Let’s paint the image. You see {that a} developer has put forth a movement to “delete” the hen pleasant window requirement bylaw that was solely handed a yr in the past and also you say… not in my metropolis! You see that the Metropolis is looking for public remark and also you don’t need to watch from the sidelines, so that you mobilize.
What occurred in Winnipeg was a win for the birds and a masterclass in civic engagement. Right here is the story of how one metropolis fought again in opposition to the rollback of environmental requirements, and the way you should use their blueprint to guard nature in your individual yard.
Birds vs Buildings
In early 2025, Winnipeg took an enormous step ahead by mandating bird-friendly glass for brand new building. It was a commonsense resolution to a lethal drawback:
Window collisions kill between 16 and 42 million birds in Canada yearly!
Not even a yr later, the constructing trade pushed again. A movement was launched at Metropolis Corridor to “delete” these necessities, citing prices and complexity.
Technique to Replicate – Save Hen Lives
Watch the advocates in motion right here:
Advocacy Toolkit
For those who see your metropolis’s environmental bylaws being threatened, observe the Winnipeg Playbook:
- Monitor the Agenda: Regulate Metropolis Corridor committee conferences. Rollbacks usually occur in quiet sub-committee conferences earlier than they hit the principle stage.
- Companion with Us: Nature Canada’s Hen Pleasant Metropolis program and Municipal Protected Areas Toolkit offers the sources and the “how-to” for passing (and defending) bylaws.
- Make it Private: Discuss concerning the pleasure of seeing birds in your neighborhood and the tragedy of discovering them useless on the sidewalk. Share your story.
Demand Transparency: If a developer claims one thing is “too costly,” ask for the receipts. Evaluate these prices to the environmental impression of dropping native biodiversity.
End result
As a result of Winnipeg residents stood up, the movement to delete the necessities was defeated. Town is now again on observe towards its official Hen Pleasant Metropolis Certification, becoming a member of a prestigious record of Canadian cities that prioritize life over glass.
The takeaway is straightforward: Bylaws are solely as sturdy because the individuals who help them. Winnipeg proved that when residents say “not in my metropolis,” Metropolis Corridor has no selection however to pay attention.
Thanks to everybody concerned with the newly shaped Hen Pleasant Winnipeg and to Nature Canada’s Nature Nation!
Wish to begin the motion in your city? Try Nature Canada’s Hen Pleasant Metropolis Program and let’s get to work. The birds are relying on us.