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Thursday, December 23, 2004
By Mia Rabson
ALL but six acres of an urban forest along the Seine River are now protected after a $550,000 investment by the province yesterday.
There were tears in the eyes of several onlookers as Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald announced the money to protect another eight acres of the Bois des Esprits in St. Vital.
Bev Sawchuk, president of Save our Seine, the Winnipeg organization lobbying to protect the forest from development, said the contribution means 74 acres of the 80-acre forest is protected from development.
"Christmas has arrived early," Sawchuk said.
The forest, home to more than 20 mammal species, 101 bird species and a unique grove of aspen trees, had been targeted for development as part of the Royalwood subdivision. Sixty-six acres were saved at the end of 2003 after the Save our Seine group successfully lobbied the city and provincial governments for grant money, as well as help from Ladco Company Ltd., the development agency constructing Royalwood.
Sawchuk said she is in negotiations with the city regarding funding to save the final six acres and is confident all that's left to do is sign on the dotted line. Most of the grants are being used to buy back land that had been owned by Ladco and the province.
Andre and Lucille La Rochelle have lived on the edge of the Bois des Esprit for more than 30 years, and both were thrilled to hear almost all of their beloved forest is now protected.
"It was probably the best Christmas present I've had in the last 20 or 30 years," Andre said. "We were very concerned about possibly losing it."
The city has contributed more than $1 million to the preservation of the forest, the province about $930,000, and Ladco about $213,000. Save our Seine raised $110,000 privately.
© 2004 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.
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