Greetings from the Board President
This past summer, the Henteleff Park Foundation [HPF] celebrated its 20th tree planting anniversary. More than 60 volunteers planted about 150 trees and shrubs in an area of the Park designated as the ’Food Forest’. The weather was perfect for the event; a calm sunny sky, and not too hot! Nature supplied the right working conditions; the participants supplied the energy and enthusiasm to get the ‘job’ done!
Although there were additional trees planted throughout the Park by staff this summer, the focus of the Foundation was on the creation of the Food Forest. This planting was unique for the HPF, as it is the first time we engaged a landscape architect to assist us by drafting a formal design of the area before planting.
Nicole Reenders spent countless volunteer hours designing and redrafting the forest layout to meet the requirements of our Site Management [SMC] Committee led by Marilyn Latta. We appreciate Nicole’s dedication and patience, and the work of SMC members.
Our main objective this season was to highlight trees and shrubs which produce edible fruit or nuts for humans and wildlife while providing an aesthetically pleasing area for personal reflection.
A project of this magnitude would not have been possible without the support of our 2024 funding agencies for the summer staff, and the purchase of trees and shrubs. The Board extends a big thank-you to:
- Canada Summer Jobs Program
- TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
- Tree Canada [Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries sponsor]
- Urban/Hometown Green Team Program [Province of Manitoba]
In addition to our financial sponsors, we express gratitude to the staff from City of Winnipeg Parks and Open Space Division. We also recognize the ongoing support of our elected officials: Terry Duguid, Mike Moyes and Markus Chambers. The annual planting event also received support from Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries, Ron Paul Nursery and Tim Hortons. We also want to acknowledge the donations of: Philip Ronald at Riverbend Orchards for 60 black currants; Albert Sidof and Penny Summers for the wildflowers; and Simon Laplante for the fence rails. Lastly, I want to thank the members of our incredible Board and the many volunteers who help keep the Park in pristine condition!
As our 2024 season ends, we celebrate our achievements and say goodbye to three Board members who have finished their terms. This year we want to express our gratitude to Ian Keenan, Corinne Caron and Marilyn Latta for their commitment and dedication to the HPF Board. These Board members have played a pivotal role in improving how the Board functions, and we will miss them at the board table.
As we begin planning for 2025, stay tuned as the HPF Board begins to formally launch Henteleff Park’s ‘Arboretum’.
John Borody
President, Henteleff Park Foundation
Everybody Gets Fed in our Food Forest
A food forest is a plant-based woodland eco-system that benefits all living creatures. The concept is a scientific ecological approach to supporting life by providing nourishment and shelter for a variety of living things. A food forest is a human-planned, self-sustaining ecosystem intended to mimic a natural forest.
Take a look at our story board of the Food Forest Planting event to see how we moved from plan to action!! https://online.fliphtml5.com/lmkzz/wxom/
So why plant a Food Forest?
There are many benefits:
- Sequestering carbon
- Reducing rain run-off
- Conserving water
- Protecting and restore soil
- Increasing biodiversity
- Producing a vast array of food.
Speaking of Food, here are some pictures of what trees bore fruit in a very short time:
It is a self-sustaining woodland that features large fruit and nut bearing edibles in an over-story below which are dwarf fruit trees, fruit-bearing shrubs, climbing vines, herbaceous plants and vegetables found on and in the ground. The rhizosphere below the soil surface is particularly significant to a food forest since it is the most active portion of the environment. Soil is alive with millions of organisms including bacteria, fungi, alga, protozoa and a wide variety of fauna such as springtails, mites, earthworms, nematodes and ants, all performing a multitude of roles.
A successful food forest provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including deer, coyotes, birds, frogs, raccoons and foxes. It is a place for many creatures to find food, shelter, to nest, rest, reproduce and hunt.
Beneficial insects which include predators, parasitoids and pollinators, are attracted to food forests while searching for nectar, pollen and prey. Many food forest plants rely on insects and insects, in turn, feed birds and reptiles. Food forests come with responsibilities. Creating habitat in a human-dominated environment requires an understanding of the species that live in the food forest and an obligation to provide care and respect so that all life can exist in harmony.
Liz Sellors
Member of the Henteleff Park Site Committee
JOIN THE MOVEMENT!
Discover the Joy of Volunteering
Volunteering at Henteleff Park is more than just giving your time—it’s an opportunity to connect with nature, engage with your community, and learn alongside fellow enthusiasts. We spoke with some of our dedicated volunteers, who shared their experiences, motivations, and the joy they find in contributing to this beautiful green space.
Their stories highlight the incredible benefits of volunteering, from gaining valuable skills to enjoying the tranquility of the park.
- How long have you been volunteering at Henteleff?
Hayden: two summers
Helen: 3 summers
Nancy: I’ve only been volunteering for a few months and have enjoyed every minute mainly because I can work to whatever suits my schedule and abilities.
Neil: I have volunteered for 3 years
- Why do you volunteer at the Park?
Hayden: I volunteer at the park to gain working/volunteering experience and to help out my community and the environment.
Helen: I know Marilyn (Board member) and her work with the tall grass prairie with Nature Manitoba.
Nancy: I love being outside. Being the task oriented and worker bee that I am, I enjoy the weeding and whatever else needs to be done to help maintain a beautiful outdoor space that can be enjoyed by many.
Neil: I volunteer because I agree with the purposes, goals, and achievements-to-date of the park. Weeding gives me lots of upper-body and aerobic exercise to add to my daily non-Henteleff walks and hikes. I do similar volunteering on our wild prairie riverbank once-in-a while at the Aki Centre. As well, I really enjoy talking to many of the park “walkers” who stop to ask what I am doing, ask about the park, then often go on to tell me what they like about the park, if they live nearby, and what they do/did for a living and hobbies.
- What do you like the most about volunteering at Henteleff Park?
Hayden: I like working at the food garden most because it is a new project and needs lots of care.
Helen: I guess picking weeds gets you out of the house! We do walk quite often during the year at the park so I felt I should contribute to its upkeep.
Nancy: There is so much to learn about the plants and trees. I appreciate the women who are keen to share their knowledge and I try to soak up and retain as much as possible.
Neil: I most like the more natural ambiance of the park, the numerous walking paths, the more specific “educational” such as the prairie area and the “food trees” area, and the fact that it encourages more quiet public enjoyment.
- What have you learned while volunteering at the Park?
Hayden: I have learned teamwork, which plants are invasive, and how to appreciate Henteleff Park even more!
Helen: There is a h!@## of a lot of vetch in the world!!!
Nancy: Thank goodness for this beautiful space in the city! I look forward to coming back in the spring. Until then, take care and keep well.
Neil: I already knew a reasonable amount about wild MB plants, but I have learned a few added tidbits from Marilyn and from the newsletters. I have, however, learned a lot about farming, the ag industry, and “weeds” from chatting with some of the regular walkers .
We look forward to seeing you again in the spring season.
Interpretive walks make you fall in love with the Park
Every time I walk in Henteleff Park, I am taken aback by the beauty of nature, the secluded stillness and the peaceful ambiance.
When I heard that Marilyn Latta, former Board Director and Chair of the Henteleff Park Site Committee, was hosting the last of three interpretative walks in mid August, I eagerly seized the opportunity to attend and learn as much as possible about the park that I had quickly come to love.
A group of six, including three repeat visitors and a few newcomers like myself, gathered in the parking lot. The walk, initially planned for one and a half hours, quickly extended to two hours due to the numerous questions and stops along the way.
As a new director, the experience was educational and entertaining—a perfect way to spend a Saturday morning in the summer sunshine. However, I truly grasped the value of the interpretative walk during my subsequent solo visit to the park. I found myself recognizing the names of many trees and shrubs, a newfound familiarity that deepened my connection with the landscape.
This was my park. I recognized it. A nod to a Manitoba Maple and a smile at a Mountain Ash now carried a deeper significance. Previously, I would have offered a courteous nod while passing by; now, I greet them by name, like newly introduced friends.
Next summer, keep your eyes open for announcements of Marilyn’s interpretative walks at Henteleff Park. Experience the joy of discovering the beauty around you and forming your own connections with this remarkable place. Let the park become not just a backdrop, but a part of your story.
Anjen Mc Lean
Board Director, Henteleff Park Foundation
What makes Henteleff Park Special?
Nik Friesen-Hughes, University of Manitoba Arborist student completed his Master’s in Landscape Architecture dissertation on Henteleff Park. He shares his experience of what makes this park special.
Henteleff Park is unique as a home for a diversity of tree species and varieties that are not often found in other parks in Winnipeg. This is in part due to the different habitats present in the park, proximity to the Red River, the site’s history as a tree nursery introducing a variety of species, and the ongoing efforts of the Henteleff Park Foundation and volunteers in planting additional trees. I was surprised to learn that many of the existing significant trees stand as remnants from the park’s time as a tree nursery.
I will never forget the first time I walked into the southwest point of the park – an open field nestled along the bend of the Red River opening to views along and across the river. I’m excited to see what future trees and plants will call this area home.
My studies at Henteleff Park changed my perspective about trees as I began looking at their entirety: the forms, textures, and colours, how they change through the seasons, and how they relate to other trees and plants above, besides, underneath and in-between. Moving forward, I’m inspired to plant trees that form healthy, sustainable, and ecologically beneficial plant communities.
We say Thank You to Marilyn Latta
Marilyn Latta has been instrumental in the development of Henteleff Park as you know it. For many years she has given strategic guidance as a member of the Board and practical hands on, (literally fingers in the dirt) support as Chairperson of the Site Committee. Marilyn has decided to step back from some of the responsibilities although she still plans to remain involved with the park.
Marilyn shares her thoughts on her experiences at Henteleff Park and what makes the park special to her:
What I enjoy most about Henteleff Park is the diversity of the landscape. You can wander through the prairie with its blooming wildflowers and the big bluestem stretching up over your head.
You can pause at the creek and listen to the frogs in spring, or watch a Bald eagle soar overhead. You can smell the pine trees as you walk the spongy wood chip trails. You can watch the deer, especially the young fawns, as they frolic in the meadows. I must admit though I despair of the damage they do eating our newly planted trees and knocking tree cages over.
My enjoyment of Henteleff Park goes back to the 1980’s when like many others, I occasionally cycled through the City of Winnipeg Tree Nursery on St. Mary’s Road when no one was around. Little did I realize back then, how intimately involved I would become with the trees in what is now Henteleff Park.
In 2002, when the new Henteleff Foundation Board was formed, the board was looking for someone from an established organization to serve on the board. And so, as chair Nature Manitoba’s Habitat Conservation Committee, I was asked to become involved. “You won’t have to do anything” I was assured, “Just come to the board meetings”. How could I have been so naive?
I was on the board from 2002 until 2013 and then again from 2018 to now, largely serving as the Site Manager even during the years I was not on the board. The City Naturalists Services Branch (NSB) helped the first few years by writing grant applications and supervising the summer students but then we were on our own.
For someone who had a small yard, it was a heady experience for me to serve as the Site Manager and have a 16-hectare (40-acre) park to work with. But I was an experienced gardener and manager, as well as experienced in identifying native plants especially in the prairie landscape, and was ready for this challenge. I soon learned a lot more about riparian habitat and the staff at NSB was always there to offer advice.
The landscape in Henteleff Park has changed enormously since 2002. At that time the back section of the park was mainly open except for the rows of trees and the remnant forest. The Van Hull development hadn’t started yet and grassy fields adjoined the park.
The renaturalization of the river and creek banks, the trail system and interpretive signs, the tall grass prairie restoration and most recently, the food forest, have all been brought to realization over the years by the Henteleff Foundation and I am proud to have been a part of it.
Although I love the diversity of the park, it is the people that have made my time at Henteleff Park memorable. I have had the privilege of working with a variety of board members, city staff, and summer staff over the years and greatly enjoyed leading interpretive walks for the general public.
Then there are the many regular park users. I can’t tell you how many people I have met over the years who have said to me “I love Henteleff Park, it is my favorite place to go”.
To everyone I have met over the years, I may not remember your names but I do remember your smiles and look forward to seeing you again in Henteleff Park.
HOW TO DONATE TO HENTELEFF PARK FOUNDATION
Did you know that Henteleff Park is owned by the City of Winnipeg and managed by the Henteleff Park Foundation? Our non-profit, volunteer run registered charity employs summer students, plants trees and shrubs, maintains trails and provides interpretive programs. We rely on grants and individual donations to help us fulfill our mission of providing stewardship for Henteleff Park.
Donations can be made to Henteleff Park Foundation through the CanadaHelps website or by using this QR Code.
1964 St. Mary’s Road
Winnipeg, MB R2N 4G8
Henteleff Park Foundation Board of Directors 2024
John Borody, Board Chair & President
Betty Parry, Vice-Chair
Huong Giang Nguyen, Treasurer
Corinne Caron, Outgoing Secretary
Simran Bikral, Incoming Secretary
Terri Ashcroft, Director
Roddy Adjei, Director
Owen Clune, Director
Doug Drobot, Director
Les Janzen, Director
Marilyn Latta, Director
Joel Wortley, Director
Elizabeth Sellors, Director
Anjen McLean, Director
Yude Henteleff, President Emeritus
All photo credits: Wes Braun
My companions on the trail through Henteleff Park this peaceful October day are two Whitetail deer: a doe and her fawn. As I stop, they stop. We stare at each other, share a few seconds of recognition, and then continue on our separate ways, simply enjoying the natural beauty of this lovely 12-hectare tract of land along the Red River in St. Vital.
ident of The Waterfront condo complex, who closely monitors wildlife in the park, counted five bucks and 14 does and fawns in one week in late October. During the fall mating season, when bucks are in pursuit of a mate, bucks spar with other bucks to determine dominance and to compete for receptive does. It is especially important for people and their pets to give deer extra space this time of the year.
We are now able to turn these long term goals into realities by creating an arboretum and a food forest in the Park, a process that will take a number of years to bring to fruition.
Closely related to the idea of an arboretum, a demonstration food forest is a diverse collection of trees and shrubs that provide edibles. When certain species are planted together the food forest can mimic the patterns and interactions found in naturally occurring ecosystems. A food forest will serve as an additional Park educational space while benefiting the adjacent Tall Grass Prairie Restoration by attracting pollinators. We hope that this food forest will add a unique feature to complement the Park’s existing landscape and ecosystems while also giving a sense of continuity with both the Métis and market garden history of this land.
Our first group of Thursday morning volunteers met on May 24th and cleaned the Interpretive Centre area. They washed all of the signs, swept and weeded. These efforts are much appreciated and the Interpretive Centre looks great. Volunteers are welcome to meet in the parking lot every Thursday at 8:30 am. Tasks will vary each week.
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, our Volunteer Tree Planting on June 11th was well-attended and successful. Fifty-two volunteers planted 87 tree and shrubs. During the summer, staff were able to plant an additional 211 trees and shrubs. Species planted included, but were not limited to, Manitoba maple, American linden (Basswood), Bur oak, Paper birch, Ironwood, White spruce, Nannyberry, Highbush cranberry, Snowberry, Mountain maple, Wild plum, Wild black currant, Shrubby cinquefoil, Wood rose, and several types of Dogwood.
