Winnipeg Free Press
JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES
Manitoba Hydro crews removed several hundred trees near Omand Park in Winnipeg in March. Some of the trees were on city property.
MANITOBA Hydro is trying to make amends for chopping down more than 200 trees in Omand Park in March.
MANITOBA Hydro is trying to make amends for chopping down more than 200 trees in Omand Park in March.
Wolseley residents were incensed after Hydro axed the trees, mainly tall Manitoba maples, rather than prune them. The trees were next to a Hydro corridor at the edge of the park, which is nestled against the Assiniboine River and is popular with dog-walkers, cyclists and joggers.
Hildebrand said she hoped that Hydro will come up with a replanting scheme.
“We can’t be healthy in an environment that looks like this, that doesn’t have trees, that doesn’t have green space,” said Marianne Cerilli, Chair of the Wolseley Residents Association, which planned a walking vigil and day of action for the trees on Saturday that was postponed due to concerns over a possible third COVID-19 wave and to comply with public health orders.
A new date for the vigil has yet to be established. But even with the postponement, a group of 20-25 residents turned out to show support.