A Winnipeg monument commemorates the conversion of the Marconi Spur Line of the Canadian Pacific Railway to the Northeast Pioneers Greenway (NPG). Originally built in 1878, the abandoned property was acquired from the railway by businessman-philanthropist John Buhler in 2006 at a cost of $1.5 million. He sold it to the city at cost and donated a further $150,000 for the establishment of a trail to connect East Kildonan and North Kildonan. The monument was officially unveiled on 27 September 2007 by Premier Gary Doer, Mayor Sam Katz, John Buhler, and Councillors Jeff Browaty and Lillian Thomas. The existing railway infrastrcuture was removed in favour of a multi-use pathway, since upgraded and paved in sections. As of 2014, 6.5 kilometers of the NPG trail was fully paved from Talbot Avenue, bearing northeast and running parallel to Raleigh Street and Gateway Road to the city limits at Glenway Avenue. Future plans are to connect this trail to pending and existing networks in East St. Paul, eventually creating a corridor to Birds Hill Provincial Park.
Northeast Pioneers Greenway Monument (September 2014)
Source: Nathan KramerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.90872, W97.09716
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: El Tassi Park (Talbot Avenue, Winnipeg)
“Deal won’t speed up plans for fast transit,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 February 2006, page B2.
“Rail conversion garners award,” Winnipeg Free Press, 20 February 2008, page B5.
“Let’s grab abandoned rail lines, Katz says,” Winnipeg Free Press, 23 October 2009, page B3.
Northeast Pioneers, Winnipeg Trails Association.
This page was prepared by Nathan Kramer.
Page revised: 26 December 2021
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