Photo: Michael Oleksyn/Daily Herald (L to R) Leo Ekhaguere, Mayor Bill Powalinsky and George Lewko. A tree was planted in front of the Margo Fourier Arts Centre to mark the First International Trade Fair and Fifth International Conference on Environmental and Raw Materials Sustainability (ICERMs 2026) on Tuesday morning./ Photo: Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
By Michael Oleksyn
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Prince Albert Daily Herald
A ceremonial tree planting next to the Margo Fournier Arts Centre took place Tuesday morning as part of the First International Trade Fair and Fifth International Conference on Environmental and Raw Materials Sustainability (ICERMs 2026) . The tree planting brought together local leaders, organizers and provincial representatives to highlight the connection between resource development and sustainability.
Leo Ekhaguere, president of CaCeRMDI and chairman of CRMC, explained that the tree planting, which occurred for the second year, was symbolic.
“I want to use it as a symbolic way to open a conference each year and to represent what our organizations stand for, particularly the Canadian Centre for Raw Materials.
Even though we know that the work of the Council complements the work of the Centre, we want to create a symbolic representation of the fact that we don’t just discuss sustainability theoretically. We want to demonstrate sustainability,” Ekhaguere said.
He said that the ceremony represents ICERMs’ continuing commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability, responsible resource development and international cooperation. ICERMs 2026 is being held from Sept. 14 to 18 in Prince Albert and Saskatoon under the theme “Raw Materials: Uniting Nations Through Innovation, Sustainability, and Trade.”
“We chose that topic and it is essentially meaningful to us today because raw materials, as it were, is supposed to unite nations. Today we see wars, we see conflict, we see geopolitical tensions everywhere in the world today. And if you look at the main cause of those things, it has to do with raw materials,” Ekhaguere said.
Ekhaguere said that raw materials should unite nations rather than dividing them.
“So that is the theme of our conference, and that’s what we represent. We know that if conflict erupt in one country, It doesn’t sit in that country. It’s the consequence and the effect spread round,” Ekhaguere said.
A special guest at this year’s conference is a top government official from Nigeria who is expected to join the group at the Chamber Dinner or later in the evening.
CaCeRMDI was the sponsor of the Prince Albert Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on Tuesday with guest speakers from Eldorado Gold who provided an update on the McIlvenna Bay Project and its exciting future in Saskatchewan’s mining sector.
CRMC secretary and CaCeRMDI vice president George Lewko said that they were excited to be sponsors for the event.
“We’ve never sponsored a luncheon before, but we had an opportunity during the conference for them to be here,” he said.
Lewko said that they could walk over to Chamber HQ and attend the luncheon following the tree planting.
Lewko said the group would tour Paintball Paradise in the afternoon to witness agritourism as well as Olympia Farm to witness a large farm operation.
“And then, tomorrow we’re going to head to Saskatoon and take in the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, and we’re going to take in geology, and we’re going to take in the Rayner Dairy Center and the Crossmount Cidery with apples,” Lewko said.
Lewko said that the tours would represent all parts of raw materials from farming to mining.
The commemorative tree also symbolizes the international relationships ICERMs seeks to build by connecting communities, governments, researchers, businesses and institutions through responsible resource development, innovation and trade. Ekhaguere said that the tree was an apple tree as a symbol for future generations.
“We have planted it for people that we may never know, people we may never see. They will eat out of it and they will hear the stories of how an international conference resulted into the planting of this tree,” Ekhaguere said. “So not just for this generation, but for generations to come. So we’re kind of trying to practicalize The word sustainability.”
Following the Prince Albert activities, ICERMs 2026 continues in Saskatoon from September 16–18, with technical, business, trade and international engagement activities.
The conference concludes on Sept. 18, Raw Materials Day, reinforcing the importance of natural resources, sustainability, innovation and international cooperation.
“We’ll be taking in Wanuskewin tomorrow because it’s such a nice conference area to go take in,” Lewko said.
The City of Prince Albert has proclaimed Sept. 18 Raw Materials Day.
“Every year, September 18th is Raw Materials Day. We have a council who claim it globa that September 18th all over the world will be Raw Materials Day. So the city of Prince Albert is keying into that, and they continue to pronounce it every year. As they have from the start,” Ekhaguere said.
Ekhaguere and Lewko spoke on behalf of the conference, Mayor Bill Powalinsky brought greetings from the City of Prince Albert. Piper Dave Monette piped in the dignitaries and the tree for the ceremony.