Regina Beach & District Lions

Lion James Sinclair Memorial Forest

PO Box 613, Regina Beach, Saskatchewan S0G 4C0

PDG Ken Peters, Chairman   306 536-3294   pdgken@gmail.com

Welcome to Regina Beach, Saskatchewan, home of the Lion Jim Sinclair Memorial Forest. The Memorial Forest is a project of the Regina Beach & District Lions Club in support of the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guide Program. This is the first Memorial Forest in Western Canada that we are aware of open to the public.

In the first year (2011) we paid tribute too and honored 81 people who have earned the respect of us all for their service to their own communities whether as Lions, Lioness or just good citizens in their respective communities.

This Forest is a project that started as a dream of Lion Ken Peters back in 2001 when he first visited the Lions Foundation of Canada Memorial Forest located in Breslau, Ontario as a Vice District Governor. Ken was very impressed and realized this is a great project to recognize the memory of people and Lions alike and; also to support the Foundation and the great work that they do in providing Dog Guides for people in our Province and across Canada with Vision, Hearing Physical disabilities, seizures and now also to include service dogs to work with Autistic children. This is all done with no cost to the clients. The work of Lions, Lioness and generous people across this great country provide the support and funding for this to happen.

In 2005 Past International Director Art Woods approached Ken as he served on the Board of Directors representing Saskatchewan to Lions Foundation of Canada and asked if he would consider starting a Memorial Forest in western Canada. It would work as a relief to the faster than expected growing Breslau Forest in that western trees could be planted and make available a Forest the western people could visit within a reasonable travelling distance.

In 2007 discussions became more of a reality as it was presented to the Regina Beach & District Lions Club. The OK to progress with the idea was given and to be presented again later for approval.

Ken spoke with a number of people including Lion Jamie Sinclair and his family and was given permission for the Lions to use some of their land to place a Forest. Jamie and his family were proud and honored that a suggestion to name the Forest the “Lion Jim Sinclair Memorial Forest” in honor of his father who was also the Charter President of this Lions club in 1979 when charted to serve with Lions Clubs International.

The PFRA tree farm at Indian Head, Sask. was contacted and was willing to provide trees to the Lions project. I wish to thank Murray Hozapfel for his assistance in getting us started. Murray and his wife came out to the first dedication service to be a part of the opening of this Memorial Forest.

After returning to the club for approval of the Service Project in late 2008 the goal to open a Memorial Forest in western Canada was a reality.

Over the next 2 years preparation and background research was followed up and in late 2010 groundbreaking started. With appreciation to the Arm River Hutterite Colony for equipment and manpower donated to break the ground and spraying of weeds.

The Lion Jim Sinclair Memorial Forest is an area 2.2 km long and about 120 ft. wide winding through the Sinclair farm and was broken for planting of trees. A very special thanks to the Sinclair Family for the land and equipment and especially to Lion Jamie for the countless hours put in to getting this project done.

Several times the ground was worked over and in 2011 the first trees (144) were planted.

In the spring of 2012 - 100 Colorado blue spruce were planted. Another 1500 trees were received in mid May of 2012 and planted. We had a total 1750 trees in the ground. All are young and just getting started, much the same as the people we honor today who also started small and needed to grow over the years. In a few years this Forest will be a proud and healthy grove of trees that we can all appreciate and visit this living Memorial.

Unfortunately, the spring floods and harsh winter that year took a large toll on the new trees. Many have been replaced now but only about 450 are planted and growing. As we get more experience, we will plant as we need in future so it can be maintained properly.

May 27th, 2012 there were 81 trees spoken for, a fantastic start to a great service project. Special thanks to those Lions within the club who have come out to help plant and weed the Forest.

The first dedication saw special guests and speakers as Tom Lukiwski, MP; Lyle Stewart, MLA; and the Lt. Governor of Saskatchewan, Vaughan Schofield.

This will be an ongoing project that the Regina Beach & District Lions can be proud of.

In the following years more trees were purchased and Dedication Services held on a Sunday afternoon late in May of each year. This will be the pattern into the future.

On May 26th, 2013, we dedicated an additional 55 trees. On May 25th, 2014 another  dedication which brought us up to 176 trees and on May 24th, 2015 will see the latest trees dedicated with the total brought up to 231. In May of 2015 another 58 trees had been sold and dedicated. The Dedication service was moved to September and will be the 1st Sunday after Labour in following years

The forest is growing in popularity is spreading with trees being purchase by people from Manitoba, Alberta and two from England as well as all over Saskatchewan. Even North Dakota Lions have joined with us purchasing trees of tribute.

Sept 16th, 2015 we brought in an additional 74 Spruce trees – all 3 – 3 ½ ‘ in height.

The winners in this whole project are the recipients of service dogs provided to clients at no cost to the client by the Lions of Canada through the Lions Foundation of Canada.

Trees were purchased for $175.00 by anyone – Lion or none lion – to be planted in Memory of a loved one,

After several years the cost for a tree was increased. In January 2021 due to costs of plaques & steel stands rising and installation of Irrigation equipment They are now $200.00

The Regina Beach & District Lions club will maintain the trees and the Forest on a continuing basis. Plaques and stands are placed in front of each tree to mark who they are dedicated too, donated by and the year of purchase.

Now, 15 years after the first thoughts of an idea, the dream has become reality and I am proud and honored to serve as the first and only Chairperson for this project to date. The fact is, we are well ahead of expectations in that 258 trees dedicated as of May 24th, 2015.

Thank you for your support and patience as this project develops. This project was started as a service to help the Dog Guide program and give citizens a place the recall the great years past of loved ones. The latest addition to the Forest is four Memorial benches which will serve as a resting place to sit and reminisce. We hope to add more benches through future years.

In 2016 at the 5th Annual Dedication service we now have trees named in memory of 286 people with another 15 sold between the service in May 2016 and January 4th, 2017. Total trees now is up to 301.

Currently, August of 2023 we have a total of 620 dedicated trees an average of 57 per year. There are 67 trees being dedicated on Sunday, Sept. 10th, 2023. We continue to Improve now installing irrigation to most trees. This expansion will continue as Lions continue to serve.

and our history continues