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Campus Beautification day people smiling and holding flowers

Change of date: Campus Beautification Day

Major beautification project will see university plant 100 elm trees on the Fort Garry campus

May 21, 2014 — 

Campus Beautification Day will now take place on June 6 (rain date June 9) on both the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses from 9 a.m. till noon.

Plant or rake or weed or spread soil and mulch. However you wish to help make your campus a place to call home, join us.
Refreshments and lunch for all volunteers! Bring your travel coffee mug and water bottle to this eco-friendly event.

For more information, talk to your department contact or contact Leah Naumik at 204-474-8912 or campbeau [at] umanitoba [dot] ca

 

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Delay of Campus Beautification Day 2014 to Friday, June 6

The late spring and slow ascent into summer temperatures this year has resulted in a decision to delay Campus Beautification 2014.  While the weather is starting to feel warmer, the ground remains too cold to sustain root growth.  Rather than risk losing a high percentage of our plantings, we are delaying until Friday June 6 at both Fort Garry and Bannatyne Campus, with a rain date of Monday, June 9.

Lunch will be served and prizes will be drawn at the Curry Place walkway at noon.

This year’s Beautification Day theme will include flowers and clean up as we have historically enjoyed. In addition this year we will be contributing to a replacement plan for many of the Memorial Elms which have passed their life cycle. We are planting 100 Memorial Elms this year on campus in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the First World War and the first planting of the Avenue of Elms along Chancellor Matheson Drive.

If any further information is required or questions arise, please do not hesitate to email

CampBeau [at] UManitoba [dot] ca

 

Sincerely,

Andrew Konowalchuk |MArch|BES|MAA|MRAIC

Associate Vice-President (Administration) | University of Manitoba

202 Administration Building | Winnipeg, MB  R3T 2N2 | 204-474-8758

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Avenue of Elms, preserving this legacy

1950 photo showing avenue of elms flooded out

This photo was on the cover of the Bulletin newspaper in July 1950. It shows the impact of the flood, but also dramatically highlights the Avenue of Elms.

During the First and Second World Wars, the University of Manitoba served as a training ground for troops and watched some of its best and brightest to go off and fight for their country. Their sacrifice was recognized after the First World War with the planting of the Avenue of Elms stretching from the Administration Building to Pembina Highway along Chancellor Matheson Drive.

Staff, students and alumni of the Manitoba Agricultural College planted the trees to honour the students who gave up their lives fighting in the First World War. The names of the fallen soldiers are inscribed in the entrance to the administration building and the man who came up with the idea for the Avenue of the Elms is buried beneath the first elm. The plaque at the base of the tree reads:

 

In Memorium
Wilfrid John Rae, B.S.A.,M.S.c
1899-1979
Whose cremated remains are buried under
the elm tree he planted in 1923
opposite the south west corner of the
Administration Building site.

Many of these elms are entering their twilight years and so the university is developing a reforestation plan. The plan begins with General Services planting 100 elms on May 22, Campus Beautification Day, to preserve this living memorial.

 

Last year’s fun

 

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