The RM of Gimli has begun assessing asbestos in its buildings, with a contractor conducting testing at 28 municipally owned facilities.
The public works department provided council with an update on the asbestos project during its June 17 meeting.
The department will create an asbestos inventory and management plan for RM-owned buildings constructed before 1990. The plan is required under Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health Regulation 217/2006.
“This project was awarded to Winnipeg Air Testing and is in progress to conduct building inspections and sample collection and analysis to create an inventory of where asbestos is located in RM buildings,” the department states in its second-quarter update.
When the inventory is complete, repairs or asbestos abatement may be required.
Other public works initiatives included awarding a tender to paint curbs and a crosswalk and complete asphalt overlays on Ramsay Road and 6th Avenue.
Equipment purchases included a snow-clearing and grass-cutting machine awarded to Arborg’s Shachtay Sales & Service, a rear-loading refuse compactor truck awarded to Joe Johnson Equipment, and new pickup trucks awarded to Shoreside GM.
The RM also received a $70,000 grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to support completion of a climate adaptation plan.
According to the public works report, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ timeline is “not realistic given the fact of the disruption due to the cyber attack [against the municipality] and the fact that this requires input from many RM departments.”
Eco-West Consulting was hired to assist with the grant application and was later approached to help the RM retain another consultant to develop the climate adaptation plan.
In other news:
• The recreation and leisure department provided council with an update on past, current and future initiatives.
Among its completed projects, the department noted it had assumed responsibility for the Gimli Community Cemetery and reviewed ways to strengthen operations despite resource pressures.
Current projects include the RM’s master trails plan, the youth hub, a recreation and leisure needs assessment, and the promotion of “unstructured walking tours” highlighting places of interest throughout the municipality.
“We are awaiting the contractors to begin construction for the Gimli Recreation Youth Hub. We are currently in the engagement and data collection phase of the needs assessment, with a table booked at the upcoming Outdoor Street Market, and we are looking to schedule stakeholder meetings, staff meetings and Council meetings with the consultants soon,” states the update.
Future priorities include strengthening Gimli’s year-round tourism and cultural identity, filling gaps between festivals and events, expanding recreation programming, and improving facilities and service levels.
• Council held a public hearing during its June 24 regular meeting to consider a request from Preet Sandhu of 6481478 Manitoba Ltd. to amalgamate eight duplex lots on Solvin Road into a single lot under one title.
“The purpose of this amalgamation is to meet the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation) funding requirement of have more than 5 units on 1 title,” wrote Karampaul (Preet) Sandhu in the application. “This will allow our company to finalize the CMHC certificate which will allow lenders to find the CMHC MLI select load, also allowing us to offer a number of basement units at a lower rental target.”
The proposal received one letter of objection from Dick Arnason, who said he believed the former Town of Gimli entered into an agreement with Vesturland in 1977 regarding zoning.
“I believe that if all the single-family homeowners feel that this may devalue their property, they may be successful in winning a class action lawsuit,” he wrote.
Council spokesperson Christine Payne said council approved the application.
“Council approved a conditional use to consolidate 8 lots into 1 for a multi-family development, subject to conditions and a development agreement,” she said.
Asked whether the RM has a 1977 agreement with Vesturland that precludes multi-family dwellings, Payne replied that council “approved a multi-family conditional use under current planning authority.”
• Council reviewed the Gimli Environmental Advisory Committee’s bylaw and considered committee appointments.
• The chair of the marketing, brand and communications committee for the RM’s lagoon-to-wetlands project recommended the official name Gimli Wetlands Nature Preserve for the development.
The former wastewater lagoon between Gimli’s South Beach neighbourhood and Willow Island will eventually become a wetland and wildlife refuge after Mayor Kevin Chudd spearheaded the project early in the current council term.
Committee chair Tim Arnason submitted a report recommending the new name and outlining its communications value.
According to the report, the name reinforces themes of protecting Lake Winnipeg, restoring natural habitat and creating a more positive, emotionally resonant identity that will help establish the site as a destination for residents and visitors.
The committee includes Arnason, RM employee Christine Payne, Andy Blicq, Norma Bailey and Kim Trynacity.
“The Committee believes that Gimli Wetlands Nature Preserve effectively captures the full intent, impact, and future potential of this project. The name positions the site as a place of environmental leadership, community connection, and lasting legacy,” wrote the committee. “It is important to note that this represents the overarching project name. The Committee further recognizes that individual elements within the Preserve — such as buildings, trails, observation areas, and amenities — may present future opportunities for naming through sponsorship, partnerships, or community recognition initiatives.”
Work has already begun on the 144-acre project. The RM has removed lagoon sludge, spread it on agricultural fields near the Gimli airport, rezoned the land and cleaned up the site. This year’s budget includes funding to design the wetland, which will eventually feature trails and interpretive elements.
• In its general payables report included with the June 24 council agenda, the RM reported RBC Visa expenditures of $15,949.98 in February 2026 and $12,397.70 in April 2026.
Asked what the spending covered, Payne said the charges were “corporate credit card expenses already processed and later entered into accounting.”
The RM also reported a payment of $2,688.08 to former CAO DJ Sigmundson for “expenses June 2026.”
Asked whether Sigmundson continues to work for the RM and what his role is, Payne said:
“The RM does not comment on, confirm, or disclose information regarding current or former employees, including their employment status, roles, or any associated matters. We are committed to respecting individual privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of personnel information at all times.
“Public financial records reflect standard administrative processes and should not be interpreted as commentary on employment relationships. No further information will be provided on this matter.”
• Work continues at the former Husky gas station and food store at 84 Centre St., at the intersection of Centre Street and Highway 9.
WSP Canada Inc. was hired by Federated Co-operatives Ltd. to assess environmental conditions at the site.
The property contains a food store, three underground storage tanks, four fuel pump islands, associated piping and an above-ground propane storage tank. Several groundwater monitoring wells are located off-site along Highway 9 and Centre Street.
“WSP proposes to complete a groundwater monitoring and sampling program to assess the groundwater conditions along Centre Street adjacent to the south and 7 Avenue [Highway 9] adjacent to the west of the site,” states WSP in a June 16 letter to the RM. “The information gathered will assist with further refinement of a long-term environmental management plan.”
Groundwater samples will be analyzed for “select hydrocarbon compounds.” Sampling is tentatively scheduled for the week of July 22 and will involve temporary traffic control measures and street closures.
