Potential Lemay Forest development escalates fear, ‘panic’ in St. Norbert: residents

Concerns over the fate of a beloved south Winnipeg forest are escalating as the owner advances its plans to build affordable housing and business space on the property.

Concerns over the fate of a beloved south Winnipeg forest are escalating as the owner advances plans to build affordable housing and business space on the property.

From Cat Macauley-Gauthier’s back fence in St. Norbert, more than 22 acres known as Lemay Forest stretch north and northeast until the Red River.

“Our kids grew up here, and they’ve just experienced so much nature, wildlife: owls, eagles, pileated woodpeckers, you name it,” Macauley-Gauthier said Tuesday.

In the 30 years she’s lived in St. Norbert, area residents have skied and walked Lemay Forest’s trails.

But that could come to an end soon, because Lemay Forest is on private land. Tochal Developments says it wants to build affordable, inclusive housing and business space there, “with the idea of adding housing that can really address Canada’s housing crisis,” professional planner John Wintrup told Global News.

Although his client Tochal hasn’t decided how many buildings it would construct, housing could include assisted living facilities and homes for people of all ages and gender identities along with Indigenous people and newcomers, Wintrup said. The area may also eventually provide services such as dental and medical, he continued.

The company hasn’t filed an application for development yet with the City of Winnipeg, but it’s talking with the city’s administration and engineers about the transformation Wintrup said would also mean preserving trees.

“The idea it’s going to be 100 per cent forest and no housing — that certainly is not, not feasible. We’re not looking to clearcut land and have zero forest with all housing. We’re looking to find that balance and engage people to find that balance,” Wintrup said.