Save Lemay Forest From Destruction By Development
Donation protected
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.
Our Mission
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.
Summary
Lemay Forest is one of the last intact riverbottom forests in the City of Winnipeg. It is a large A-B classification forest and greenfield situated on the banks of the Red River in the historic neighbourhood of St. Norbert.
As of December 2023, the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield is privately owned and slated to be demolished in favour of large scale, high-density housing. If this happens, the City of Winnipeg and its residents will lose a mature forest of ~9,000-14,000 trees, along with the ecosystem and biodiversity it sustains:
- The Lemay Forest and greenfield is home to many mature tree species including maple, green ash, elm, cottonwood, and basswood.
- It is a nesting place for migratory bird and resident bird species, birds of prey, and the keystone species pileated woodpecker.
- It is also a wildlife corridor providing habitat and safe access for many wildlife species, reptiles, and amphibians.
Learn more about the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield and our efforts to preserve it on our website .
Who is organizing this fundraiser?
We are the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest, a group of concerned citizens, local and national non-government organizations, and agencies working together to protect one of the city’s few intact riparian forests.
You can find us on Facebook .
You can find us on Instagram .
You can also visit our website .
Accomplishments to Date:
1. Engagement with government entities:
- Engaged with civic, provincial, and federal levels of government to advocate for the purchase and rezoning of the private land as parkland for the community's benefit.
2. Civic Motion Support:
- Supporting a civic-level motion to initiate exploration of the land's purchase and actively contributing to this process.
3. Awareness and outreach efforts:
- Raising awareness through social media, local news, and press coverage to garner community attention.
4. Active participation in city hall meetings:
- Attending Winnipeg City Hall community meetings, providing delegations, and submitting comments for the public record.
5. Collaboration and networking:
- Established communication and collaboration with other advocacy groups for support and guidance regarding the next steps.
6. Community engagement events:
- Organized guided walks in and around the 22-acre Lemay Forest, involving local stakeholders and non-governmental advocacy groups.
7. Petition launch:
- Initiated a virtual petition to gather support for the cause.
Purpose of fundraising:
We want to show our elected officials that the community is committed to the acquisition process, in both tangible and intangible ways. A grassroots fundraising campaign will send a clear message that we are committed to supporting the City of Winnipeg with their purchase of the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield.
The funds raised will be used for any or all of the following:
1. Direct contribution for acquisition:
- Donations will be directed to the City of Winnipeg explicitly for the purchase of the 22-acre Lemay Forest, contingent upon its rezoning as parkland.
2. Establishment of support entities:
- Setting up a foundation, association, or charity to aid the City of Winnipeg in managing and maintaining the forest and greenfield after rezoning.
3. Maintenance plan implementation:
- Supporting the development of a maintenance plan for the 22-acre Lemay Forest as parkland, including initiatives like tree planting, restoring native prairie grassland, maintaining trails, installing informational signage on its history and biodiversity, and managing litter.
4. Administrative costs and advocacy:
- Allocating minimal funds for administrative expenses specifically related to advocating for the forest's purchase. These expenses will be limited and used only when absolutely necessary, ensuring that the majority of funds go toward purchasing and maintaining the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield.
NOTE: All Coalition members are dedicated volunteers who are donating their time because we believe in the cause. None of the funds raised will be used to pay Coalition members or any other volunteers for their time or services.
We are committed to transparency on how the funds are being used. Regular updates will be made available on our website.
If our efforts to support the City of Winnipeg in acquiring and rezoning Lemay Forest to parkland prove unsuccessful without viable alternative paths (such as provincial, federal, non-governmental organization (NGO), or public partnerships), the funds raised will be redirected. These funds will be allocated to groups or charities dedicated to advancing nature based social and recreational services The specific allocation will be decided later by consensus among the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest members. Feel free to contact us with any concerns.
Fundraising team (2)
The Coalition to Save Lemay Forest
Organizer
Winnipeg, MB
Cat Macaulay Gauthier
Team member