New offer to buy Lemay Forest Conservancy aims to buy land from developer for more than $5M By: Joyanne Pursaga and Kevin Rollason Posted: 6:45 PM CST Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025

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This article was published 02/01/2025 (567 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The federal and provincial governments are set to help Manitoba Habitat Conservancy sweeten an offer to buy Lemay Forest from a developer, increasing the amount to more than $5 million.

However, emails indicate those representing the owner deem the amount too low and are concerned it lacks final approval.

Winnipeg South Liberal MP Terry Duguid, who was recently named minister of sport, said the new offer was being sent to the developer.

“I’ve been involved with this issue for the better part of a year … There is a new offer being made to the landowner today,” he said Thursday.

“My understanding is there has been a reassessment of the property, and (the new bid) will be higher than the last offer.”

Duguid said the land would be expensive to develop because there are no services there and the conservancy’s bid would protect biodiversity at the site, as well as a possible Métis gravesite.

In an email exchange obtained by the Free Press, the conservancy’s real estate agent discussed a $5.25-million offer to buy the land with lawyers representing Mazyar Yahyapour, president of Tochal Development Group.

Lawyer Kevin Toyne suggested in the exchange that the potential deal is tentative and was confirmed to media before being sent to the owner. He urged the conservancy to “stop playing games.”

“The MHC board has not approved this offer, and it appears MHC doesn’t even have the funds to purchase the property with the proposed significant discount on (fair market value),” Toyne wrote.

The email states MHC’s offer would be subject to its board’s approval by March 21 and come with a condition that no more tree cutting take place once it is conditionally accepted. The potential deal is listed as “open for acceptance” until the end of day on Jan. 9.

Past offers to buy and preserve Lemay Forest ranged from $1.9 million to $2.9 million, which the developer also said fell short of the property’s value.

Toyne said an appraisal found the property was worth about $8 million.

The conservancy submitted an offer late Thursday afternoon, chief executive officer Stephen Carlyle confirmed.

“It’s not a done deal until it’s a done deal, I guess, but the discussions that we’ve had with the board have been favourable towards the project,” he said.

Carlyle said the offer reflects a recent appraisal of the land’s value.

“We don’t play games in trying to acquire land,” he said.

In a statement, a provincial spokesperson said the Manitoba government has committed $1.5 million through the conservancy “to help preserve natural infrastructure in the Winnipeg area, including the Lemay Forest.”

The amount the federal government would contribute is not known.

Protesters continued to block an entrance to the forest Thursday, days after a court order instructed them to leave.

Terrance, who did not provide his last name, said he went to the site to protect its trees and history, noting it’s been home to a sweat lodge for decades.

“(We have) a sacred fire to bring attention to what’s happening here … It’s not really considered a protest. It’s more just to keep the fire going until all these legal matters are settled,” he said.

Chris Dsouza, a resident who opposes the tree removal but isn’t camping out at the site, said he supports the goal of protecting the forest.

“There’s no approval on building, and it doesn’t make sense to me to cut the trees down,” he said.

The court order, issued Monday, called for those staying at the site to leave the area and remove any property blocking its owner from accessing it, at least until a hearing considers the matter on Jan. 6.

A small group began camping at the property on Dec. 27. Tree clearing stopped the same day.

John Wintrup, a planner for the proposal to build a 2,500-unit assisted living facility at the site, said Tochal Development Group has been unfairly left without access to property it legally owns.

“We can’t enter the land. We’re blocked from the land. We’ve completely lost control of the property,” he said.

The planner alleges he was attacked at the site, shoved by a masked person, and someone also tried to run him over in a vehicle. He alleges he was also chased by a vehicle as he left the site on foot Sunday.

Terrance said he’s seen no violence at the site.

The Winnipeg Police Service declined to comment on enforcement of the court order.

“Members of the WPS have been in ongoing contact with persons on site as well as the property developer and will continue to do so going forward. Reports and allegations of criminal wrongdoing have been forwarded to investigators,” an emailed statement said.

City council rejected the assisted living proposal in September after city planners deemed it too big for the property. The Manitoba Municipal Board is expected to hear an appeal of that decision early this year.

The area’s city councillor said he supports seeking options to preserve the trees.

“No development has been approved for Lemay Forest, so there should be no tree cutting. It’s not necessary,” Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) said.

Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) said he’ll urge city council to revise the 2025 preliminary budget to transfer forestry funds earmarked for tree planting to help save trees at Lemay instead.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanne loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics is involved. Joyanne became the city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.

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Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Whether it is covering city hall, the law courts, or general reporting, Kevin can be counted on to not only answer the 5 Ws — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but to do it in an interesting and accessible way for readers.

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