'It's a great opportunity': Mayoral candidates weigh in on making Assiniboine Forest a national urban park
A local environmental group is calling for Assiniboine Forest to become a national urban park, ensuring the forest is protected for years to come.
The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) held an event to gather support for turning the area into a national urban park on Saturday.
"Winnipeg is currently below average compared to other Canadian cities at six per cent park space where the average in Canada is nine per cent. So we certainly up our game in order for us to thrive as a city," said Ron Thiessen, executive director, CPAWS's Manitoba Chapter.
The federal government decided to give Winnipeg an urban national park in 2021, but the location still hasn't been picked.
CPAWS believes Assiniboine Forest is the perfect spot and can even be expanded beyond its 700 acres once the designation is in place.
"So we're hoping the new national urban park that is Assiniboine Forest could also capture those lands along the Trans Canada Trail that leads to Fort Whyte Alive," said Thiessen. "It's a great opportunity to expand our green space."
The group says the move would have health, economic and environmental benefits for the city.
Looking to garner backing, mayoral candidates were invited to show their support.
"My family and I chose to live in this area. We chose to stay in this area because of our close proximity to Assiniboine Forest and Assiniboine Park," said mayoral candidate Rick Shone.
"Canadians value our parks and we value our urban forest and Assiniboine Forest," said candidate Jenny Motkaluk.
"I also want to make sure people who live in the east in Transcona, downtown, people who live in Garden City, people who live in River Park South can equally access an urban forest," added candidate Robert-Falcon Ouellette
Rana Bokhari, Chris Clacio and Idris Adelakun were also there to endorse the designation. Candidate Glen Murray also put out a message of approval.
However, not all candidates are sold on the idea.
"I'm just going to lay it on the table that in Point Douglas, they are interested in having a national park there as well. I have not decided which to pursue," said Shaun Loney, another mayoral candidate.
Loney said Winnipeggers should choose which area gets the national urban park.
The Charleswood Rotary Club, which has been the stewards of Assiniboine Forest since the mid-nineties, is still studying what the designation would mean for the forest but are quick to tout what makes it unique.
"It's just a quiet place, a reflective place, you know, where you can be on your own or with the people you're with almost entirely," said Allan Roberts, a club member and former chair of the committee that oversees the forest.
Parks Canada is also looking at creating urban parks in Edmonton, Halifax, Saskatoon, Victoria and Windsor.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.