We took a walk today, the three of us. An easy, ambling walk along the river with its level path along the river, surrounded by the changing fall colours, a corridor just steps where we live that reminds us continually what a glorious place this is in which we live. A huge part is due to this man, this architect who believed the Meewasin Valley was his greatest cathedral. Mr. Raymond Moriyama was the force behind the 100-year conceptual plan for the Meewasin Valley Authority that forged a beautiful friendship between us and the South Saskatchewan River. His vision, his belief in what has become the jewel of this city is a reminder that short-term convenient actions do not result in lasting, revered and treasured legacy. Moriyama’s vision for the river valley–a balance between development and conservation, as local media describes–has survived decades. Still threatened by funding cuts and short-sighted decision-makers, Moriyama’s words 13 year ago echo today. “Everything good takes time,” he said in 2010 in Saskatoon. “More people need to think about long-term vision and not ego and greed. You have to ask, ‘what would nature do,’ not technology. You have to ask yourself about legacy and what you leave behind.“
Just a block from our home on the MVA Trail, we thought about Mr. Moriyama on our walk this afternoon. Thank you, sir.
Karin Melberg Schwier 