians through your leadership and lifelong service to our country,” Myskiw said. “May the tree we plant grow as a living tribute to your enduring impact and inspire generations to come.”
In celebration of Clarkson’s visit, local musicians Annette Brown and Steve Hintz performed Northern Light, a song written by Myskiw for the occasion and inspired by Clarkson’s affection for the Canadian North. The performance bridged the formalities of the luncheon and the hands-on symbolism of the planting.
Clarkson, who described herself as a proud prairie girl, spoke about the meaning of planting trees as both remembrance and promise. She emphasized that trees encourage communities to look beyond themselves and invest in what endures.
“I am very happy to be here with all of you who have created this idea of planting trees in the prairies,” she said. “It is a wonderful thing to do, as the trees will live a lot longer than most of us and it is a remembrance and it’s also a hope for the future and a wonderful way to state that you believe in the future and that you have had a stake in the past.”
As spades met soil, the oak became the latest marker in Park150’s evolving landscape — a physical sign of the project’s steady progress and a focal point for future gatherings. Organizers say the park aims to be a welcoming space for celebration, reflection and recreation, shaped by residents’ input and sustained by volunteer energy.
The Park150 team will build on Sunday’s momentum next weekend. On Saturday, Sept. 20, former provincial and federal leaders and other community members will take part in this year’s Honorary Tree Planting, recognizing their contributions to Woodlands while adding new growth to the site. A vendor and farmers’ market will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Park150, with dignitary remarks at 1 p.m. and tree plantings at 2 p.m.
For more information or to get involved, contact RM of Woodlands office administrator Brooklyn Lauwerysen at admin@rmwoodlands.ca or call 204-383-5679.
Northern Light (Manitoba Version)
Performed by Steve Hintz and Annette Brown.
Green fire sweeps the prairie sky
Above the fields of snow
It spills on wheat and frozen creeks
Where winter rivers flow
Wild flames roll where rivers wind
Above the poplar’s height
They glow o’er valleys broad and deep
In waves of dancing light
Chorus
O light, in the northern sky
Still as winter night
Guide us o’er prairie plain
O light, O northern light
They weave between the distant farms
They arc o’er fields and rails
A bridge of fire from earth to stars
Where no true compass hails
Chorus
O light, in the northern sky
Still as winter night
Guide us o’er prairie plain
O light, O northern light
They blaze above the rolling plains
From Churchill’s winds that blow
They keep their quiet watch with us
Where prairie secrets glow
Chorus
O light, in the northern sky
Still as winter night
Guide us o’er prairie plains
O light, O northern light
O light, O northern light
