Two important weeks are happening here in Alberta from May 4 to 11 — Alberta Forest Week and Emergency Preparedness Week. Both are always important, but in our corner of the province — Slave Lake — they carry extra meaning.
We live and work surrounded by forests. Whether you’re enjoying time outdoors or working in the forestry industry, it’s clear the forest helps define who we are — providing shelter, jobs, recreation, and a lasting connection to nature.
Alberta Forest Week is a chance to celebrate all of that. It’s about recognizing the many benefits forests provide and the importance of managing them sustainably for future generations. As we mentioned in last month’s post, over 60% of Alberta is forested, and forestry plays a big role in the province’s economy and environment.
At Vanderwell, we take our stewardship seriously. In 2024 alone, Alberta’s forest companies planted more than 100 million trees and Vanderwell did its part planting 3.8 million seedlings last year and we are aiming for more than 3.7 million this year.
Check out the Alberta Government’s website for ways to become involved in celebrating Alberta Forest Week.
Protecting those forests consumes a great deal of our time in the Slave Lake area. Emergency Preparedness Week is a timely reminder of how crucial it is to be ready for the unexpected — especially in areas like ours where the risks are real. The 2011 wildfire in Slave Lake showed how quickly disaster can strike and how essential preparedness is at every level: individual, family, and community.
This week, we encourage everyone to:
- Know the risks in your region
- Make a family emergency plan
- Build an emergency kit
- Stay informed and connected with your community
The Alberta Government has information and a list of resources we all need to be prepared. Preparedness doesn’t happen overnight — it’s built over time. But the stronger our communities are, the faster we can respond and recover when it counts most.
Whether we’re talking about forest sustainability or community readiness, the common thread is working together, planning ahead, and looking out for one another.
As we wrap up this post, we want to take a moment to recognize and appreciate the people who have and continue to look out for us in so many quiet, powerful ways every day: mothers.
From our team at Vanderwell, we wish mothers everywhere a very Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for your strength, care, and all the ways you help your families and communities grow.
