GREEN MAP
Culture and Design
Riel Mil Site:
- Site Location
- Lot 50 and 51
- Commemorative Integrity
- Effort to Preserve
Effort to Preserve the Riel Mill Site from Development:
In September 2003 the City of Winnipeg Planning, Property & Development Department informed the Riel Community Committee Clerk that the following application had been received.
“An application has been received by Synyshyn Architecture for approval of a plan of subdivision and related zoning change to Zoning By-Law No. 6400/94 by rezoning the subject lands from an “R1-20” Residential District to an “RM-4” Multiple Family District and a “PR-1” Parks & Recreation District to allow for a 165 unit seniors housing project.” File No. DASZ 27/03
The total property was approximately 6.2 acres. This would be divided in three parcels of which 2.4 acres along the river would become city-owned public preserve due to it being in the floodplain and therefore not developable and 0.38 acres would be dedicated as per usual land acquisition for all developments. This left 3.42 acres referred to as BUILDABLE AREA for the 165 unit seniors housing project and parking area (140 stalls).
As far back as September 29th 1975, City administration were alerted to the potential loss of the heritage resource and wrote the St. Vital Community Committee asking for an ‘immediate building freeze’ and the pursuit of the public acquisition of the heritage site. The Committee agreed and recommended no permits be issued, negotiations begin to acquire the land and even a commemorative plaque be placed at the site. Archival copies of these letters are posted n Save Our Seine’s website.
The In 2000 Save Our Seine had conducted a landscape architectural study called the Bois des Esprits Park Plan, to propose concepts for the Bois-des-esprits forest south of the Riel Site and on the opposite side of the Seine River. One significant recommendation was that the Riel Mill Site would be the ideal location for an Interpretive Centre which would combine the interpretation of the natural 80-acre Bois-des-esprits forest and the entire Seine River Greenway and the historical relevance of Riel, the Mill and the Métis settlers of St. Vital.
The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) and the Union Nationale Métis joined Save Our Seine in the opposition to the proposed plan that would eliminate or severely restrict the recommended Interpretive Centre option and was thought to be an insensitive use of the historically significant land. Save Our Seine’s website has this quote from the MMF President, David Chartrand.
"[The Riel Mill site] remains one of the few existing opportunities to protect and preserve an irreplaceable part of our city's history for the benefit of future generations. This mill property is not only of historic significance to Winnipeg; it is of national importance to both Canada and the Métis Nation…We are extremely concerned about the inappropriate and unacceptable development that has been envisioned by the developer [and] we cannot support this large-scale development…it must be built on a more appropriate site elsewhere. It is essential this opportunity not be lost due to poor planning and short-term or near-sighted gain by a private group or individual. The City [must] refuse to allow the developer to continue plans to construct the housing project…the ultimate responsibility for the future of this national treasure rest with the Mayor and Council."
Source: http://www.saveourseine.com/news/031104.html#metis
Today the Manitoba Métis Federation, Union Nationale and Save Our Seine are pursuing a joint partnership whereby each are lead proponents in the design of an interpretive centre on the site. The city is cooperating in the initiative by acting as a broker with the various stakeholders. The property has been sold to the developer and necessary zoning and subdivision changes have been made, yet there is no word when the senior housing project will begin. The proponents believe the project is still possible. Due to the land acquisition (0.38 acres) and the existing, city-owned lands adjacent to this parcel the proponents expect that with some possible lands swaps and access agreements with other properties the project is still possible. When site access and possible lands swaps are secured through the city planning will occur for the design of the site and interpretive centre. This is an interesting and exciting project where the community is involved in the planning of their heritage resources and its integration within their local culture.