FortWhyte Alive

HUMAN. NATURE. was included in FortWhyte Alive’s new corporate identity for good reason. It speaks to the critical interdependence between the two, and to the core of our mission over the past four decades. Through those years, thousands upon thousands of children, siblings, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandparents, volunteers, brides and grooms, have been touched in some special way by this very special place.

How can we be so sure? Because they have told us so in many, many ways. In fact, as current generations say goodbye to older ones while welcoming new arrivals into the human community, more and more individuals are expressing their deep connection to FortWhyte, and acknowledging the impact it has had on their lives and family by dedicating a lasting part of its beautiful landscape and critical mission in some tangible and meaningful way… ‘adopting’ a live animal exhibit, sponsoring a plank on our floating boardwalks, buying a memorial bench nestled along a trail, planting a shade tree, or remembering us in their Will… thankful, heartfelt, public expressions of the role FortWhyte has played in nurturing their valued connection with Nature.

This spring, FortWhyte is embarking on a whole new ambitious venture as part of its expanding FortWhyte Farms program that will generate lasting social and economic benefits for our community. Adding to its product mix of vegetables, raspberries, herbs, honey, beeswax candles, worm castings, and Shiitake mushrooms, the first phase of a planned 1500-tree Tribute Orchard will be planted in a deer-proof, 13-acre enclosure just north of our Bison Prairie. Our intent is to not only involve FortWhyte Farms’ at-risk youth in the care of Winnipeg’s first orchard, but offer its hardy plum, apple, and pear trees as a way for you to commemorate a life-event or pay lasting tribute to a loved one… a birth, death, wedding, graduation, retirement, anniversary… the choice is yours, and so is the fruit! A portion of your tree’s annual bounty would be your option to harvest and enjoy, while reflecting upon its special meaning to you and your family. A practical, lasting mode of inscription for each tree is currently being explored.

FortWhyte has been consulting with professional nurserymen at Shelmerdines, Aubin, and Jefferies Nurseries, to ensure we include only the hardiest of proven fruit tree varieties. We are also looking forward to having the ongoing advice of the ‘best practicing orchardist in Manitoba’ from the Baker Colony north of MacGregor!

Tribute Orchard trees are now available for a fully tax-deductible gift of $500, with $300 allocated to the critical early stages of nurturing. The remaining $200 balance of your gift will be endowed in perpetuity to cover yearly maintenance of the mature orchard. Fully subscribed, this one-of-a-kind living tribute project will have established a $300,000 Community Tribute Orchard Endowment, bearing annual ‘fruit’ for such maintenance… forever.

We sincerely hope that you and our extended FortWhyte Family embrace this project and join in the annual harvest of fruit and your memories of this special place.

Tribute Orchard enquiries may be directed to Bob Baker. Ph. 989-8352 Email: bbaker@fortwhyte.org. If you would like to support this project today, please click here to donate online, or to download a form that can be mailed, or faxed to us.

Bill Elliott
President & CEO