Greenspace Committee
Purpose
The purpose/vision of the Greenspace Committee is:
To conserve and promote a greener cleaner neighbourhood for the use and enjoyment of Wolseley residents.
Two distinct missions for the committee have been identified as follows:
Mission One:
To develop safer, cleaner more accessible and inclusive green spaces for Wolseley residents of all ages
community versus city responsibility in regards to dealing with animal waste and litter pick-up.
2. To request that the city install needle disposal or “sharps" containers in all parks and greenspace
Mission Two:
To ensure the preservation and succession of Wolseley’s urban forest and establish community-based food gardens as part of a neighbourhood-initiative aimed at enhancing community, conserving the local environment and fighting climate change
To conserve and promote a greener cleaner neighbourhood for the use and enjoyment of Wolseley residents.
Two distinct missions for the committee have been identified as follows:
Mission One:
To develop safer, cleaner more accessible and inclusive green spaces for Wolseley residents of all ages
- Short Term Objectives: 1 to 2 years
community versus city responsibility in regards to dealing with animal waste and litter pick-up.
2. To request that the city install needle disposal or “sharps" containers in all parks and greenspace
- Long Term Objectives: 2 to 3 year
- To consult with residents and the city to formulate a plan aimed at transforming Vimy Ridge Park into safer, more “multipurpose” green space for the community. That plan would include provisions for activity areas for +10 kids and adults that might include: i. The installation of a basketball hoop; ii. The installation of lights and benches at the park’s skating rink iii. The development of a community garden space
- To promote safe river access for residents during the winter by exploring the feasibility of staircase construction at 3 additional green space sites along the Assiniboine river in Wolseley: possibly Canora, Aubrey and Telfer.
- To explore the feasibility of dock construction on the riverbank at one of the green space sites along the Assiniboine in Wolsel
Mission Two:
To ensure the preservation and succession of Wolseley’s urban forest and establish community-based food gardens as part of a neighbourhood-initiative aimed at enhancing community, conserving the local environment and fighting climate change
- Short Term Objectives: 1 to 2 years
- To encourage tree planting in Wolseley, by working with the city’s urban forestry department to educate Wolseley home owners about the Releaf program and the procedures for private property owner replacement of boulevard trees.
- To develop a community based strategy for the preservation and succession of Wolseley trees, undertaken in consultation with community, city council and the urban forestry dept.
- To lobby the city and engage residents to ensure that as many Wolsleey trees as possible are stumped and replaced between 2019 and 2020
- To develop a community garden plan for Wolseley in consultation with residents and local experts aimed at establishing food gardens, either in existing green spaces and/or empty lots or through the development of a neighbourhood-wide “yard share” program
- Long Term Objectives: 2- 3 years
- To have a succession action plan in place that preserves the health of existing trees and ensures that any and all trees taken down on public land in Wolseley are stumped and replaced as quickly as possible.
- To have a community garden action plan in place that facilitates the development of community-based food gardens, located throughout the neighbourhood, which not only enhance community life, but also raise awareness about food security and conservation.
- To establish a community garden food distribution plan that ensures that our community gardens serve not only property owner residents but also the most vulnerable members of our community.
Committee Structure
The Greenspace Committee meets monthly.
Committee Chair: Erna Buffie (click to email)
Committee Members:
Committee Chair: Erna Buffie (click to email)
Committee Members:
- Erin Keating
- Jim Palmquist
- Bert Siemens
- Ray Hignell
- Pat McCarthy-Briggs
Meeting Minutes
Under construction
Community Gardens
The WRA’s Community Garden Sub-Committee Mission Statement:
To build, maintain, and protect inclusive, organic community food gardens in Wolseley for the use, enjoyment and benefit of Wolseley Residents
To build, maintain, and protect inclusive, organic community food gardens in Wolseley for the use, enjoyment and benefit of Wolseley Residents
The work of the CG subcommittee will focus on overseeing the building, maintenance and use of our proposed community garden spaces, supporting community gardeners and volunteers and developing gardening and environmental educational programs for adults and kids.
Based on door to door canvassing and responses to an online survey, there is broad support for a community garden in Vimy Park. 267 residents indicated that they support the idea. 12 reported that they opposed the plan. Almost 70% are interested, either in gardening one of the allotment plots, or helping to support the garden and community plot in whatever way they can.
Five-Year Plan and Mission
Short Term Objectives (1 to 2 years):
Based on door to door canvassing and responses to an online survey, there is broad support for a community garden in Vimy Park. 267 residents indicated that they support the idea. 12 reported that they opposed the plan. Almost 70% are interested, either in gardening one of the allotment plots, or helping to support the garden and community plot in whatever way they can.
Five-Year Plan and Mission
Short Term Objectives (1 to 2 years):
- To build 20 4X8’ allotment beds, 2 community beds (4X16), composting stations and a tool storage shed in accordance with our agreement with the City of Winnipeg, in Vimy Park, called The Vimy Victory Garden
- Secure the help of community volunteers to help build the garden beds and composting stations
- Provide additional garden infrastructure such as water access
- Engage gardeners and community volunteers to plant and help maintain the community garden beds
- Run a yearly online registration each spring for a lottery that would be used to assign the 20 allotment beds to one or two families.
- Ensure that the garden is accessible to Wolseley residents of all ages, ethnicities and abilities with special attention given to low-income families, the elderly, the disabled and youth
- Provide education and training for all community gardeners
- Dedicate yearly funds to the gardens through fundraising and grants.
- Communicate regularly with gardeners to identify and assign maintenance tasks (including, but not limited to the maintenance of raised beds, paths and compost bins)
- Plan and support a variety of community events in the gardens (workshops, potlucks, knowledge-sharing opportunities, ceremonies, work days, etc.)
- Communicate and engage residents to promote garden security and stewardship
- Facilitate opportunities for new gardeners to meet veteran/expert gardeners in the garden
- Provide first-time gardeners with support and resources related to gardening practices
- Hold workshops for all gardeners related to topics of interest
- Provide workshops for all gardeners before and after planting season (planning your garden, seed starting, and putting your garden to bed for the winter)
- Communicate about education, training opportunities and garden plot availability through email, newsletters, posters in the gardens, and through direct contact with the community
- Establish a micro orchard to be inter-planted in Vimy Park
- Establish additional community gardens and secure garden infrastructure in other areas of Wolseley such as: Omand’s Park, Telfer Green and Aubrey bus loop.
- Secure the support of paid summer staff – a Green team or First Jobs 4 Youth to oversee/ maintain the gardens and orchards
- Explore a range of funding opportunities and support for continued garden maintenance (small grants, contract services, donations, external grants, etc)
- Initiate naturalization projects along the creek and riverbank particularly in Omand’s Park.
- Explore partnerships with other community and neighbourhood organizations that would include local businesses and churches, immigrant, indigenous and refugee organizations, school groups, youth organizations and daycares.
- Continued/expanded partnerships with various agencies, and businesses to support the maintenance of community gardens through donations, volunteer labour, contract services, etc.
