FortWhyte Alive has been the setting for many fond memories for generations of people in Manitoba.
From getting up close with the resident deer, to dipnetting off the edge of the boardwalks, FortWhyte has been a special place to enjoy nature in all its forms.
But years ago, visiting the area where we stand was a very different sight involving a mine, a factory, and a friend we’ve been fortunate to have for decades.
In the early 1900s, Winnipeg was growing fast. There was a huge need for resources and soon the Canada Cement Company opened a clay mine and cement factory to help fill that need… right where FortWhyte Alive stands.
Using horse-drawn scrapers, steam shovels and rail cars, Canada Cement excavated the land of clay and brought it to their plant to create cement. This work left large pits that naturally filled with water, creating what resembled a series of lakes. With no other lakes around the area became a popular place for nearby residents to spend days with their families. Canada Cement even hosted parties on-site before closing the area for safety reasons.
A few years later, a group of Canada Cement employees came together to form a hunting and fishing club called The Lucky 13 Rod and Gun Club. In 1957 they stocked the area with waterfowl and bought six Canada Geese, then 50 mallards, then 40 more geese, and by 1960 the group had a large (and noisy!) group of waterfowl on their hands. People began to notice and so the club decided to invite schools and youth groups to visit, an offer that became very popular.
With a growing flock, and Canada Geese nearing extinction, the club saw an opportunity to help reintroduce them to the wild. They knew this would take a lot of resources so they recruited some community members and the recreational club evolved into The Wildlife Foundation of Manitoba.
The foundation had a few projects underway but they wanted to get more individuals involved and decided to test out a “trickle-up” theory. If we get kids excited about conservation work, will they spread the excitement to their families? And the best way to get groups of kids involved? Through schools!
First, the foundation tried bussing groups of students to marshes outside the city. The students enjoyed it but with such a long drive they had too much pent-up energy to focus once they arrived. In need of a closer location, the foundation got to thinking and in 1972, they said: “Wait a minute, what about our waterfowl sanctuary?” Fortunately, Canada Cement loved the cause and agreed to donate the land.
Soon, the Fort Whyte Nature Centre opened its doors on the Kiwanis Reception Centre on the southwest edge of Winnipeg on McGillivray Blvd (later known as the Adventure Site). The centre’s popularity continued to grow and it soon outgrew its space. After some negotiations and with the support of Canada Cement and the Province of Manitoba, the foundation was able to secure a long-term lease on Canada Cement’s 200 acres of mined land to expand its work establishing the Fort Whyte Centre for Environmental Education.
From then on, Fort Whyte continued to grow, adding the iconic Interpretive Centre, new trails, floating boardwalks, interpretive exhibits, and more through the 1980s and the Alloway Reception Centre and FortWhyte Farms in the early 2000s.
(See our simplified history on Our Story).
This tremendous and quick growth wouldn’t have been possible without our community who have dedicated so much time and effort into making environmental education possible; amazing people and organizations who are still with us after decades of generous support.
We wouldn't be here without you!
The Canada Cement Company, now known as LaFarge Canada, whom FortWhyte quite literally wouldn’t be here without, is still a steadfast supporter through their support as our volunteer appreciation program sponsor because they know just how much impact some good volunteers can have.
This dynamic evolution of FortWhyte from industrial land to renowned and treasured community green space is something Winnipeg can be proud of, something you can be proud of.