The Wolseley Residents Association will be holding their Annual General Meeting on Monday Oct. 18, 7 p.m. on Zoom.  Coordinates below:  

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Meeting ID: 825 2226 8240
Passcode: 729120
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AGM Details
WRA Executive Positions for Volunteers
The WRA is an entirely volunteer organization with the aim to improve the quality of life in Wolseley and make Wolseley a healthier community. The constitution says we must have a minimum of 6 meeting per year. This is considered to mean 6 meetings, workshops, or forums per year that are open to the general public of Wolseley residents.

The WRA executive meets monthly, usually the last Monday of each month. The WRA in 2018 struck 4 issue committees that are led by volunteer chairs and are open to Wolseley residents that do the work of the WRA on community issues. There are also governance committees that work on communications, fundraising, and other functions like policy and by-laws. Issues and initiatives as they arise are assigned to committees by the executive. The executive works as a team with any volunteer making recommendations or adding their skills to any area, for example the housing chair might also design posters, or the secretary might also help with grants.

Volunteer Positions open for election at the AGM Oct 18, 2021 at 7pm, are those in the constitution, indicated in blue. Other positions are filled on a volunteer basis. Green title indicates that position is vacant, however all positions are open for election. The four committees can select their chair, who currently also serves on the executive. We are reviewing the relationship between these structures.

• Chair or President – Engage executive volunteers in setting and participating in WRA meetings, lead group planning and over-sight to build and sustain the WRA, supports other executive members in their roles, and enhance conviviality or fun while getting things done, address differences in a respectful and effective way. Checks the WRA email weekly and responds to emails. Go to voice on behalf of the WRA.
• Co-Chair of Vice President – Assists and supports chair with setting up meetings, bookings, lists, follow-up from meetings, and facilitate or lead meetings when chair is absent. Supports other volunteer activities by treasurer, secretary, communications, fundraising, and by-laws.
• Secretary, database organizer or keeper of the lists – Takes minutes at meetings using the WRA template, circulates minutes for review, presents minutes at executive meetings for approval, ensures minutes are posted on the website, on the shared drive. Keeps an up to date list of executive members contact information on the shared drive, keeps up to date data base on the shared drive for documents.
• Treasurer – prepare financial reports for meetings, ensure cheques are signed, general book-keeping, ensures insurance payments are made, ensures grant follow-up, and reviews grant application budgets or other financial documents for the WRA.
• Past Chair or Past President – the chair immediately prior to the current chair or president, support in areas of governance, volunteer support, planning, etc. as required, ensures continuity and historical memory.

 
Other positions open for volunteers

• Communications Committee Chair and committee – website updating, social media posts, new releases, articles and ads, posters.
•  Fundraising Committee Chair – sources grants and completes applications, coordinates other fundraising events and activities, for example use of the website and social media for go-fund me campaigns, works with committees on funding needs.
• By-laws and policy Committee Chair – updating our by-laws with executive engagement, preparing other WRA policies with executive members, example, social media, participation agreements, etc.
• Volunteer support Chair – recruit volunteers using the website, tabling outreach, ads, social media and ensure volunteers are oriented, maintain lists of volunteers, support volunteers to follow-through on their roles, help address conflicts, ensure volunteers are recognized, and appreciated.
• Transportation Chair – lead a group of volunteers interested in improving transportation safety and mode shift in Wolseley or getting more people to walk, bike, scoot, use transit, etc. more and drive less.
• Housing and Urban Development – lead a group of volunteers interested in improving housing stock, energy efficiency, housing security and safety for tenants and home-owners, address issues like homelessness, land use conflicts between home-owners and development issues like pawn shop proliferation, supporting local businesses and ‘downtown Wolseley’.
•  Safety Committee – lead a group of volunteers to address issues such as responsible dog ownership, B and Es, car vandalism, apply harm reduction and focus on neighbourhood inclusion approaches.
•  Greenspace committee chair – possible new role related to parks and greenspace development.Gardens committee chair - supports a team of volunteers to over-see the community gardens at Vimy Ridge Park and explores other opportunities for local gardening, run the yearly plot lottery, plant/seed swaps, workshops at the garden, education on the value of local food security and gardening.
• Tree protection committee chair – supports a team of volunteers to over see the protection and enhancement of trees and our urban forest in Wolseley. Works with the partners to educate residents about the value of trees and greens space, engage residents in the City tree plan, the replanting of Omand Park and other areas as identified by the tree plan.

If you are interested in volunteering for an executive position or being part of a committee, please email wrawpg@gmail.com. Our AGM for 2021 will be via Zoom on Oct 18, 2021 at 7pm. Please join us in working to make Wolseley an even healthier home to live, work and play. The website has more info.

We’re looking for help building the raised garden beds for the Vimy Victory Garden, and we hope you’ll volunteer!
We’re building the raised beds over two weekends in May: the 15th and 16th and the 22nd and 23rd reserving the weekend of the 29th and 30th in case of rain. We may also need your help the afternoon of May 8 th rolling and moving sod.

Covid restrictions currently allow outside gatherings of 25 people with masks. We are aiming for daily work parties of 10+ people per day to ensure maximum safety. Everyone will be asked to wear a mask and follow social
distancing protocols. That may change if restrictions change.

Please check off the days you’re available and any skills or tools you can bring to the site, on the list below, then copy, paste and email it back to us at wracommunitygardens@gmail.com

Click here for more information on the Vimy Victory Garden project.  

On Feb. 23rd, Omand Park became a "crime scene". - Marriane Cerrilli,  Wolseley Leaf Editorial
​
That is how many people described witnessing Manitoba Hydro subcontractors cut down the stand of trees running the length of Omand Park along the rail & the hydro line. -Trees were apparently cut down in order to protect the overhead power-lines.   
​See before & after pictures below:  

The community is invited to a socially distanced meet at the Omand's Park Bowl to participate in a Vigil & a Day of Action, Standing up for Wolseley Trees.

It will be chance to survey the damage, recognize & mourn the loss of trees & the impact on our park, & begin planning future steps to protect our Wolseley urban forest canopy.

Note there is already talk of ensuring Manitoba Hydro replaces the trees with fast growing species - perhaps fruit trees to add to the lone Saskatoon bush left along the path for an orchard & permaculture.  

Wolseley Tree Plan:   The Wolseley Residents Association (WRA) Green Committee has been working with our City Councilor Cindy Gilroy to develop a Wolseley Tree Plan.   Such a plan can't come fast enough as the speed at which we have been losing our local Elm trees has increased, especially since the Oct. 2019 freak snowstorm. 

The WRA Green Committee has also been working on a City Wide initiative Trees Please to focus on ensuring the 20 year city  urban forest strategy will receive the new funds it requires by defining urban forests as infrastructure.  This is an idea whose time has come, as the value of our trees, urban forests and our beautiful green canopy in Winnipeg are recognized for the value assets they are.  

www.wrawpg.ca/winter-wonderland-ad-hoc-committee.htmlThe Leaf Front Page Advert March 2021 edition

It's not too late to donate!...

Help your Wolseley Winter Wonderland Make our 5K season's goal! 

Make Next Year's Wonderland More Accessible & More Magical for All!
​

As you know. Winnipeg’s trees are dying at an alarming rate from pests, disease, construction, effects of  climate change, and lack of funding.

If we continue at our current pace of investment in our urban forests, half of Winnipeg’s 3,000,000 trees may be gone by the year 2040.

But you and your friends neighbors and association members can make a difference!

Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition* is asking all levels of government to re-think funding models for urban forests. We want to classify urban forests as “assets”, and treat trees like the valuable infrastructure they are. We call on all levels of governments to invest for the long-term.  You can help make urban forests a priority for all governments, starting with the Government of Canada, who wants input from YOU on their Pre-Budget Consultations.

Spend a few minutes of your time to tell the Government of Canada you care today!  Here is how you can do this:

1. One Minute:  READ the one-page submission Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition submitted to the Federal Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation so you can learn more.  (Click below)

​
​2. Five Minutes: FILL IN the Federal Government’s Pre-Budget Consultation questionnaire - By February 18th. *Question #1 asks you to identify 3 priorities from a long list. Please select “Invest in Communities through public transit, affordable housing, and green infrastructure”  as one of your choices.

​3. Fifteen Minutes: EMAIL the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance (and copy your MP) -- download sample wording and contact information  by clicking below. Due: as soon as you can! ​

Thank you for your valuable time — every voice counts in helping our governments hear we care about our trees. 

** Please forward this email and attachments to your friends and neighbours who also care about trees. 

If you wish to stay informed about Trees Please Winnipeg activities, follow us on Facebook. 
The Trees Please Winnipeg Coalition is a citywide association of resident and community groups, working together with Tree Canada, The David Suzuki Foundation, Trees Winnipeg, OURS Winnipeg, the Manitoba Urban Forest Council, The Ontario Urban Forest Council, LEAF Ontario, The Manitoba Eco-Network, Reforest London, REEP, Green Ventures and The Oakvillegreen Conservation Association Inc. to secure long-term sustainable funding for Winnipeg’s urban forest and those across Canada.

On Jan. 14, 2021, the City of Winnipeg Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works concurred in the recommendation of the Winnipeg Public Service, as amended, and approved the following:

1. That the changes to transit service on Route 10 St. Boniface/Wolseley be implemented, as shown in the attached Figure 1, at a date to coincide with the start of construction of the Wolseley Walk Bike Project. The route change is anticipated to go into effect when the Spring 2021 transit schedule goes into effect, tentatively scheduled for April 11th, 2021.
2. That the Proper Officers of the City be authorized to do all things necessary to implement the intent of the forgoing.

See the proposed route change below:  

It’s been a fantastic journey, consulting with the community, getting permission from the City and applying for grants and fundraising for the community garden build! Now that everything in place, we’ll be organizing volunteer builders and constructing the garden in May, in adherence with COVID restrictions.
 
Community support for the project has been overwhelming. In the fall of 2019, 279 residents, from across the neighborhood, responded to our door-to-door and in-person questionnaire as well as our online survey.  The vast majority of respondents, a total of 267 households, supported the idea of a community garden on the old bowling green in Vimy Ridge Park. Only 12 opposed the idea, primarily due to concerns about possible vandalism, and sustainability. We’ve taken those concerns seriously and addressed them in our site plan, future signage, and by designing what we hope will be a beautiful, welcoming and inclusive space for everyone.
 
The indication of broad community support, a strong community vision and site plan were the main reasons that Parks and Open Spaces agreed to provide an agreement in principle for the building of a community garden. 
 
The garden will be located in the northern portion of the old bowling green, and features twenty, 4 foot by 8 foot allotment beds, and two 4 foot by 16 foot communal beds. There will also be a native plant pollinator garden that will feature perennial flowers and fruit-bearing shrubs. The community beds will apply the “grow a row” principle, with half the produce going to food banks or those in need.
 
The allotment gardens will be assigned via a lottery so please get your applications in by March 15th. At this point we’ve reserved five beds for people in living multi-unit dwellings, two for our funding partner, Klinic, and the remaining beds will go to interested residents. We encourage anyone interested in gardening to apply! We will announce the results of the lottery on March 30th. (link to application form here)
 
For more information, please copy the Zoom link below and come to The WRA Community Garden/Tree Townhall on Feb. 8th If you can’t make it to the meeting, please do not hesitate to forward your questions to: wracommunitygardens@gmail.com
 
Zoom Link: Topic: WRA Town Hall meeting
Date: Feb 8 2021 7pm
Time: Feb 8, 2021 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89202079421?pwd=ci9yZVpCL2w5WG5JdEpJRU8yQUdrUT09
​
So let’s get growing Wolseley!  And huge thanks to everyone who has helped to make Wolseley’s community garden possible including: 
Genny Funk-Unrau, Nicole Chammartin and Holly Banner at Klinic, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation Grant; Cindy Gilroy, City Councilor; The Land Dedication Reserve Fund; Parks and Open Spaces; City of Winnipeg Allotments; Yoko Chapman and The Anthologie Project and the Wolseley volunteers and supporters!  

Thanks for your interest in the Vimy Victory gardens! We’re excited for the 2021 growing season – our first ever. Please review the responsibilities of the gardeners and the Community Garden Committee before filling out the application. If you know someone interested in gardening, please encourage them to apply. 

Click on the link below to access a Garden Application.  Applications are due no later than March 15th, 2021. Successful applicants will be notified by March 30,, 2021.
 
Priority will be given to:

1. People living within the boundaries of Wolseley neighbourhood (Between Portage Ave. and the Assiniboine River N/S and Sherbrook and Omand’s Creek E/W);
2. Community residents that don’t have access to yard space;
3. Community residents that would like more garden space. 

The Wolseley Residents’ Association Community Garden Committee (WRA CGC) agrees to:
●     Improve, protect and maintain the community gardens;
●     Host workshops to provide education and training for all community gardeners;
●     Communicate regularly with gardeners to identify assets and needs;
●     Promote community events held in the gardens in our newsletter and on Facebook;
●     Inform community members of City requirements for use of the land.
●     Note: The WRA CGC is not responsible for any theft or vandalism that may occur in allotment plot

I, the Community Gardener agree to:
●     Be respectful to other gardeners and their families;
●     Plant my 4X8’ allotment plot by June 15th, 2019;
●     Weed my plot and keep paths clear;
●     Pick up garbage and litter in the community gardens;
●     Help to maintain the overall appearance of the garden;
●     Refrain from using chemicals (pesticides/herbicides) in the allotment and community gardens;
●     Attend community garden meetings and work parties;
●     Encourage and welcome new folks to become involved and refer them to the WRA CGC to register;
●     Clean up my plot by the second week in October and make it tidy for winter and
●     Report any incidents of theft or vandalism it to the committee.
 
Additional rules and conditions pertaining to Allotment Gardeners and our Mission Statement can be found on the Greenspace Committee Page (click on the Community Gardens tab) on the WRA website.
 
Garden Description:
Each individual allotment garden is a 4’X8’ raised bed, and the community plots feature two 4’X16’ raised beds. The garden will also feature a native plant and fruit shrub pollinator garden, a composting station and a locked chest for garden tool storage. Water access and hoses will be provided.
 
Questions? Contact the Community Garden Committee at wracommunitygardens@gmail.com or call 204-775-7560

If you are interested in reserving a garden plot, fill out a garden application (available in either Word or Adobe format) and then send a completed application to us via email.

On Tuesday, November 10th, at 7 p-.m.  the Wolseley Residents’ Association will host a free online ZOOM presentation on Energy Efficiency for Existing Older Homes:

• Efficiency Manitoba will begin with incentives and rebates offered to homeowners, with a focus on the Home Insulation and the Income Qualified Programs.
• The WRA Housing Committee will present an overview of how to best tackle efficiency upgrades to our 100 year old homes. This presentation will explore the greatest cost/benefits, with topics including: 
  • air leakage + moisture control
  • insulation, windows and heating systems
  • energy recovery + passive solutions
  • alternative energies + GHG reductions
  • choosing green materials
  • existing hazards and best practices in construction

Zoom Coordinates to Join the Meeting: 
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 835 5472 5082
Passcode: 119742

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