Tuxedo residents, First Nations leader discuss Kapyong Barracks

WINNIPEG — Efforts continue in the southwest part of the city to dispel the stigma around urban reserves.

Around 200 people gathered in Tuxedo at Canadian Mennonite University for a town hall discussion on the development of the Kapyong Barracks lands.

Representatives from First Nations communities, a member of the Tuxedo Community Association’s board of directors and a former city planner all spoke and answered questions.

READ MORE: Manitoba Chief says Kapyong deal could be close

Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches was one of the speakers on the panel. His community is part of a larger group that wants the land.

“People have a lot of passion about it, there’s a little bit of optimism, a little bit of skepticism, so there’s a lot of things happening and a lot of people want to be involved and that’s a good thing,” he said.

The discussion was a chance for local residents to ask Meeches what an urban reserve would look like on the prime piece of land adjacent to Kenaston Blvd.

Even though any kind of actual construction is likely years away, Meeches said it would be a larger-scale version of the Madison reserve currently in operation near Polo Park.

The nearly 160-acre site on Kenaston used to be a Canadian forces base but is now vacant.

First Nations groups have been battling the federal government in court for years over the property. After the most recent court decision went in favour of the First Nations groups, the property is as close as its ever been to becoming an urban reserve.

Meeches has said the first priority if they do acquire the land is to widen Kenaston Blvd.