Daffodil Project honouring memory of late community member

The 10 year project started in 2015, and the goal is to plant 1,000,000 daffodil bulbs along a stretch of road from Dunmore to Redcliff.

Gillian Slade, chair of the Daffodil Project, says the project hasn’t been easy but the group has now figured out the process.

“It’s been a bit of a learning curve in terms of even how to plant them, plant them quickly, and equipment to use,” said Slade. “Today has been awesome, planting 12,000, we feel like we’ve really got a grip now on planting and the process.”

Slade added the community involvement keeping the project moving forward.

Medicine Hat residents weren’t the only ones helping on Saturday.

Michael Vezina is son of Len Mitzel, and he made the trip from Innisfail with his family.

Vezina was surprised at the amount of people there to help.

“It was just fabulous to see so many people out here. We saw several service clubs. I saw members from the Mormon church comes and planting and running machinery,” said Vezina. “There were lots of girl guides, sparks and brownies, fabulous to see the service clubs out to come and join.”

Vezina knew he had to be a part of planting process at the meadow and he was proud to be attending on Saturday.

“It’s pretty great to know that my dad was held in such high standing and he never did any single bit of it for him. It was all to bring people together. Bring the community together, bring family together and even a couple years after his passing (he’s) still doing it.”

With the bulbs being planted in the fall Vezina will have to wait for the spring to see the daffodils in bloom.

The Daffodil Project have one more planting day scheduled on October 13th.

10,000 more bulbs will be planted from the Visitor Information Centre to the Saamis Tepee.

by Matt Pouncy

Daffodil Project honouring memory of late community member

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