Expropriation Announcment

April 14, 2025

Honourable Premier Wab Kinew announced that the Province will expropriate Lemay Forest for the purpose of creating a new provincial park!

Timeline of Events

  • May 3, 2025
    Awasaka Ayahsig Sakahk: Children of the Forest Pow Wow Rock the Block Celebration.

  • April 26, 2025
    A craftivism event was held at the St. Norbert Community Centre.

  • April 21, 2025
    After almost four months the sacred fire closing ceremony was held at the sacred fire ceremony was closed.

  • 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!

  • 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • 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.
  • December 27, 2024
    The sacred fire is lit.

  • September 26, 2024
    Winnipeg City Council (WCC) votes concurs with the disposition (decision) made by the EPC.

  • 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 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 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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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

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

  • 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.

  • 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.
  • 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Featured Media

Everything We Need is Here

Brilliant documentary film maker Katharina Stieffenhofer has released her newest documentary Everything We Need is Here.

Synopsis:

Tiffany forages Manitoba’s forests on a quest for culinary mushrooms and peace of mind.

She engages with Indigenous and Settler Land Defenders, who seek to protect intact Nature for our collective well-being.

Gradually a story of trauma and resilience is revealed, while united resistance wins the day.

Learn more and watch the trailer here.

Watch the full length documentary on Bell MTS Fibe TV.

APTN Investigates

Cherished Woods: The Fight for Lemay

In the woods near a former orphanage, records suggest that many children, including unknown numbers of Métis, remain in unmarked graves. Activists have fought hard to protect Lemay Forest from private development – and then Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew stepped in. 

Reference Documents