City Council in Brief: Bloodsuckers beware: spraying begins

The city will start spraying for mosquitoes Saturday.

With trap counts on the rise, the adult nuisance mosquito control program will kick off at 9:30 p.m., weather permitting, the city said Friday. It will target 14 ‘insect management areas’ in the city.

The decision to fog is based on several criteria. The citywide average trap count must be a minimum of 25 female mosquitoes for two consecutive nights and one or more quadrants of the city must report at least 100 female adult mosquitoes. Those conditions were satisfied in the past 24 hours, the city said, noting its citywide trap count is 84.

The city uses an insecticide that has been approved by Health Canada.

Residents may apply for a buffer zone near their property and can be submitted on the city’s website, by fax to 311, in writing to the Insect Control Branch or in person at 1539 Waverley St.

The insect management areas set to be sprayed include:

• IMA 13 (Alpine Place, Elm Park, Lavalee, St. George, Varennes, Worthington)
• IMA 14 (Kingston Crescent, Minnetonka, Norberry, Pulberry, Victoria Crescent)
• IMA 17 (Dakota Crossing, Meadowood)
• IMA 18 (Maple Grove Park, Normand Park, River Park South, St. Vital Centre, Vista)
• IMA 21 (Agassiz, Cloutier Drive, Fort Richmond, Montcalm, University)
• IMA 23 (Tuxedo Industrial, West Perimeter South, Whyte Ridge, Wilkes South)
• IMA 24 (Brockville, Buffalo, Chevrier, Linden Ridge, Lindenwoods, Pembina Strip, West Fort Garry Industrial)
• IMA 25 (Beaumont, Crescent Park, Maybank, Parker, Point Road, Wildwood)
• IMA 26 (Betsworth, Ridgewood South, River West Park, Roblin Park, Southboine, Westdale)
• IMA 27 (Elmhurst, Eric Coy, Marlton, Ridgedale, Varsity View, Vialoux)
• IMA 28 (Assiniboine Park)
• IMA 29 (Edgeland, Old Tuxedo, South Tuxedo, Tuxedo)
• IMA 30 (Central River Heights, J.B. Mitchell, Mathers, Sir John Franklin, South River Heights)
• IMA 31 (Crescentwood, North River Heights, Wellington Crescent)

 

Revamp of Kilcona Park on way

The City of Winnipeg is moving forward with a major renovation of Kilcona Park, including a controversial new road that will cut through the popular destination.

Hundreds of people signed a petition against the road, over concerns it would break up a serene space, cut off access to some dog park areas, affect wildlife and make travel less safe.

However, the city is now seeking contractors to build the road and add the first phase of other updates to Kilcona Dog Park.

Coun. Jeff Browaty says the long and curving road that will stretch north from Lagimodiere Boulevard and McIvor Avenue, before heading south to run parallel to Springfield Road and end at the Harbourview complex, will help connect parts of the park, making it more accessible.

“Kilcona is Winnipeg’s largest off-leash dog park. It’s great to see that we’re finally getting some much-needed investment in the park, including upgraded amenities inside the off-leash dog park area, improvements to the pathways … adding shade canopies and wind protection,” said Browaty (North Kildonan).

The city has budgeted $5 million for the first phase of renovations, which includes the road and a fenced off-leash dog area with accessible paths, shelters and other amenities.

 

Annual battle against emerald ash borer starts soon

The City of Winnipeg will begin its annual fight against the emerald ash borer on Monday.

Treatment will take place from Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., until August, as long as weather allows.

Ash trees on city property will be injected with TreeAzin to kill the bugs.

The borers were first detected in Winnipeg in 2017, putting hundreds of thousands of trees at risk. The insects can damage the structure of the wood and put an infected tree at risk of collapsing.

More information on the operation is available at winnipeg.ca

 

New St. James candidate registers

A project manager for an IT company hopes to represent St. James at city hall.

Tyler Crichton, who has registered to run in the Oct. 28 election, wants to improve affordability, safety, transit and infrastructure.

“The cost of things is going up for everybody and some of those things are outside of our control. So, what I want is look at what the city can do … to help out families and seniors,” said Crichton.

That could include options for families to have a night out without spending hundreds of dollars, possibly through community centre programs, he said.

On his campaign website, Crichton promises to promote “responsible infill” housing projects in mature neighbourhoods, if elected.

“The more we can do responsible infill, the more housing stock we’re going to get, so hopefully that’s going to help with some of the rent in the area and then also … bring in more tax base for the city,” he said.

He would also advocate for a fourth emergency service to handle mental health calls, improved lighting for safety, greater provincial funding for Winnipeg Transit and expanded hours for pools, community centres and libraries.

 

New candidate registers to run in Waverley West

A school trustee is not seeking re-election, instead opting to toss her hat in the race to compete for a Winnipeg city council seat.

Jasmine Brar, a Pembina Trails school division trustee, registered Friday in the race to represent Waverley West.

“It feels like it’s very natural to step up and run for council. This community has given me so much and I want to deliver for it now,” said Brar.

The candidate has lived in Waverley West for about two decades and immigrated to Canada from India in 1998. She works as a business manager at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba and is president of the Prairie Pointe Neighbourhood Association.

Brar said her campaign will aim to ensure the surging population of Waverley West has the services it needs.

“(My) platform will be on community safety and making sure our infrastructure and services keep pace with the incredible growth we see in this ward,” she said.

Waverley West is guaranteed to elect a new city councillor this year, since Coun. Janice Lukes is not running for re-election.

Winnipeggers will elect their next city council on Oct. 28.