Good Afternoon,

The department has recently received notice from Architectural and Engineering Services (AES) that we will not be able to use several of the buildings (seed storage, processing and drying, the white house and equipment storage/garages) along the riverbank come March 31, 2023 and for the duration of the high-water period. 

We will have an opportunity to develop a safe work plan that will allow us access to these spaces during the high-water period (based upon the spring).  Once the water has receded to normal levels, another geotechnical engineering assessment will be conducted. If approved, we should be able to use the buildings as normal during periods of normal water levels.

We understand this is very unfortunate news being delivered with little notice.  However, we will be working with AES and Risk Management to develop the short term work plan for this spring.  We will also be working with the Faculty and the Campus Planning Office to work towards a long-term plan.  

We apologize for sending this information by email, but we wanted to make sure that accurate information was available as soon as possible to all users. Our hope is we can discuss this a bit further at the Technicians meeting tomorrow at 8:45am (room 218). We will not have all the answers at this time, but we will keep you updated as further information is available and as the safe work plan for access during high-water is developed.

Regards,

Rob

Robert W. Duncan (he/him/his), Ph.D., P.Ag.
Professor and Brassica Breeder
Department of Plant Science
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3T 2N2
Phone: 204 474 6076
Email: rob.duncan@umanitoba.ca

The University of Manitoba campuses are located on original lands of Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation. I respect the Treaties that were made on these territories, acknowledge the harms and mistakes of the past, and dedicate myself to move forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.