Friends of Madge Lake

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Raise funds for, and promote

health and well-being,

safety and stewardship and

public education

related to the park

We welcome your support

Raise funds for, and promote

health and well-being,

safety and stewardship and

public education

related to the park

We welcome your support

Friends receives grants to upgrade trails

Friends of Madge Lake is pleased to announce that we will be receiving grants of up to $6,000 from the Trans Canada Trail organization. Our two organizations have formed a partnership to enhance and upgrade various elements of the Trans Canada Trail through Duck Mountain Provincial Park.

These grants require that FOML provide matching funds. This project is our 2023 priority and we would welcome donations to support the trail system.

For the summer of 2023, funds will be used to repair and upgrade a section of the Trail on the east side of the park. In addition, we have contracted with a trail consultant to provide an assessment and advice on further projects to enhance the condition of other sections of the trail.

The Trans Canada Trail is the longest recreational trail in the world, spanning over 28,000 kilometers on land and water. Linking three oceans – the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic – the Trail connects 15,000 rural, urban and Indigenous communities across every province and territory. It is a ribbon that connects Canada’s diverse landscapes, seasons, people and experiences, and fosters unity, collaboration and connectedness.

Trans Canada Trail is a registered charity and stewards this national trail in collaboration with local trail partners. With funding from the government of Canada through Parks Canada, and investments from all levels of government and generous donors, Trans Canada Trail is the largest investor in trail infrastructure projects in Canada, supporting improvements, growth and enhancements for generations to come.

Photo gallery below shows work on the trail.

Looking back at 2022

Like many organizations over the last couple of years we had a Covid stall. As a result we wanted to kick off the 2022 summer season by ensuring that the projects we had started were completed and ready to be enjoyed.

With some work to the pickle ball courts and nets, we are proud to say that they are good to go and over this past summer the uptake of participants using the pickle ball/tennis courts was wonderful. Lessons were organized by an enthusiastic volunteer in July, and all classes filled. The interest continues for this activity and indoor pickle ball is now being offered this fall in Kamsack.

Next we moved to the basketball court. Work will be undertaken this fall to fabricate an extension arm and install new backboards and rims for completion in the spring of 2023. When that work is complete, the park crew will install the fence and poles around the court and it too, will be ready for some basketball action.

On May 14 and 15, FOML in partnership with the Ministry of Parks piloted a Teacher’s Forest Tour in the park. The participants included teachers and park interpretive staff from the surrounding area. A wide range of topics were covered during the two days and included an overview of forests in Saskatchewan, Duck Mountain’s forest, the role of disturbance (forest fires and timber harvesting) in maintaining a healthy age range, natural forest patterns, ecosystem management and the effects of climate change on forests.

There is a Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is today.” Weyerhaeuser Canada and Dunkley Lumber generously donated over 1,000 white spruce seedlings in early June and FOML along with campers and cottage owners took advantage of this opportunity and planted seedlings throughout the park. We hope to repeat this as often as possible to give our aging forest a boost.

In partnership with Saskatchewan Parks and the Trans Canada Trail organization, FOML will be undertaking projects that expand and improve the quality and sustainability of our network of trails here in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. Enhancing the trail infrastructure through improvements such as drainage, and resurfacing sections to accommodate increased number of users, is a priority. Increased signage on the trails through added points of interest and additional mapping will enhance the trail experience. Stay tuned for updates!

We have been asked many times to sponsor something in the park that people could dedicate as memorials to past loved Madge Lakers. FOML is presently building and placing benches in the park and on the trails with consultation and help from the park staff. For a donation of $1,000 donors may designate one of these benches as a memorial of a loved one and place a plaque on the bench. The donation would be receipted as a charitable donation.

FOML has also purchased and installed a memorial bench by the Treats and Treasures store. For a donation of $125, donors may dedicate a portion of that bench and have a plaque installed in memory of a loved one. These donations will also be receipted.

The benches are, of course, property of the park and will be maintained as such. If you wish to have a hand in annual maintenance of the bench you have dedicated, you may volunteer with park administration to do so. If you are interested in either of these bench projects, contact board member Bobbi Wanner at 306-542-3106. We are just in the process of installing two of our benches on Ministik Beach and creating a quiet sitting area for seniors or anyone wishing to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

We had very successful summer at Treats and Treasures, in no small part to having great staff and talented vendors. We thank all of them.

We publish a newsletter several times a year with news and information about Friends of Madge Lake and our projects.

This is our season-end newsletter to conclude 2022.

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Who we are

Friends of Madge Lake is a non-profit charitable organization that promotes the preservation of the natural environment and special natural features of Madge Lake in east-central Saskatchewan for their intrinsic value and for the inspiration and enjoyment of present and future generations as a public trust.

We work co-operatively with the Duck Mountain Provincial Park management and staff to enhance the educational, recreational and interpretive programs, and the facilities in the park.

The Friends of Madge Lake home office and store is in the log cabin up the hill, east from Ministik Beach (by the ball diamonds).

Interested Friends are able to purchase souvenirs and other goods during set hours in summer.

Madge Lake is a beautiful spot and a very important place to many, many people. If you are interested in putting in some volunteer hours with us, call one of the directors or contact us through the message icon at lower right of every page.

Make a donation and become a Friend >

What we do

We seek to foster appreciation and understanding of the natural ecosystems of the park, and promote initiatives enabling all visitors to enjoy recreational and outdoor experiences.

Friends of Madge Lake exists to:

Complement the services and activities of Duck Mountain Provincial Park;
Enhance quality of life through meaningful outdoor experiences in the Park;
Support and improve the stewardship of the Duck Mountain Provincial Park’s eco-system;
Increase engagement, inclusion and access to the park;
Build and maintain partnerships and relationships with Indigenous communities, artists, vendors and park businesses;
Support the goals and objectives of federal, provincial, and territorial governments policy frameworks related to physical activity and recreation in Canada.

Conserving and restoring our forests theme of teachers' tour

The Ministry of Parks in partnership with Friends of Madge Lake piloted a Teacher’s Forest Tour on May 14 and 15 at Duck Mountain Provincial Park.

Speakers included Mike LeBlanc and Landon Sealey of Weyerhaeuser Saskatchewan, Paul LeBlanc from Louisiana Pacific, Sarah Schmid from the Ministry of Environment, and Thuan Chu from the Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport.

The participants included teachers and park interpretive staff from the surrounding area. A wide range of topics were covered during the two days and included an overview of forests in Saskatchewan, Duck Mountain’s forest, the role of disturbance (forest fires and timber harvesting) in maintaining a healthy age range, natural forest patterns, ecosystem management and the effects of climate change on forests.

In addition to formal presentations there were also field tours that provided a first hand look at the park’s boreal forest and its unique features and challenges.

Increasing understanding and knowledge as well as maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem ensures the forest environment, wildlife and waterfowl of Duck Mountain Provincial Park will be available for public use and enjoyment into the future and is one of three key priorities of the Friends of Madge Lake.

This event was the first of its kind to be hosted by Friends of Madge Lake and the Ministry of Parks. Over the next few weeks an evaluation will be undertaken to determine how we continue to provide this opportunity on an annual basis.

Friends receives grants to upgrade trails

Coming up in September

Loons at Madge Lake

New members join board

Looking back at 2022

Be a Friend

Who we are

What we do

Conserving and restoring our forests theme of teachers' tour

We welcome your suggestions for projects

Recent projects of Friends of Madge Lake

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