SASKATOON EXPRESS - July 18-24, 2016 - Page Volume 14, Issue 28, Week of July 18, 20161
Saskatoonʼs REAL Community Newspaper
Gordon Barnhart takes on Meewasin challenge
Ned Powers Saskatoon Express he history and values of the Meewasin Valley Authority (MVA) have already intertwined immeasurably in Gordon Barnhart’s life. Barnhart was the Clerk of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly in 1979 when an act was passed to make the MVA a conservation agency and manager of the South Saskatchewan River basin and valley. It was guaranteed three-pronged funding by the province, the City of Saskatoon and the University of Saskatchewan. He attended the MVA’s Plant-A-Tree ceremonies during his days as lieutenant-governor, 2006 through 2012, and sat on Meewasin’s board when he was acting president of the university for 17 months during 2014 and 2015. Most of all, he has run, jogged and walked the trails for the years he’s lived in Saskatoon and still does. “We are all players in a big picture. We want people to be more understanding and appreciative of what they have. Conservationists love it. The trails are important for runners and cyclists. For those who come from outside to conferences in Saskatoon, it is a tourist attraction and serves as a big industry for the city and province,” said Barnhart. “Meewasin is a contradiction to how many Canadians envision us. “People from outside of Saskatchewan see us as occupants of flat prairie land, with few water resources. The truth is we have more lakes than we can count. Now as other Canadians come to Saskatoon to work and stay for major conferences, they see the South Saskatchewan River, the valley, the beauty and they enjoy the exercise trails.” To reinforce his message, Barnhart has taken on a new challenge as the volunteer chair of the Meewasin Fund Development cabinet. “My new role is to make people aware of our assets. If there are those who want to make financial contributions to the continuing programming, that will make the valley the best it can be.” Meewasin is headline news these days. The authority closed the interpretive centre on July 1 because of a budget squeeze. The centre requires $250,000 annually to operate seven days a week for 363 days of the year. They have been told funding from the province will undergo a review. (Continued on page 8)
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Gordon Barnhart stands before the now-closed MVA Interpretive Centre. (Photo by Steve Gibb) JW071806 James
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