Future of Alexander Docks site up in the air, city hoping for public input

The City of Winnipeg is asking the public for its input on the future of the Alexander Docks site.

On June 8 and June 10, the city and The Forks are holding public consultations on the site located on Waterfront Drive.

In 2015, the city shut down the docks near the Red River because of safety concerns.

The dock was built in 1929 and was an important shipping and transportation hub for Winnipeg. As trade routes and technology evolved the dock became focused on recreational activities.

“We know that over the years, the dock was repaired extensively and often,” Paul Jordan, CEO of The Forks said. “Sadly, a few years ago an ice storm damaged the structure beyond repair and made it unsound. As such, the public can no longer access the dock. But, that means we now have an opportunity to write the next chapter the site’s history.”

But now they city wants to re-invent the space with a focus on access and views of the river.

The dock is also a memorial site for Tina Fontaine, the 15-year-old whose body was found wrapped in a plastic bag in the Red River near the docks in August, 2014.

In an email, the city said it “recognizes the value and importance of maintaining a location for the memorial on the site within any new development.”

The public consultations will be held online in the form of a survey. Once the information is gathered it will be presented in the form of a report back to the city in July.