Who We Are

We are the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest, a group of concerned citizens, local non government organizations and agencies working together to protect one of the city’s few intact riparian forests.

Coalition History

The Coalition to Save Lemay Forest was founded in 2020 by a handful of St. Norbert residents who got together on a neighbour’s lawn to come up with a plan to raise awareness to protect the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield from a proposed high density mixed-use residential development. These neighbors engaged in a door-to-door awareness campaign to garner support from the East St.Norbert Community to oppose the development and save the Lemay Forest and greenfield. 

Since then, the Coalition has grown to hundreds of members including local and national advocacy groups. 

In October 2023, the Planning and Design firm representing the landowner sent threatening and aggressive letters to the residents of Lemay Avenue. A Winnipeg advocacy agency organization received a letter from the planner indicating that the landowner will continue with the development plans in 2024 unless there is an expressed interest in acquiring the Lemay Forest land by end of December 2023. 

The wheels were set in motion and a core group of residents and local advocacy groups met and concluded that the solution to saving the Lemay Forest and greenfield was to acquire the land in partnership with government and the community at large. A draft strategy to acquire the Lemay Forest and greenfield was created with help from a local advocacy group and is the building blocks for next steps. 

An online petition was launched and over 2000 signatures were collected in a matter of 2 short weeks!

Our Mission Statement

The Coalition to Save Lemay Forest will lobby government and the community at large to acquire the 22-acre Lemay Forest to be rezoned as parkland to expand Winnipeg’s public greenspace, protect its urban canopy, improve climate resiliency and protect global biodiversity. We are committed to long term partnerships to preserve, protect, enhance and restore the Lemay Forest and greenfield as a park for visitors to enjoy nature and low impact recreation in a peaceful refuge.

Our Vision

Our vision is that the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield would be maintained as a healthy, biodiverse park for vegetation and wildlife where visitors can find peace and tranquility.

Timeline of Events

  • October 17, 2023:       
    Residents receive the first letter from Tochal Developments Group Inc.

  • November 1, 2023:     
    Petition through change.org is launched.

  • November 3, 2023:     
    First in person meeting of the coalition in its current form takes place.

  • November 9, 2023:    
    Councillor Markus Chambers meets with Billie Cross (Seine River MLA) and Minister Tracey Schmidt to discuss Lemay Forest.

  • November 15, 2023: 
    The coalition’s first meeting with MP Terry Duguid and MLA Billie Cross.

  • November 16, 2023: 
    The motion to purchase Lemay Forest is heard by the Riel Community Committee and is passed with amendments.

  • November 22, 2023: 
    The motion to purchase Lemay Forest is heard by the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development. The motion is held over to the next meeting.

  • November 30, 2023: 
    Tochal Developments Group Inc. has indicated this is the last day Lemay Forest will be accessible to residents.

  • December 13, 2023
    We launched a GoFundMe fundraiser with a goal of raising $5000.

  • December 20, 2023

    Completed the first step to becoming a grassroots non-profit and led the last guided walk on the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield.

  • January 6, 2024
    Tochal Developments Group Inc. is hosting an drop-in, open house at the St. Norbert Community Centre from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

  • January 11, 2024
    The held-over motion to purchase Lemay Forest will be heard by the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development. Read a summary of the outcome on our home page. 

  • February 2, 2024
    The Coalition to Save Lemay Forest receives our certificate of incorporation as a non-profit.

  • March 21, 2024
    The demolition permit for 823 Lemay Ave is rejected.

  • May 3, 2024
    The appeal of the demolition permit rejection was heard by the Riel Community Committee and the decision to deny the demolition application was upheld.

  • June 24, 2024
    The Riel Community Committee was set to hear the following agenda item 8 (and 9): Subdivision and Rezoning – 823 Lemay Avenue and Land Located Between 35 de la Digue Avenue and 100 Villa Maria Place (DASZ 9/2024). The agenda items were carried over to September 6th, 2024.

  • September 6, 2024
    The Riel Community Committee heard the following agenda item 2 (and 3): Subdivision and Rezoning – 823 Lemay Avenue and Land Located Between 35 de la Digue Avenue and 100 Villa Maria Place (DASZ 9/2024).The committee rejected the application and referred the disposition to the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development.

  • September 12, 2024
    The Municipal Board of Manitoba participated in a preliminary hearing in the matter of “Validity of Appeal for Missed Timeline re: Zoning By-Law and Plan of Subdivision Application (DASZ 9/2024)”.

  • September 13, 2024
    The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development heard the same subdivision and rezoning application DASZ 9/2024. The committee concurred with the disposition (decision) made by the Riel Community Committee.

  • September 17, 2024
    The Executive Policy Committee (EPC) heard the same subdivision and rezoning application DASZ 9/2024. The committee concurred with the disposition (decision) made by the Riel Community Committee and the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development.

  • September 26, 2025
    Winnipeg City Council (WCC) votes concurs with the disposition (decision) made by the EPC.

  • December 27, 2024
    The sacred fire is lit.

  • January 13, 2025
    Councillor Wyatt introduced a motion on Lemay Forest at the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development:

    The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development referred the following to the Public Service for consideration and a verbal report back to the Standing Committee in 30 days:
    1. That the Winnipeg Public Service be directed to, as the applicant, initiate the rezoning of the lands outlined in red on the attached Schedule A, to the appropriate PR Parks and Recreational zoning classification.
    2. That the Winnipeg Public Service, specifically the Planning, Property and Development Department, be directed to assemble the lands identified in
    Schedule B, for the purpose of a new City Park, and use all the tools available in order to facilitate said land for a new City Park.
    3. That the Land Operating Reserve (LOR) be identified for funding said Land Assembly.
    4. That the Proper Officers of the City be authorized to do all things necessary to implement the intent of the foregoing.

  • January 27, 2025
    The sacred fire has been lit for one month.

  • February 6, 2025
     The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development laid over the decision on Lemay Forest to March 6, 2025.

  • February 11-13, 2025
    The Municipal Board hearing heard the appeal of the city’s rejection of the subdivision and rezoning application. They have 60 days to make a decision.

  • February 14, 2025
    The Wildness Committee launched a fundraiser to protect Lemay Forest.

  • February 27, 2025
    The sacred fire has been lit for two months.

  • March 1, 2025
    To celebrate five years of #SaveLemayForest, a community art build was held.

  • March 6, 2025
  •  The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development. voted on a motion regarding Lemay Forest on March 6, 2025.

  • March 8, 2025
    The Firekeepers of Lemay Forest led a pipe ceremony and a walk for International Women’s Day.

  • March 15, 2025
    Awasaka Ayahsig Sakahk: Children of the Forest Town Hall took place at the UofW EG Hall. Several speakers spoke to various important aspects of the many reasons to protect Lemay Forest.

  • March 22, 2025
    Awasaka Ayahsig Sakahk: Children of the Forest Rally Walk took place from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to the Louis Riel statue at the Legislative Building.

  • March 27, 2025
    Full Winnipeg City Council heard a motion to expropriate Lemay Forest, including 12 speakers who spoke in support. The motion was held over to the next meeting (April 30, 2025). A second motion was introduced and referred to the Standing Policy Committee of Property and Development to conduct an HRIA on all city owned lands.

  • April 14, 2025
    The Honourable Premier Wab Kinew announced that the Province will expropriate Lemay Forest for the purpose of creating a new provincial park!

Where to Find Lemay Forest

We acknowledge that the Lemay Forest and greenfield land where we seek refuge, photograph its creatures and benefit from is situated on Treaty 1 Territory, the lands stolen from the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate and Denesuline Nations, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge the harms of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous peoples in reconciliation and collaboration.