Last updated: October 2021
Winnipeg lies at the confluence of the Assiniboine and the Red River, a location known as 'The Forks', which is the cultural centre and meeting place of the city. "The winter use of the river went through an unprecedented change over the last 10 years, organized by a private company (The Forks North Portage Partnership), that began to operate the 'Red River Mutual Trail', the longest Guinness World Record-holding natural skating trails on the Red and Assiniboine rivers, offering opportunities for skating, curling, cycling, walking, and cross-country skiing, along with cultural events and unique, community-designed warming huts, a restaurant on ice, art exhibitions and other activities. The river trails also links otherwise distant neighborhoods, and functions as a transportation and commuting route with a variety of access and exit points during the city’s typically 4-5 months of winter climate." (Ref.1 p60)
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theforkswinnipeg/albums/72157661774260289/with/41920678095/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: service sectors
- Tourism support
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Promotion of cultural diversity
Focus
Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Strategy, plan or policy development
Project objectives
1) Turning winter into an enjoyable season by offering opportunities for social interactions, sports and recreation on Winnipeg's riverfronts and on the frozen rivers (1)
2) Revitalizing Winnipeg’s riverfronts as a "Meeting Place" and, all-season gathering and recreational place at the junction of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, through a mixed-use approach including recreational, historical and cultural, institutional and supportive commercial uses (2)
Implementation activities
- Utilization of the frozen river for community-based events, sports, art, recreation and social innovation (1)
- Creation and maintenance of the Red River Mutual Trail, a 10 km long natural skating trail with regular snow removal and ice resurfacing on the rivers at the Fork (1)
- Creation of curling rings and skating areas (1)
- Organisation of neighbourhood festivals (1)
- Installation of warming huts on the ice for pop-up restaurants near and on the river (1)
- Development of the ‘Go…to the Waterfront’ long-term vision for Winnipeg’s riverfronts (1)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
- Other
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The winter management is the responsibility of the private company 'The Forks North Portage Partnership' (FNPP) that also owns, manages and works on the renewal of the Forks. The FNPP was established with the merger of two corporations with national, regional and local government ties. (1,2) The FNPP is self-sufficient and does not receive monetary support from the municipal government anymore, but it has a high level of independence regarding developments. (1)
The connected sub-projects of the winter Forks management are operated by various companies and associations. For example, the cross-country ski trails along the rivers are maintained by the Cross-Country Ski Association of Manitoba and Red River Nordic, while restaurants on the frozen river are managed and financed by the owners (1)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
No
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Unknown
Economic impacts
- Attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased sense of place identity, memory and belonging
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
No
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1.) Katona, A. (2018). NATURVATION - Case Study Working Paper: Winnipeg, Canada.
2.) The Forks. (n.a.). The Forks North Portage Partnership. The Forks. Accessed on 21 April, 2021. Source link
2.) The Forks. (n.a.). The Forks North Portage Partnership. The Forks. Accessed on 21 April, 2021. Source link
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theforkswinnipeg/albums/72157661774260289/with/41920678095/
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/theforkswinnipeg/albums/72157661774260289/with/41920678095/