Winnipeg Minute: Tree Recycling, Tree Cutting, and Happy New Year

Winnipeg Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Winnipeg politics

This Week In Winnipeg:

• There are no Council or Committee meetings this week. Regularly scheduled meetings will resume on January 6th.
  
  
• Tuesday is New Year’s Eve! There are several options for New Year’s Eve festivities, including parties, galas, and a hockey game. On New Year’s Day, The Forks will feature live music, yoga, movement classes, and a variety of outdoor activities. Family-friendly events will be held at The Market and the Agowiidiwinan Centre, with The Common and food kiosks offering diverse culinary options. Activities run from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the full schedule is available online.
  
  
• As we ring in the New Year, we’re reflecting on the work we’ve accomplished and the challenges ahead. To kick off 2025 strong, we’ve set a goal to raise $10,000 by midnight on December 31st. This crucial fundraiser will ensure we can continue our mission in the coming year. If you’ve valued our efforts and want to see us achieve even more, please consider making a donation today. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference, and we’re incredibly thankful for your support. Click here to donate and help us start the year on the right foot. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• Developers have begun cutting down trees in Winnipeg's Lemay Forest despite ongoing community opposition and the rejection of their housing project by Council. The land, owned by Tochal Development Group, is slated for an assisted-living facility, but its future hinges on a Municipal Board hearing set for next year. Local residents and the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest argue that the tree removal harms wildlife, reduces green space, and destroys a site with cultural and historical significance. The City of Winnipeg has no authority to intervene on private property but is drafting a bylaw to regulate tree removal.
  
  
• Winnipeg, along with the Province, plans to address homelessness in 2025 by clearing encampments and moving individuals into housing with mental health and addiction support. The initiative, led by Mayor Gillingham and Premier Wab Kinew, involves a coordinated effort among governments, nonprofits, and service providers, with a focus on providing permanent housing solutions. Once people are housed, returning to encampments will not be permitted, although enforcement details remain unclear. The plan includes creating 700 - 1,000 affordable housing units over the next decade and addressing systemic gaps in available low-income housing.
  
  
• The City said residents can recycle their Christmas trees by turning them into mulch through the Let’s Chip In program, available at 10 depots until January 31st. Before dropping off a tree, all decorations must be removed. Free mulch will be available at the depots starting in early January, with residents needing to bring their own containers. Over the past 33 years, the program has recycled more than 425,000 trees.