A pond near Canadian Tire in the Southlands neighbourhood is one that Martha Munz Gue is hoping someone will adopt. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Brendan Miller

Natural spaces in Medicine Hat benefit from Adopt-a-Pond volunteers

Mar 29, 2023 | 5:34 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A Medicine Hat woman is asking other members of the community to adopt a pond, pathway or natural area close by that could use some attention.

By taking ownership of natural areas around the city volunteers are making a positive impact on the environment.

The Adopt-a-Pond program asks its participants to visit a natural area every week or two to clean up any trash and report any growing invasive species.

Three years ago health restrictions from the pandemic inspired Martha Munz Gue to head outside and do something good for the environment.

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“Of course visit it every week or two because if you adopt something you have to be with it often enough to fall in love with it,” says Martha.

The idea started with a phone call from one of Martha’s friends who agreed to adopt a pond in Police Point Park by visiting and tending to the area every couple of weeks.

Now three years later, several ponds, creeks, coulees, rivers and walkways have been adopted by residents who have taken ownership of a small area in their community.

“It’s very egalitarian; everybody does their own thing and people are taking responsibility for a little piece of their own neighbour,” says Martha.

Paula Dumonceaux is a Redcliff resident who has adopted a riverfront area in the community and says she appreciates her connection with the environment.

“I just really enjoy it. I think we as a society absolutely need to connect more to nature, we need to take care of it, it’s very important,” she says.

Grant McLeod has adopted the Hillside Cemetery after noticing the amount of trash that gathers near the highway due to the wind.

“It’s very quiet, a great place to walk paved alleyways and so on. So yeah I just enjoy doing it,” he says.

John Slater, co-chair and past president of Grasslands Naturalists, has supported Martha as she grows the grassroots adoption program.

He says he’s seen firsthand the positive impact the program is having by noticing the reduction of garbage in several natural areas around the city.

“I am very thrilled that people have taken this on whether it’s an individual or a group or even the city.”

This year, Martha says she is looking for people to adopt a large pond area behind Canadian Tire and the pond in the Box Springs business area.

“I would suggest one of the businesses in that area or an organization or a sports team would be ideal,” she says.

Martha says it doesn’t matter how many people adopt a certain natural area in the city.

“So if you live near a pond or path, or you work near a pond or path you could adopt that area even if someone else has adopted it too,” says Martha

“And you might hear a bird, like we’re hearing now, or you might see a rabbit. You will certainly be energized and loved by the nature around you in return for the love you give to nature,” adds Martha.

You can reach out to Martha by calling the Nature Centre in Police Point Park at 403-529-6225 or the South East Alberta Watershed Alliance at 403-580-8980.