Gimli council is moving forward with a municipal strategic plan to address a number of challenges such as outmigration, lack of workers and a shortage of affordable housing.
Council released a draft of its strategic plan during its regular meeting on Jan. 10.
The plan focuses on retaining youth and employment-aged residents, who are leaving Gimli and could otherwise be providing services to Gimli’s aging population or launching a business.
According to the 2021 Census, less than half (44 per cent) of the population is of working age, compared to 65 per cent across the province, states the plan.
“The community needs to develop strategies to reverse this trend and attract and retain a younger demographic,” states the plan. “These challenges to be addressed in this effort include affordable housing, housing options, alternative transportation and amenities.”
To retain a younger demographic, council must also improve and expand amenities and services, update infrastructure and come up with strategies to address climate change.
The 2023 strategic plan, which was put together by the RM’s consultant DJ Sigmundson, builds upon efforts undertaken in 2008 after the amalgamation of the RM and the Town of Gimli.
The current plan sets out 12 goals, as well as actions and timelines, that include developing diverse housing, creating programs that cater to the needs of the working-age population, protecting Lake Winnipeg, reducing solid waste, advancing truth and reconciliation, enhancing leisure activities and improving facilities.
Other news:
- Council gave second and third reading to a bylaw to name a road that runs along Gimli Beach from the Lakeview Resort to Barney Thomas Drive. The road will be named Gimli Beach Drive.
- Minutes from the Dec. 19 meeting of the Gimli Waterfront Wetland Interpretive Centre committee note the committee (or its designate) having sent a letter about the proposed wetland redevelopment project to the provincial environment and climate minister but not yet receiving a response.
The plan entails transforming the municipality’s former sewage lagoons at the south end of town into a restored wetland with an interpretive centre. In September 2023 council changed the zoning of the site from Agricultural-Rural Limited to Parks, Recreation and Open Space.
According to the minutes, one of the lagoon’s cells remains open for “overflow.”
“Proper decommissioning of entire site required before move forward, the decommissioning of the final cell has begun by the municipality,” states the minutes.
The province’s highways department raised a concern about a lack of access from Highway 9 to the site, with the committee saying it will be addressed in the design process. There are ongoing discussions with landowners adjacent to the lagoon site for access and possible location of the interpretive centre.
- The RM bylaw officer’s report for December 2023 noted complaints related to parking issues outside a residence. It was determined that a [unnamed] church was “allowing” drivers to park in a dangerous manner, and five parking tickets were issued.
- There were also a number of complaints from residents in different areas of the municipality about fireworks on New Year’s Eve.
“Writer received a complaint about fireworks in the Sandy Hook area around 8 p.m. but it was on private property, so no contact was made,” wrote the officer. “Writer received a complaint about fireworks in Arnes area on Crown land, but message wasn’t received until next morning and tracking the party responsible was not possible with the information given. Writer received a complaint about fireworks on Willow Island, but message wasn’t received until next morning and tracking the party responsible was not possible with the information given.”
