Prairie Roots and Wings
Memoirs of Growing up in the Red River Valley
by Philippe Sabourin

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Captivating and stunning photographs will inspire as you follow Philippe in his many worldly adventures and moments! Prairie Roots and Wings is not only Philippe Sabourin’s memoir of growing up in the Red River Valley, it is a call to action to make our planet more sustainable and beautiful for our survival. The prairie farm in the ’50s and ’60s provided a simpler way of life, being closer to nature and growing one’s food. Settled in part by Francophones and Mennonites, the Red River Valley saw the arrival of the first Sabourins in 1891. This history of farming continued through the generations and inspired Philippe’s passion for the land, food production and sustainability. From those prairie roots, he spreads his wings in adventures that take him across the globe—from the rainforests of the Amazon to the grasslands of the Serengeti, from the waters of the Great Barrier Reef to the Arctic village of Tuktoyaktuk and from the marine reserve of the Galapagos to the amazing ecosystem of the Okavango Delta. Philippe shares important topics close to his heart: family, history, environmental and climate change challenges, future foods production, social inequities and how we can evolve to make this Earth a better place. A theme is woven throughout the book: the spirit of Ubuntu, humanity to others. When we cultivate an awareness of our common humanity, our world will be better equipped to solve the challenges and achieve peace and happiness for all.

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A retired professional agrologist, Philippe Sabourin has had a connection to the Earth and its people his whole life. After graduating from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Plant Science, he joined the family farm, Sabourin Seed Service Limited where he exported lentils among other items. Later, he headed the agricultural division of an agricultural engineering firm, where among other things, he worked on diversification and value-added opportunities for farmers. He also opened a consulting business working on a wide variety of projects. Philippe has been a select grower with the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association as well as a member of the Canadian Seed Trade Association, SeCan Association, Canadian Consulting Agrologists Association and Manitoba Institute of Agrologists. At age 60, he turned his enthusiasm to our future generation of leaders, and for ten years worked as a teacher’s aide and substitute teacher for Kindergarten to Grade 12 with the Division Scolaire Franco-Manitobaine. He is also a proud father of three children. A gardener, tree planter, businessman, avid outdoor enthusiast, and a world trekker, Philippe continues to embrace life. He now lives in Southern Manitoba.

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Philippe Sabourin