THIS JUST IN FROM OUTDOOR URBAN RECREATION SPACES: Your urgent action is needed—deadline: noon, Wednesday, December 17.Just one year after adopting the Bird‑Friendly Window Design Standard from the Canadian Standards Association, City Council is now considering removing it at a Public Hearing on December 18—under pressure from the development industry.
Why this matters:
- Windows in tall buildings are a leading cause of bird deaths, threatening biodiversity.
- Winnipeg sits directly on a major migratory flyway, with tens of thousands of birds passing through every year.
- As our city grows with more high‑rises, we have a responsibility to prevent needless fatalities.
Industry groups argue the guidelines challenge housing projects. But Winnipeg’s new buildings will stand for decades. Without bird‑friendly codes, declining bird populations will face continuing harm. The city must not reverse its plan.
Two quick actions you can take (and two are better than one):
- Write a letter to your Mayor and Councillors. Use the points above or share your own experiences—personalized letters are especially powerful. (address list below) A few lines are helpful.
- Register for the December 18 Public Hearing to submit written comments or speak.
- Register for: Public Hearing here by noon Dec 17 https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/shared/mailforms/clerks/public-hearing/contact.asp
- File number: DAZ 225/2025 – Amendment to Schedule AB Malls and Corridors zoning bylaw 200/2006 – Deleting the bird‑friendly window requirements
- Check off “Opposition” and “Submit comments in writing” (or present in person). Even a single line makes a difference.
Please share this message widely—every voice counts. Together, we can keep Winnipeg’s skies safe for birds and protect biodiversity for generations to come.
With gratitude,
Dave Green / Pam Lucenkiw
Co-Chairs OURS-Winnipeg
https://ours-winnipeg.weebly.com
Councillor addresses:
Mayor Scott Gillingham mayorgillingham@winnipeg.ca
Brian Mayes bmayes@winnipeg.ca
Markus Chambers markuschambers@winnipeg.ca
Matt Allard mattallard@winnipeg.ca
Russ Wyatt rwyatt@winnipeg.ca
Jeff Browaty jbrowaty@winnipeg.ca
Emma Durand Wood edurandwood@winnipeg.ca
Ross Eadie readie@winnipeg.ca
Vivian Santos vsantos@winnipeg.ca
Devi Sharma devi@winnipeg.ca
Janice Lukes jlukes@winnipeg.ca
Shawn Dobson sdobson@winnipeg.ca
Sherri Rollins srollins@winnipeg.ca
Cindy Gilroy cgilroy@winnipeg.ca
Evan Duncan eduncan@winnipeg.ca
John Orlikow jorlikow@winnipeg.ca
OURS-Winnipeg ourswinnipeg@live.ca
Who’s my city councillor? lookup
https://www.winnipeg.ca/city-governance/mayor-council/council-members/contact-information
For those who would like to take a deeper dive:
Media
Winnipeg’s proposed amendment to delete bird‑friendly window requirements was featured in the national news.
CBC Dec 7 2025 Winnipeg moves to scrap bird-friendly window bylaw developers argue is barrier to development, Window treatments among ‘the easiest ways that we can help to reverse the biodiversity crisis’: Nature Canada www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/bird-friendly-bylaws-city-winnipeg-downtown-development-9.6996681
Winnipeg Free Press December 10 2025 One year after approving bird-friendly construction rules, city looks at scrapping them https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2025/12/10/one-year-after-approving-bird-friendly-construction-rules-city-looks-at-scrapping-them#:~:text=The%20City%20of%20Winnipeg%20will,to%20getting%20more%20homes%20built
Nature Canada June 2 2025 The end of municipal bird friendly building policies? Bill 17 spells trouble for birds and building owners naturecanada.ca/news/blog/end-of-municipal-bird-friendly-building-policies/
Text of Bird Friendly amendment 1. B. approved at City Council Hearing Nov. 19 &21, 2024
42.1. New buildings and building retrofits must be designed in accordance with the following standards:
(a) exterior window treatments must be applied to the exterior glass surface up to 16 metres above grade or to the top of the mature tree canopy, whichever is higher;
(b) exterior window treatments must withstand exposure to the elements and window cleaning; and
(c) visual markers must
(i) be spaced no further than 5 x 5 cm (2 x 2 inches) apart;
(ii) be no smaller than 6 mm (1/4 inch) in diameter; and
(iii) stand out in contrast to the transparent or reflective glass surface under varying daylight conditions, with duotone markers used where possible.
ISLAND LAKES RESIDENTS' GROUP 