At last spring is upon us. And as we prepare for rainclouds to give way to sunshine, it’s time to celebrate the season of growth and renewal.
In Abbotsford we’re proud of our beautiful parks and trails, especially at this time of year when they start looking their best. It takes a lot of hard work to maintain the City’s urban forests and gardens, which is a topic that our staff have been recently out in the community informing residents about.
On March 17, members of the City’s Urban Forestry Operations, Urban Forest Planning and Energy and Climate Action teams were at the University of the Fraser Valley as part of the school’s monthlong March for Sustainability event. They discussed the City’s Urban Forest Strategy, the new tree bylaw, sustainability initiatives, and demonstrated some advanced tree diagnostic tools and ecosystem enhancement techniques. Their presentations attracted both students and faculty throughout the day and provided excellent networking and idea-generating opportunities.
And on March 5, the City’s Horticulture team gave an informative and interactive presentation as part of the Abbotsford Recreation Centre’s Learning Plus program. The talk covered the beauty and science of urban gardening and touched on the team’s role in maintaining vibrant public spaces and upcoming planting plans. City staff also provided some take-home practical tips on how to enhance your personal garden. Participants provided lots of positive feedback, commenting on how informative and engaging the presentation was.
There are also many spring-related or springtime events and activities happening all over our community. A couple of long-running events we on Council are looking forward to attending are the Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association’s 37th annual Vaisakhi Luncheon, and the Bradner Community Club’s 96th annual Flower Show. Both of these events also celebrate the bounties of the earth. Vaisakhi is a cultural, spiritual and religious gathering and harvest festival, while the Bradner Flower Show is a showcase of the unusual varieties of plants, perennials and flowers, including hundreds of daffodils, produced by local growers. You can learn more about events happening around the community at Go!Abbosford.
However you choose to celebrate the arrival of spring, we encourage you to take the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds us. And with the Easter long weekend ahead of us, It’s the perfect time to check out a nearby trail or visit a local park or playground. Now that we’re just about ready to start trading in our umbrellas for parasols, let’s reconnect with nature and explore the parks and trails our City teams have been working so hard to protect and maintain.
Abbotsford City Council