WINNIPEG - May 17, 2011 - All civic offices will be closed on Monday, May 23, 2011.

Recycling/Garbage Schedule

Single-family homes
There will be no recycling or garbage collection on Monday, May 23. Collection will resume on Tuesday, May 24 - Day 5 on the five-day cycle.

Multi-family apartments
Recycling and garbage collection will continue as normally scheduled.

Brady Road Landfill hours of operation
Saturday, May 21 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday, May 23 5:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Visit http://winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste/ or call 311 for more information on the Recycling/Garbage Collection Calendar and Brady Road Landfill.

Libraries
Libraries are open regular operating hours Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. All branches are closed on Monday, May 23. Visit http://wpl.winnipeg.ca/library/ or call 311 for more information on the Winnipeg Public Library.

Winnipeg Transit
Monday, May 23, Winnipeg Transit will be operating on a Sunday schedule. For complete schedule information visit www.winnipegtransit.com or call 311.

Animal Services Agency
Animal Services will be closed Monday, May 23. Regular weekend hours are in effect for Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. Visit http://www.winnipeg.ca/cms/Animal/ for more information on the City of Winnipeg Animal Services Agency including a list of dogs available for adoption.

Leisure Centres
All Leisure Centres are closed Monday, May 23. Regular hours of operation are in effect on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22. Visit http://www.winnipeg.ca/cms/recreation/facilities/leisurecentres/ or call 311 for more information on City leisure centres.

Swimming Pools
All pools are closed on Monday, May 23, except Pan Am Pool, open 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. and Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex, open 2:00 p.m. till 6:00 p.m. Regular hours of operation are in effect for all pools on Saturday, May 21 and Sunday, May 22.

Visit Community Services - Pools or call 311 for more information on City swimming pools.

WINNIPEG - May 17 2011 - The new Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program has received an extremely positive response from Winnipeg homeowners.

As of yesterday, May 16, 2011, over 1,700 applications have been submitted to the program.

The program, funded by both the City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba, was announced in January, 2011 to provide an incentive for homeowners to install eligible devices that will help protect their homes from basement flooding.

The City began accepting applications on February 23, 2011. By the end of March, there were enough applications to deplete the original subsidy program funding of $1 million. On April 27, 2011, both the Province and the City of Winnipeg each contributed another $1 million, bringing the total program funding for 2011 to $3 million.

Based on the average subsidy per application, the $3 million in funding will likely be used up by the 1,700 applications already received. The City will hold on to all applications received from this day on, in the order they are received, and will process them in the next year that funding for the program is approved.

The subsidy has been available on a first-come, first-serve basis to Winnipeg residents owning a home serviced by a City wastewater sewer who install one or both of these protective devices:

• an in-line backwater valve approved by the Manitoba Plumbing Code,
• a sump pit drainage system that meets the requirements of the Winnipeg Building By-law and the Lot Grading By-law.

The City of Winnipeg and the Province of Manitoba are pleased that the subsidy program was well received by homeowners. A properly maintained inline backwater valve and a sump pit drainage system together with improved drainage can significantly reduce the risk of basement flooding.

Details of the Basement Flood Protection Subsidy Program are on the City's Water and Waste website.

WINNIPEG - May 17, 2011 - The City of Winnipeg Public Works Department is currently conducting controlled burns in various natural areas until Tuesday, May 31, 2011, weather conditions permitting. These controlled burns will be conducted in minimal wind conditions with appropriate fire guards in place.

Locations include:

• Rotary Prairie - 1101 Regent Avenue West
• Paulicelli Park - Atwood Street
• Macbeth Park - Red River Boulevard
• Living Prairie Museum - 2795 Ness Avenue

Fire plays an important role in the preservation and restoration of prairies. Lack of fire allows weeds to invade these endangered plant communities. Controlled burns have been safely conducted by the Naturalist Services Branch on Winnipeg's tall grass prairie since 1986.

For more information, please contact the Living Prairie Museum at 204-832-0167.

WINNIPEG - May 17, 2011 - Add biodiversity to your backyard and help preserve a piece of our natural heritage by incorporating native prairie plants into your landscaping. Prairie Flora Nursery will help you get started this weekend at the Living Prairie Museum during the annual May long weekend Native Prairie Plant Sale.

Choose from a wonderful selection of native wildflowers and grasses for purchase such as beautiful big bluestem, milkweed for monarch butterflies, or the rare and spectacular Culver's-root, to name but a few.

Where and When
Living Prairie Museum, 2795 Ness Avenue
Friday, May 20 - 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 21 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to discover gardening with Manitoba wildflowers and grasses, and to explore the tall grass prairie in spring bloom!

For more information on plants that will be offered, visit www.prairieflora.com.

For more information on the Living Prairie Museum, visit http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/naturalist/livingprairie/ or call 832-0167.