Charleswood trees downed in troublesome house move to be replaced
Multiple trees that were chopped down along Roblin Boulevard during the move of a large house last summer are set to be replaced.
Councillor Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said the plan is to replace some of the trees this spring.
“After talking to the forestry experts at the City of Winnipeg, they felt that that was the best time to do the replanting and that’s what we’re shooting for – early spring,” Klein told CTV News.
The trees were cut down during the move of a large house in August 2021.
According to Winnipeg Police Service, the house was being hauled along Roblin Boulevard to be taken outside of the city.
Police said the moving company had obtained a permit for the oversized structure. However, once the move started, it became clear that the operator had not confirmed the accessibility of the route, as required in the permit.
Officers dealing with the move found multiple trees along the move route had been deliberately felled or trimmed.
A man associated with the move has been arrested and charged with mischief over $5,000, and the move was temporarily halted.
“Charleswood is really well known for its trees, for the deer, for the style of communities that we have,” Klein said.
“Losing trees because of disease or other reasons are easy to accept. But, when it’s done because someone broke the law or took it upon themselves - there’s something about that (that is upsetting). Accountability comes into place, because we know how important trees are to the environment.”
A spokesperson for the City of Winnipeg said the tree replacement will be based on the appraised value of the trees removed. He said three trees will be planted in the median adjacent to Charleswood Memorial Park on the south side of Roblin, and the remaining 15 to 20 replacements will be smaller container trees, and will be planted in the same park space.
The city said it is continuing to explore cost recovery options, which could include court action against those responsible for the damage. The city said no compensation has been received yet.
MORE TREES TO BE CUT DOWN DUE TO DISEASE, DEATH
It’s not all good news for the tree canopy in Klein’s ward.
He said there are over 100 median trees not related to the house move in Charleswood, Tuxedo, and River Heights that are going to be cut down over the next few weeks because they are diseased or dying.
Klein shared this information on his website and put out a call to constituents for ideas on what to replace eliminated trees with.
“I am shocked at the amount of emails that I’m receiving with various ideas about what to do, so all those emails are being gathered together and we’re talking about them with our forestry department and trying to make a plan for the future,” he said.
- With files from Mike Arsenault
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.