Winnipeg, MB - Today at 10:00 a.m., The City of Winnipeg continued the tradition of moving a citizen-donated Christmas tree to City Hall.

This year’s tree comes from the yard of John Klassen of 563 Sharron Bay. The tree was selected from 54 candidates and is a 10.7 m (35’) Colorado Blue Spruce which measures 4.9 m (16’) in diameter at its’ base.

Mr. Klassen has lived in the Sharron Bay home for about 43 years, and he and his wife Lydia were in attendance as the Public Works Department’s Urban Forestry Branch removed the tree this morning. Mr. Klassen said, “my wife and I are very excited about donating our tree to the City, for all of Winnipeg to enjoy over the holiday season.”

The tree was loaded by crane onto a flat-bed truck in preparation for the move to City Hall on Tuesday morning.

A crane will be used to position the tree in front of City Hall at 510 Main Street on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at approximately 9:30 a.m.

An Urban Forestry crew will then spend several days decorating the tree with over 5,000 white LED lights.

Winnipeg, MB – On Thursday, November 19, 2009, Winnipeg’s Public Works Department will hold a public open house to get citizens’ feedback on the best option for widening Route 90. This consultation will run from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Winnipeg Sun Centre at the Canad Inns Stadium, and is open to all members of the public.

A previous round of consultations held this January, which drew over 400 participants, presented five concepts to the public. Input from those consultations, combined with additional analysis by the project team, has resulted in a short list of three alternatives:

1. Widen Alternating: would involve widening on the west side, south of Tuxedo, and on the east side, north of Tuxedo.
2. Widen West: would involve widening entirely on the west side.
3. Two One-Way Roads: would involve converting the existing Kenaston Boulevard to a southbound-only roadway, and constructing a new northbound-only roadway in the former Oak Point rail right-of-way.

Route 90 study team members, including City staff, will be on hand at the November 19 open house to discuss the three short-listed alternatives, including the team’s preferred alternative. The study team members will answer questions, and listen to the public’s comments and suggestions. Feedback forms will be provided for participants to record and submit their comments, as well.

This feedback – coupled with a careful analysis of key factors like traffic flow and safety, transit and active transportation opportunities, and property and neighbourhood impacts – will help the Department develop final recommendations for the Route 90 improvements.

Further information regarding both the November 19 open house, and the full consultation process to date, can be found on the Route 90 project website, at: http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/MajorProjects/Route90/.