Landscape + Urbanism Studio 5
WINNIPEG GENERAL STRIKE
FALL 2011
Instructor: Dr. Sheri Blake
Image: Britney Bell
The Winnipeg General Strike is considered by some to be a critical historical event, not only for Winnipeg but for Canada as well. Yet, Winnipeg contains only a couple of obscure memorials to the event, Some students in Landscape + Urbanism Studio 5, Possible Urbanisms, explored the background issues that led to the Strike and focused their final projects on a riverfront site fought over by developers wanting to build a boutique hotel, condo owners who believed the same developer had lied to them about retaining their unobstructed view of the river, and a small group of activists referred to as the Friends of Victoria Park, who wanted to build a memorial park celebrating the Strike events, together with supporters of the Selkirk Settlers who also considered the site of value relevant to one of the first European settlements in western Canada. Students were able to attend a four-hour planning hearing and explore the competing views of these constituent groups, with the outcome favouring the development of the hotel. In their final projects, students were allowed to explore the site with or without the soon to be built hotel, in support of the Strike or not, or take another position about the development of the site.
FALL 2011
Instructor: Dr. Sheri Blake
Image: Britney BellThe Winnipeg General Strike is considered by some to be a critical historical event, not only for Winnipeg but for Canada as well. Yet, Winnipeg contains only a couple of obscure memorials to the event, Some students in Landscape + Urbanism Studio 5, Possible Urbanisms, explored the background issues that led to the Strike and focused their final projects on a riverfront site fought over by developers wanting to build a boutique hotel, condo owners who believed the same developer had lied to them about retaining their unobstructed view of the river, and a small group of activists referred to as the Friends of Victoria Park, who wanted to build a memorial park celebrating the Strike events, together with supporters of the Selkirk Settlers who also considered the site of value relevant to one of the first European settlements in western Canada. Students were able to attend a four-hour planning hearing and explore the competing views of these constituent groups, with the outcome favouring the development of the hotel. In their final projects, students were allowed to explore the site with or without the soon to be built hotel, in support of the Strike or not, or take another position about the development of the site.