Bittersweet Way opens

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This article was published 14/10/2020 (1869 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Bittersweet Way is now officially open.

In what is Bishop Grandin Greenway’s 20th anniversary year, the project was formally launched on Sept. 19 at a socially distanced event.

According to a statement from Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), Bittersweet Way — which is nestled in the northwest corner of Bishop Grandin Greenway and St. Mary’s Road — is described as “an ambitious vision that is now an incredible feature of the greenway.”  

“From its retaining wall and signage, a path leads you to an open grove of trees complete with historical markers. It truly is a walk through the past, celebrating the rich story of the community and our Métis and Indigenous peoples,” Mayes said in the statement.

In the last two decades, the greenway — a five-kilometre stretch that runs between the Seine and Red rivers — has become a valued and cherished part of the St. Vital community, which is a testament to the efforts of a hardworking group of volunteers that dedicate their time and energy to the cause.

At the heart of the greenway’s growth has been Michelle Meade, a founding member of the organization in 2000, who recently stepped down as its longtime president. In terms of Bittersweet Way, Meade told the Lance it’s “very exciting to see something tangible” in place.

She said the project represents a community collaboration, and she’s grateful for the support of Mayes and MLA for Riel Rochelle Squires, as well as a number of greenway supporters that have had a hand in the project’s development, including Murray Peterson — “who helped develop the historical plaques and connect the groups” — and Prairie Originals —  “who were very involved with us and volunteered their time.”

And while the organization’s 20th anniversary celebrations have been somewhat low-key in light of the ongoing pandemic, Meade said she gets a lot of satisfaction knowing how many community members are now using the greenway.

“The celebration for us is watching the amount of people coming out to use it,” she said, noting the greenway is used by walkers, runners, cyclists, as well as individuals in wheelchairs and on bikes, skateboards and roller blades.

The centrepiece of the project is a commemorative circle, which includes six elevated plaques that tell some of the past stories of the area.

“We’ve tried to capture some of the history of the spot we’re standing on,” Meade said, noting the greenway tries to focus on four instrumental themes — environment, active living, education, and history.

Murray Gibson is also a founding member of BGG who has served as president and vice-president in the past.

He said the project’s title reflects the long history of the area.

“From my perspective, Bittersweet Way reflects both the bitter and sweet experiences that different people have had through time,” Gibson said.

“These experiences range from the last person who lived in a property on the land when it was expropriated to others who had wonderful experiences there. It tells both sides of the story.”
Gibson said he hopes the commemorative circle will provide people with the opportunity to reflect, especially as there are benches along the trail.

“These are proven spots where people can go and quietly reflect,” he said.

“We hope the people of St. Vital will take advantage of visiting the site. And not just adults, but also schools using the site as an outdoor classroom.”

With this in mind, Gibson said he hopes organizers will have further discussions with Louis Riel School Division in the future. He added the organization has had an ongoing relationship with Dakota Collegiate, which is located across the street.

Noting he runs along the greenway on a regular basis, Mayes said the greenway’s volunteer-driven board deserves kudos for making this project happen.

“The whole greenway is very important to the people of St. Vital,” Mayes said.

He said both he and Squires contributed roughly $20,000 each from various funds at the municipal and provincial levels to the greenway.

Derick Young will take over from Meade as BGG’s new president.

Go online at bishopgrandingreenway.com for more information.