Curling club seeks court review Granite wants judge to decide whether city can ignore municipal board
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/12/2025 (286 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Granite Curling Club has asked the Court of King’s Bench to review whether the City of Winnipeg can ignore a recommendation by the Manitoba Municipal Board about an affordable housing development in its parking lot.
The club filed a notice of application Monday to ask a judge to determine the validity of the city ignoring its charter to pave the way for an 11-storey, 110-unit residential building on city-owned land at 22 Granite Way. Half of the suites would have affordable rent for 99 years.
It’s the latest back-and-forth between the city and the 145-year-old curling club amid an urgent push for more affordable housing in Winnipeg.
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES
The Granite Curling Club filed a notice of application Monday to ask a judge to determine the validity of the city ignoring its charter to make way for an affordable housing project on land occupied by the club’s parking lot.
The court application claims council acted “without jurisdiction” and contrary to the City of Winnipeg charter. The section states that city council must not pass zoning bylaws that have been referred to the municipal board unless they conform to the recommendations made by the board.
“The city obviously took the opinion that they can just ignore the city charter and the provincial legislation, and we disagree with them on that,” Christian Pierce, secretary of the Granite Curling Club board, said Monday. “Everyone else is bound by the same legislation, so the city should be, as well.”
Last week, city council cast a 14-1 vote in favour of applications and bylaws to support the controversial project.
Council rejected a directive from the municipal board that said the city and club develop an “adequate” parking plan to the satisfaction of both parties.
The club argues the housing would eliminate 45 of its 80 stalls, threatening its viability.
The club has asked the court to reverse council’s decision and compel the city to abide by the municipal board’s original recommendation.
City spokesperson Kalen Qually confirmed the city received the notice of application but declined to comment as the matter is before the courts.
“The city obviously took the opinion that they can just ignore the city charter and the provincial legislation, and we disagree with them on that.”
Mayor Scott Gillingham said earlier this month the move is necessary to create much-needed housing in the city.
He and others argued that by following the board’s direction, it would essentially give the curling club veto power over the development.
“Our public service, in consultation with our legal department, has indicated that the municipal board really overreached,” Gillingham said Dec. 9.
A recent city report concluded the municipal board’s parking plan condition is “not in respect of the proposed bylaw,” and the board, therefore, does not have the authority to impose it and council is not legally bound to follow it.
Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) was the only vote against the motion while Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) left the room rather than vote.
“I don’t feel comfortable ignoring municipal board recommendations based on the legal advice of our own staff … I think we should have gotten outside legal advice on this,” Mayes said Dec. 18.
The club hasn’t met with anyone overseeing the project to try to work through the disagreement since early March, Pierce said.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
Last week, city council cast a 14-1 vote in favour of applications and bylaws to support the controversial project.He warned the project would set a dangerous precedent if it moves forward despite the municipal board’s recommendation.
“For the city just to ignore rules when it’s convenient for their political goals…,” he said. “Every private developer would love to ignore rules that they don’t like, but that’s just not how it works.”
An initial court date has been set for Jan. 21.
nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca
Nicole Buffie
Multimedia producer
Nicole Buffie is a reporter for the Free Press city desk. Born and bred in Winnipeg, Nicole graduated from Red River College’s Creative Communications program in 2020 and worked as a reporter throughout Manitoba before joining the Free Press newsroom as a multimedia producer in 2023. Read more about Nicole.
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