Thanks to Cindy Tugwell, from Friends of Upper Fort Garry (also the Manitoba Governor for Heritage Canada), for providing me with this article from the Winnipeg Free Press last Saturday, which contained some good news for our cause:

The article stated that “under the Heritage Act archeologist Sid
Kroeker went searching for the round, 26-meter-in diameter limestone foundation of the northwest bastion. The exact location is important because the city and the developer had committed to building the highrise apartment on the edge, but not on top, of the original fort’s footprint. So a back hoe dug deep into several predetermined locations of the parking lot near the corner of Main and Assiniboine. Out popped what could be the Friends of Upper Fort Garry’s ace in the archeloogical hole, as it were. Because much to archeologist Sid Kroeker’s surprise, the northwest bastion wasn’t where he, the city or the developer thought it was. It was approximately three metres or 10 feet further west than they anticipated, and it may make the development plan unviable. The lot if now 10 feet shorter. That’s not even allowing for any government order that may demand another metre of
buffer between the proposed highrise and the fort footprint. Ruben Spletzer of Crystal Developers had no comment. Long live Upper Fort Garry.”

That’s good news indeed, and not just for the current issue; anything learned about the original plan of the Fort is good news!

I’ll keep everyone abreast of what happens next as I am able.

– JGM

Hello all,

If you read the October newsletter (if not, please send me a message at malekjon’@’shaw.ca) you will have noted there was some confusion regarding the cut off date of the petition for the Upper Fort Garry gate (available at http://siteocanada.start-a-petition.com). To clarify, it is still operational; I am in contact with the Friends of Upper Fort Garry, and I am just waiting for her to tell me when it is best to hand it over. As of today, it is still active and if you haven’t signed it just yet, you still can. Remember, the more names we are able to collect, the more impact it will have.

Best wishes,

— JGM

Although little has been heard from either the media or myself on the status of the Upper Fort Garry gate issue, it is still being worked on feverishly by the FUFG. They are a committee that advocates for many historical sites, and they have been very busy lately but the UFG gate is still a major concern for them. As to the date when a decision for the property will be made, I understand that we can expect something in October. As I get information, I will post it.

Also, it is not too late to sign the petition, available at http://siteocanada.start-a-petition.com, before it is handed in to the City of Winnipeg. Currently the number of signatures says 1007, although it must be remembered that there were some ‘false’ entries on there that must be scraped. I would estimate the actual count to be about 970; my hope is that we can get it to 1000. If we can show the city that there is substantial public support, both within and without Winnipeg, it may help to change their mind.

Thank you all for your support. I’ll post more info as it becomes available.

- - JGM

I was pleased today to read in the Winnipeg Free Press that the famed author and biographer Peter C. Newman has joined the mass of people supporting the Friends of Upper Fort Garry and the proper treatment of the Gateway. Although he is most known for his biographies - especially his recent and controversial book on his discussions with former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney - he has also written an excellent book on the Hudson’s Bay Company, to which UFG belonged. Mr. Newman is yet another ‘big’ name added to an already long list of influential people in support of the Gate.

Read the article here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/story/3986470p-4602441c.html

The petition is also doing very well. As of the time of this posting, there are 694 signatures. The momentum of the petition has died down, but there is still a steady increase in signatures; the way these things succeed is through word-of-mouth, so if you haven’t yet passed it on to people you know, I encourage you to do so. It has done incredibly well in the short time since it was started; hopefully it will continue to be a successful endeaveour.

- JGM

The petition is doing wonderful and the public response has been fantastic.  Also, Gordon Sinclair of the Winnipeg Free Press was kind enough to make mention of it in his column on Tuesday and to share the web address.  We have 300 votes at the time this post was written, although unfortunately there are 38 prank votes, making it 262 real votes.  I think the reason this petition is doing so well is that not only do people really care about this, but they are spreading the word.  If we want to keep the momentum up on this petition, the ‘word’ must never stop; keep spreading the word to people you know, give them the website for the petition - http://siteocanada.start-a-petition.com - and then tell them to spread the word too!  Also, for those who haven’t and would like to make a more personal appeal to the City, call or email your city councilor and share your opinion.  We need to put pressure on City Hall and let them know that the public really is not behind this.

- JGM