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WFP: City moves toward open summer streets (Apr22'21)
by Beth McKechnie 22 Apr '21

22 Apr '21

EPC votes to devote parts of 17 roadways to giving cyclists extra room this year City moves toward open summer streets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/city-steps-toward-open-summer-stree… THE City of Winnipeg could offer even more open streets for cyclists this year, but it’s unclear if it will find a way to reopen them to pedestrians. Council’s executive policy committee voted Wednesday to devote sections of 17 roadways, up from a previously proposed 14, to provide extra room for cyclists this year. The seasonal active transportation routes would limit vehicle access to just one block of travel at set hours and are currently slated to open as early as May 3 and last until Nov. 5. If council approves, a pilot program for most of the now-labelled “enhanced summer cycling routes” would operate that way from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Four of the routes are currently slated for weekend and holiday hours only, with exact times still being sorted out. The “open streets” concept was widely welcomed on 10 different street sections in 2020, as a way for both pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy safe, socially distanced recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic. To the disappointment of many, the current proposal doesn’t include pedestrians — because the city has since learned it violated the provincial Highway Traffic Act by inviting them to use last year’s routes. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Coun. Matt Allard, public works committee chairman, said he’s hopeful the city can work out some kind of pedestrian access solution with the province, and pursue the cycling routes in the meantime. “In terms of this report (on) enhanced bicycle routes, I think it’s a step in the right direction that opens many new streets to cyclists and will calm the streets because of the limited vehicle traffic,” said Allard (St. Boniface). The councillor noted the current motion calls upon civic staff to report back on pedestrian access discussions with the province next month. A provincial minister has publicly stated the Manitoba government will “never” change the Highway Traffic Act to let a municipality mix pedestrians with vehicle traffic on such routes. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said Winnipeg could instead close a section of a street or lane to vehicles to reserve it for pedestrians and cyclists. He said the city would need to use road paint and add signs at every affected block to make the rule obvious. So far, councillors have not officially called for that change, though some believe the city should consider it. Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) said all options should be explored to invite pedestrians back to the routes. “The success of this last year, the ability to have people out and about on the streets, that’s what we want to promote. So, if there’s a way we can do that safely, that’s our objective,” said Chambers. Mayor Brian Bowman stressed Winnipeggers should obey the current “rules of the road,” despite the fact they could walk on the active transportation routes last year. “The Highway Traffic Act is there to protect the safety of residents… and I think it’s important that we, as a municipal government, and citizens respect the legislation,” said Bowman. The mayor declined to weigh in on whether he thinks police should ticket pedestrians who walk on this year’s cycling routes. He also stopped short of stating whether or not he personally wants to restore foot traffic on the routes, only noting he supports discussing that option with the province. “We’re doing our best to navigate the legislation in a way that provides more recreation amenities for our residents.” joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

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Free Webinar Next Week: Jeff Speck on Walkability Studies
by Beth McKechnie 21 Apr '21

21 Apr '21

What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One? WEBINAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 29 – 2:00 P.M. EDT ------------------------------ [image: What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One?] <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVy…> What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One? *Thursday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m. EDT* *Participants of this live webinar are eligible for 1.5 AICP CM credits.* Join the Maryland Department of Planning and the Smart Growth Network as Jeff Speck, one the nation’s leading pedestrian experts, explains his approach in Oklahoma City and other communities, how walkability studies are conducted, and how local planners can work with neighborhoods, business groups and citizens to complete similar studies of their own. *Please note* that this webinar is an hour later than our usual time. *Find out more and register for this free webinar via the link below.* Register for "What is a Walkability Study, and Why Should You Do One?" <https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVy…>

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Canstar - The Times: Better active transportation options urged (Apr19'21)
by Beth McKechnie 19 Apr '21

19 Apr '21

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/times/Better-active-trans… Organizations are advocating for a connected walking and cycling network throughout Winnipeg. Organizers from Green Action Centre, Winnipeg Trails, Safe Speeds Winnipeg and Bike Winnipeg, along with fellow signatories, say an improved active transportation network would promote physical and mental well-being, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address transportation inequity. Letters <https://greenactioncentre.ca/> stating the request were sent to Mayor Brian Bowman, Premier Brian Pallister, and Saint Boniface-Saint Vital MP Dan Vandal earlier this month. Fearless R2W, a North End-based group concerned with child welfare, was one of the letter signatories. "Fearless R2W has a network of families who rely heavily on public transportation, walking, active transportation, and being able to have a safer way for themselves and their children to transport themselves in between home and school and work and leisure," spokesperson Michael Redhead Champagne told *The Times*. He said area residents praised the City of Winnipeg’s open streets project — which saw some streets blocked off for pedestrian and cyclist use only — last year and were hoping to see it expanded this summer. The city was planning to reboot the program in May of this year; however, a legal technicality may rule out pedestrians from using the open streets. Earlier this month, the public works department released a report that said Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act prohibits pedestrian use of a roadway when a sidewalk is present. So, the "open" streets would be welcome to cyclists only. Mel Marginet, co-ordinator of the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team, said the city needs to start implementing permanent solutions rather than temporary and recreational-based options. "At this point, we really need to move beyond a recreation response towards real transportation choice … and we just see that a connected walk/bike network is the logical next step that they need to do," Marginet said. "We really need to see some clear action, some political motivation and to just really get moving on offering all Winnipeggers transportation choice." Traffic volumes have been down at least 20 per cent during the pandemic. Organizers say now that the streets are emptier, it’s the ideal time to form new travel habits. The city released the Winnipeg Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies report in 2014. The document outlines opportunities to improve connectivity, convenience, safety and accessibility throughout the city. Marginet said the groups want the city to return to the strategies, identify gaps, and use temporary infrastructure to provide solutions until permanent change can be implemented. "As part of a modern growing city, the (m)ayor has and continues to support active transportation and the City’s Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies with significant annual investments since he was first elected in 2014," a spokesperson from the mayor’s office said in an email, adding that the mayor is optimistic about the federal government’s new active transportation fund. In March, the Canadian government announced an investment of $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges across the country. At press time, the federal government had not revealed how the funding will be allocated.

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WFP: Province refuses to amend law to let pedestrians and cyclists share Winnipeg roads (Apr17'21)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

Province refuses to amend law to let pedestrians and cyclists share Winnipeg roads Back to Square 1 on open streets https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/provincial-law-blocks-citys-open-st… THE province has rejected calls to change the law to let Winnipeg welcome back pedestrians to “open streets” this year, arguing the city can mark out separate spaces for vehicles and foot traffic instead. However, a city councillor fears that option would force Winnipeg to start the entire concept over from scratch. Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler said the province would never alter the Highway Traffic Act to let the city mix pedestrians with vehicle traffic. “The law is very clear and we’re not going to budge on the law…. We are not contemplating an exemption, either,” Schuler said. “We do not believe, as a government, that pedestrians and traffic are a good mix.” Last year, Winnipeg designated 10 sections of local streets where vehicle access was restricted to one block between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily to create space for pedestrians and cyclists to get outside for some fresh air at a safe social distance. Council is considering a proposal to test 14 more routes this year. But the new routes would be reserved for cyclists only, after the city discovered including pedestrians violated the Highway Traffic Act. The act prohibits pedestrians from walking on roadways where a “reasonably passable” sidewalk is present. Schuler said the city can offer active transportation access to both pedestrians and cyclists by closing a section of a street or lane to vehicular traffic. He said the city would need to use road paint and add signs at every affected block to make the rule obvious. Coun. Matt Allard, council’s public works chairman, said that concept isn’t a good fit for “open streets” because it would cut off vehicle access entirely. “We would have to look at every street, at how parking and traffic would be impacted. So it really would be a starting-from-scratch scenario,” said Allard. Ideally, Allard said he’d like to find a legal way to allow pedestrian access. Jim Berezowsky, Winnipeg’s public works director, said the city would need to complete a new round of public consultation before it could implement the province’s option. “We engaged with the public last year…. We would have to go back to that same community and ask these new questions,” said Berezowsky. Several groups are urging the city to find a way to restore pedestrian access. “People walking really did make up such a large percentage of the people who took part in our open streets program,” Mel Marginet, a co-ordinator with the Green Action Centre’s sustainable transportation team, told council’s public works committee Friday. “In Winnipeg, our sidewalks are narrow, they are often in poor shape where they exist at all. So relegating people to walking during a pandemic on narrow spaces fails in terms of accessibility and public health.” Marginet said it would be difficult for the city to keep pedestrians off cycling only routes. “This is going to create a lot of confusion and we don’t think it’s really possible or equitable to start ticketing people for walking,” she said. Emma Durand-Wood, an active transportation advocate, called it “mind-boggling” that pedestrians could suddenly lose this access. “We saw last year that (this) more or less worked fine,” said Durand-Wood. “This (change) just lacks common sense.” If the proposal is approved as is, this year’s seasonal active transportation routes would serve only cyclists and limit vehicular traffic to one block from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. That’s expected to begin as early as May 3 and continue until Nov. 5, pending consultation. The changes require full council approval. Council’s public works committee will vote on the matter Tuesday. joyanne.pursaga(a)freepress.mb.ca

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Wpg Sun: Winnipeg should follow Edmonton's lead for active transportation routes: Schuler (Apr15'21)
by Beth McKechnie 17 Apr '21

17 Apr '21

https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/winnipeg-should-follow-edmontons-lea… Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler says it’s possible for the city to move forward with its spring and summer Open Streets active transportation routes, but only under certain conditions that conform to the law and preserve safety. <http://www.gomanitoba.ca> Last year, to encourage residents to get outside during the pandemic, the City opened up multiple streets for cycling, walking and running. Vehicles, which were limited to one block at a time from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., mixed with pedestrians and cyclists. However, a recent Winnipeg public service report said mixing pedestrians and vehicles is a contravention of section 143 (1) of Manitoba’s Highway Traffic Act. According to the City, the act prohibits pedestrians from using roads when sidewalks are present. As a result, this year’s Open Streets initiative will only be able to accommodate cyclists — relegating pedestrians to sidewalks. “There’s a little bit of confusion on the Highway Traffic Act and what it says in regards to what the city would like to do,” said Schuler, a regular active transportation route user who sometimes cycles 40 km a day. “We are not advocating the City does, or not does something. That has nothing to do with us. The question is, how do you mix pedestrians and traffic?” Schuler said where there’s a sidewalk, the usual recommendation is pedestrians use the sidewalk and cyclists share the road with vehicles. But there’s another way, he said. As demonstrated by the city of Edmonton, Winnipeg can section-off a piece of road, which could then be dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists. “It would have to be marked off by a painted line,” Schuler said. “We would recommend you do like Edmonton. I believe they bought 1,500 traffic cones and some planters, so that you really differentiate road traffic from pedestrian and cyclist traffic. But it can be done. The Highway Traffic Act does allow for it, but it has to be very clearly signed each and every block.” Schuler said the City has the authority to block off roads, like Wellington Crescent. Local traffic would be allowed, but he’s recommending a separate lane, exclusively for cyclists and pedestrians. “The mixing of traffic and pedestrians is a very dangerous situation,” he said. “So the Highway Traffic Act is very clear. When it comes to pedestrians, they must be separated, and it must be clearly marked and has to be done every block. The City of Winnipeg has the ability to do this, as does any municipality.” In a statement, a spokesperson for the city said they’re aware of their authority in terms of full or partial lane closures to restrict vehicle access. They said the city is committed to investigating safe, long-term solutions for shared streets, and would consider physical separation as a potential future, safe solution. jsnell(a)postmedia.com Twitter @JamesWestgateSn

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Together We Cycle | Architecture & Design Film Festival
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here's a film on the history of Dutch cycling as part of the Architecture & Design Film Festival at Cinematheque (online): https://adff.ca/films/2021/together-we-cycle/ cheers, Beth -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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City Climate Plan lagging
by Charles Feaver 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

Glad we got coverage on this issue; it is shocking that the city was going forward to long term planning with a climate plan that did not meet the national standard, and nobody was raising a red flag. https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bike-winnipeg-takes-aim-at-citys-25- year-plan-574217822.html A local community cycling advocacy group is asking the City of Winnipeg to align municipal plans moving forward with climate change targets in step with the rest of Canada and the world. Charles Feaver, a volunteer with Bike Winnipeg, says the group has submitted a lengthy criticism of a draft municipal planning document, OurWinnipeg 2045. According to the city's website, the document, "is the city's 25-year development plan which is intended to guide everything the city does. It provides a vision, goals and policies intended to influence leadership and good governance, priority setting, delivery of city services, how residents get around in the city, and decisions about how the city grows." The problem, Feaver says, is the planning document draft is built upon Winnipeg's current climate targets, which are out of line with Canadian climate targets and international goals that hope to constrain global warming to 2 C above pre-industrial levels. The City of Winnipeg aims to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2030 over 2011 levels, and by 80 per cent by 2050. Both targets fail to meet the thresholds needed to meet the Paris Agreement targets, or more ambitious targets that would constrain warming to 2 C.

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WFP Analysis: ‘Speeding’ can have different meanings (Apr16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

‘Speeding’ can have different meanings https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/speeding-can-have-differ… EMMA DURAND-WOOD WHAT does it mean to be “speeding”? Does it mean you’re exceeding the posted speed limit? Driving too fast for conditions? Travelling at a speed that makes people outside your vehicle nervous or uncomfortable? Judging by the number of requests for traffic calming over the last several years, speeding is a huge problem throughout Winnipeg. Often, those requests result in a traffic study being approved. What happens next? The city comes and sets up equipment to measure speeds over the course of a certain period. The findings are almost always the same: few drivers are actually exceeding the legal speed limit. Nevertheless, residents say there is a “speeding problem” on their street and they’re worried about it. Their concerns go unanswered because technically, there is no problem to address. People aren’t speeding. Nothing to worry about. No traffic calming is warranted. But lay people — everyday citizens in a neighbourhood — are trying to communicate feelings of concern about comfort and safety, but the only way to describe those feelings is with words such as “speeding” and “too fast” — concepts traffic engineers will measure in concrete numbers and compare against the posted speed limit. When neighbours say there’s a speeding problem on their street, what they are really saying is that the posted speed limit, which drivers are following, is too high. Just a few weeks ago, my youngest child mastered the two-wheeler. She’s now keen to spend every waking moment enjoying her newfound freedom. It’s a joy to witness, and fun that we can ride bikes together as family. But sadly, as parents, as we move throughout our neighbourhood, that enjoyment is tempered by a constant state of high alert as we try to anticipate every car’s movement, speed, direction and intention. As a driver, you might think to yourself, “I see that family riding bikes up there – I’ll be careful.” But as the parent outside the vehicle, with three kids in tow, I have no idea whether you see us, whether you’ll slow down, whether you’ll give us room to pass. It’s of zero comfort to me to know that you’re not going over the 50 km/h speed limit. The knowledge that “no one has died on this street” does not reassure me. The pandemic has unlocked an enormous appetite and enthusiasm for spending time in our own neighbourhoods. Bike sales are through the roof. Running shoes, too. We want to be outside and we want not just to be safe, but to be comfortable. We want to feel at ease going for a walk or a bike ride with a friend, with our senior parents, with our children, with our pets. Opponents of speed-limit reductions like to point out that residential streets aren’t where people are getting killed anyway. They suggest lowering speed limits tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist, and will bring the city to a standstill because all the cars will have to drive around at a snail’s pace. Reality says otherwise. Most commuting is done on major arterials (or should be), not on residential streets. Lower speed limits will result in negligible increases in travel time. To the point of solving a problem that doesn’t exist, surely we’re not just waiting for tragedy to occur to prove otherwise? In truth, slower neighbourhood speeds are about so much more than just preventing collisions. Winnipeg’s adopted Climate Action Plan requires us to change the way people get around the city, given that nearly one-third of emissions come from personal vehicle use. Yet from Waverley West to St. Boniface to Weston, people say their neighbourhoods are a hostile place for walking or biking. How do we expect to convert more than one in every four car trips to other modes when people don’t feel at ease outside a vehicle? Imagine neighbourhoods with fewer exhaust fumes and cleaner air. Neighbourhoods where pavement lasts longer because more of the traffic involves bikes and people, not heavy vehicles. Imagine, too, quieter neighbourhoods where you can hear birdsong and have a chat with a neighbour from across the street without yelling: a reduction of 10 km/h in vehicle speeds results in a 40 per cent reduction in noise. Right now, many people seeking a pleasant and safe environment for walking must hop in the car and drive to a regional park. But if people simply drove more slowly, every neighbourhood in the city could have that calm and comfortable feeling. We also know from study after study that there’s a huge contingent — close to 45 per cent — of potential bike riders in the “interested, but concerned” category. They would like to ride, but are wary of existing conditions and therefore don’t. Those are the kinds of problems lower speed limits would solve. *Emma Durand-Wood is a volunteer with Safe Speeds Winnipeg, a grassroots group of people of all ages that are concerned about safety, comfort and sustainability in our neighborhoods.*

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WFP Editorial: A step backward for Open Streets initiative (Apr16'21)
by Beth McKechnie 16 Apr '21

16 Apr '21

A step backward for Open Streets initiative https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/a-step-backward-for-op… HAS the Open Streets pilot project arrived at a “Don’t Walk” sign for city pedestrians? The concept for seasonal active transportation across Winnipeg that began in 2020 restricted motor vehicles to travel for only one block on 10 different routes every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the spring, summer and fall, allowing for cyclists and pedestrians greater and safer access. It was a pandemic-inspired expansion of a similar plan that has been in use for many years on summer weekends on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue. Open Streets proved to be welcome relief for Winnipeggers stuck at home during the COVID- 19 crisis. Walking or pedalling on Churchill Drive or Scotia Street along the Red River, or Egerton Road beside the Seine River, became a way to get some fresh air and exercise while enjoying the city’s scenery without having to dodge a procession of trucks and cars. The concept allowed for physical distancing for pedestrians, keeping sidewalks from getting crowded and becoming potential pandemic hot spots. The city’s public works committee will vote today on a proposal to extend the pilot project for a second year. If it receives approval from city council, it would begin May 3, on 14 streets around the city. While the cycling aspect of Open Streets is expected to roll on, the pedestrian part of the plan has stepped squarely into an administrative mud puddle. On Monday, city staff reminded councillors that allowing pedestrians to use roadways that have “reasonably passable” sidewalks, such as Wolseley Avenue and Wellington Crescent, contravenes the province’s Highway Traffic Act. They recommend pedestrians be excluded from these “enhanced summer cycling routes,” and should stick to sidewalks. However, crowding on sidewalks remains a COVID-19 concern, especially considering new information regarding outdoor transmission of the virus’s highly contagious variants. Excluding pedestrians from Open Streets flies in the face of the reasoning that launched the project in the first place. Apparently, the city either didn’t know about the provisions in the Highway Traffic Act or overlooked them when it gave the project the go-ahead last year. Public works director Jim Berezowsky said the city was looking out for Winnipeggers’ best interests when it launched the Open Streets project during 2020’s state of emergency. A year later, a provincial state of emergency remains in place, but legalities seem to have forced pedestrians’ best interests to take a step back. The recommendation also fails to recognize that pedestrians have walked on Wellington Crescent and Wolseley Avenue for years without facing enforcement or penalties when similar rules restricted motor vehicles on weekends. The notion of excluding pedestrians from Open Streets is bound to create resentment in those who strolled or jogged on those streets last year. They will no doubt be struck by the irony of a provincial act intended for motorists adding restrictions on those who choose to travel on foot. City officials are lobbying the province to amend the HTA to allow for Open Streets’ pedestrian plans, but legislative procedures, including a new bill and debates, are hardly a walk in the park. The city and province could take a forward step together by agreeing on an interim measure that would allow both cyclists and pedestrians to use Open Streets’ designated roads this year while providing motorists the restricted one block access to the streets. It would give city council and administration more time to gather information on whether Open Streets could become a permanent feature of Winnipeg summers, and grant pedestrians another opportunity to enjoy one of the few improvements on city life the pandemic has presented.

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Trading clunkers for electric bikes: France moves to offer financial incentive
by Beth McKechnie 15 Apr '21

15 Apr '21

https://www.reuters.com/technology/trading-clunkers-electric-bikes-france-m… France is offering the owners of old, exhaust-belching cars the opportunity to hand over their vehicles for scrap in return for a 2,500 euro ($2,975.00) grant to buy an electric bicycle. Lawmakers in the National Assembly have just approved the measure in a preliminary vote. It was an amendment to a draft climate bill passing through parliament that aims to reduce greenhouse emissions by 40% in 2030 from 1990 levels. If adopted, France will become the first country in the world to offer people the chance to trade in an ageing vehicle for an electric or folding bicycle, the French Federation of Bicycle Users (FUB) said. "For the first time it is recognised that the solution is not to make cars greener, but simply to reduce their number," said Olivier Schneider of the FUB. -- Beth McKechnie (she/her) *| *Green Action Centre <http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/> 3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here <http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/> *Green Action Centre is located on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininew, Anishininiwag, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of* *the Métis Nation. We acknowledge that our water is sourced from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and that our hydro is sourced from numerous First Nations here in Manitoba**. * Green Action Centre is your green living hub Support our work by becoming a member <http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/> <http://www.gomanitoba.ca>

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