Photo Albums

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SOS and OURS - February 18, 2012 Walk on the Seine



(Photos courtesy of Karen Bate, Walk Participant)

Photo Albums

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Public Forum - March 19, 2012
St. Mary's Road United Church

(Photos courtesy of Joyce Mazur)

Photo Albums

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Public Forum - May 2, 2012
Unitarian Church, Wellington Crescent

(Photos courest of Joyce Mazur)
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OURS (Outdoor Urban Recreational Spaces) is a group of Winnipeg citizens, committed to stopping the sale and development of Winnipeg’s City owned golf courses, and to the need to protect our natural urban environment. OURS grew out of a Public meeting that agreed that:
"We demand meaningful, timely public consultation prior to the sale or redevelopment of City of Winnipeg golf courses."

  We include golfers and naturalists, skiers and hikers and just plain lovers of the peace that these green spaces bring to our city.  We are united by our desire to preserve publicly owned park and recreation lands for the use and enjoyment of the public. If we don’t act now, the year round enjoyment of our Winnipeg parklands is about to be lost.  

  The process began in October 2011 when the City administration quietly called for Expressions of Interest for seven City owned golf courses and received a number of proposals by the deadline of October 26.  The Expression of Interest invited only developers and golf course operators to provide ideas to the City of Winnipeg. The City of Winnipeg administration, without Council involvement, would then choose the options it wishes to pursue.  The recommended proposals will be presented to Council for approval.  An additional requirement of a $50,000 deposit is required when, and if, Council approves a project, not before. The golf courses on the auction block include Windsor Park and Canoe Club in St. Vital, Tuxedo, Crescent Drive in Fort  Garry, Harbour View in North Kildonan, Kildonan Park in West Kildonan, and John Blumberg in Headingley.

These wonderful, mostly riverfront, properties were handed down to us by previous generations. We should be debating how best to hand them on to our children and grandchildren, not to developers.

We believe most Winnipegers, if they had a choice would prefer to keep these golf courses in public hands while we have a discussion of how to best use these irreplaceable properties.  That is why we fear the City administration would like to sell them off quickly before Winnipegers have a chance to speak.

If they succeed, we will all lose.  We will lose:
  • ·         historic parklands
  • ·         urban natural habitat
  • ·         Nordic ski centre and existing infrastructure at Windsor Park Golf Course
  • ·         outdoor fitness opportunities for young and old
  • ·         moderately priced public golf courses
  • ·         public parks and greenspace
  • ·         wildlife corridors through the city
  • ·         And most of all, we will lose the ability to pass on these options to future generations


Become involved with OURS - get updates on what's happening, send us a message to volunteer ...
Individuals willing to take a petition to canvas their street, or a few streets, or their apartment building, would be greatly appreciated in this city-wide endeavour. Let us know what streets you have covered, and what golf courses you are near.