Protesters block Lemay Forest access point despite court order, saying they’ll await police

The battle over Lemay Forest continued Wednesday morning, as the developer was barred from accessing it via one spot, trees were cut down by another crew, and one city councillor said a colleague is pushing for the city to expropriate the land.

Transcona Coun. Russ Wyatt met with protesters angered over the proposed development — who are burning an Indigenous sacred fire — at a city-owned access point Wednesday morning. He told reporters that Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) planned to move a motion at a meeting of the city’s Riel community committee Wednesday calling for the city to begin expropriation proceedings to make the land a park.

Some area residents have fought to save the trees amid concerns over potential unmarked graves of Métis children in a former Catholic orphanage cemetery and the protection of bird habitat on the land. The landowner, Tochal Development Group, has sought to develop the land into an assisted-living facility. City council rejected the development, but the developer plans to appeal the decision to the Municipal Board in February.

John Wintrup, the planner for the developer, arrived at the access point at about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday with a dump truck and skid steer operator to try to get onto the land. Court of King’s Bench Justice Sarah Inness granted an interim injunction request last week, ordering numerous defendants suspected to have taken part in protests at the St. Norbert property to leave and refrain from blocking the property’s owner from accessing it through an easement over city-owned land.

Wintrup and the equipment operator tried to get through three times Wednesday, but protesters said they were waiting for police to arrive to discuss the matter. Police did not go to the scene but were apparently in the area.

Wintrup said the developer will go back to court with evidence showing protesters blocked access to the site.

Another contractor crew accessed the land elsewhere earlier and began felling trees.

At a contested hearing Monday, the developer’s lawyer, Kevin Toyne, sought a continuation and expansion of the injunction to bar the group that is opposed to the development from the adjacent city-owned land. Inness ruled Monday protesters are allowed to remain on the adjacent land.

[email protected]

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020.  Read more about Erik.

Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.

Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.

Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.