The First Commerce Design Winnipeg Awards

Celebrating Local Merchant Design 

The Garry Street Keg

HTFC is proud to have collaborated on one of the Grand Prize winning projects. HTFC along with Gord Howard, Owner; David Goyer, David Goyer Architecture Inc.; and Cheryl Watson, Interior Design - Keg International, were nominated for design work in renovating the Keg Steakhouse and Bar at 115 Garry Street. The highlight of this historical building is a new patio space that turns the outdoors into an extension of the restaurant.  The distinctive water feature is reminiscent of a copper water trough, while the pergola and fireplace create a warm and convivial ambience. 

To see all the Grand Prize Winners and to cast your vote for The People's Choice Award visit CommerceDesignWinnipeg.ca or pick up a mail-in ballot at the HTFC office. Contest closes June 11, 2013. 

Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects Life Member Award

Bidding Farewell but Not Goodbye to Natasa Juck  

HTFC congratulates Natasa, on her recent retirement and receipt the Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects Life Member Award. Being only the fifth recipient, and the first woman to receive a Life Member Award, her significant contribution and excellence in the field was celebrated at the 2013 MALA Annual General Meeting (also serendipitously falling on International Women's Day).

Natasa's 28 year career with HTFC is distinguished by her contribution to a diverse body of work and ability to bring her passion for design, horticulture, biology and ecology to each project. During her time as an Associate, she was a mentor and inspiration to many staff members, passing on her extensive knowledge to new generations of landscape architects, designers and technicians.

Natasa obtained her Bachelor degree in Landscape Architecture from Brno University of Technology in the Czech Republic and her Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Manitoba. She worked in Guelph before moving to Winnipeg with her family in 1973 and began work at Hilderman Witty Crosby Hanna and Associates in 1985. In the community, Natasa is an active member of Manitoba Association of Landscape Architects (MALA), a volunteer for the Herb Society of Manitoba, and a lecturer on landscape design and ecology.

We at HTFC will miss her dearly, but wish her happy days ahead travelling, spending time with grandchildren and in her lovely garden.

Inside CSLA Awards of Excellence 

Jury Duty

It was a special privilege for HTFC Principal, Jeffery Frank to be invited to join his colleagues from across Canada to act as juror for the 2013 CSLA Awards of Excellence entries. The Canadian Society of Landscape Architects Awards of Excellence honour distinctive design, ground-breaking research, and sustainable landscape management. Each year, jurors spend an intensive multi-day session tasked with selecting the most exceptional projects from many areas of expertise.

The winners of the 2013 CSLA Awards will be announced later this spring with formal recognition at the 2013 CSLA Congress, hosted by the Saskatchewan Association of Landscape Architects, July 10-14, in Saskatoon.

Parks, Playgrounds and Festivals 

HTFC Prepares the Ground

With summer upon us, people are seeking a dose of outdoor recreation and relaxation tonic at their favourite parks, playgrounds and festivals. We invite you to have a look at these current projects on the boards at HTFC that involve improving and redeveloping some of Winnipeg's iconic greenspaces as well as the design of few new ones.

Aboriginal Spirit Park

Aboriginal Spirit Park is the transformation of several, vacant gravel lots along Sherbrook Avenue. Over several years, HTFC volunteered with the Spence Neighbourhood Association to bring attention to the need for a community park that would function as a ceremonial space in the neighbourhood. In 2010 the City of Winnipeg approved the designation of the land for the park. Next month final plantings will go in and the park will be opened officially as Grizzly Bear Park.

The park includes a ceremonial space, seating areas, traditional plantings for harvesting and teaching, and a play structure for young children. The Spence Neighbourhood Association will provide stewardship of the park in the years to come.

The Kilcona Park/Harbourview Recreation Complex Strategic Renewal and Action Plan 

Through an intensive consultation process, HTFC, Prairie Architects Inc, MMM Group Inc. and Meyers Norris Penny, are developing a long term plan for a sustainable community amenity more reflective of Winnipeg's current and projected recreational needs. Do you visit and use Kilcona Park and want to share your insights? Check out the City of Winnipeg project website where you can provide us with your feedback.

WFF Big Bluestem Stage

The Winnipeg Folk Festival

Celebrating 40 years of the festival, WFF is embarking on an ambitious multi-year site redevelopment plan with HTFC, Milestone Management, Syverson Monteyne Architecture, KGS Engineering and Wolfrom Engineering. If the spring weather cooperates, festival patrons this July will experience the new heart of the site, the Festival Village. The Festival Village includes a central plaza with a sculptural windswept tower, new pathways, wayfinding posts, a donor recognition area, expanded seating areas, and the first phase of shade tree planting. Along its northern edge a new food vendor permanent structure designed by Syverson Monteyne Architecture. The handmade village, music store, and tavern will all be relocated around the plaza, creating a bustling gathering place from morning until night. Two new forest stages will also be opened this year so prepare to relax within the fragrant spruce forest and soak it all in. Join us at the Winnipeg Folk Festival July 10-14.

La Barriere Crossings School-Bellemer Park 

& Parc La Salle School-Parc La Salle

Two St. Norbert schoolgrounds, each adjacent to a city park, will be enhanced this summer with new walking trails, a fitness circuit, outdoor classrooms and a games area. This City of Winnipeg project, championed by the school Principals and the local Councillor, will provide much needed upgrades for students and the greater St. Norbert community.

Upper Fort Garry Heritage Park

Construction begins this month on the first phase of the park site development that will include hardscaping, walkways and raised plinths that will form the framework for planting and interpretive elements in spring 2014.

Gull soars above the Whitecap Pavilion

Kenora Habourfront

Long recognized as one of Winnipeg's favourite weekend playgrounds, Kenora's Harbourfront with its stunning tensile structure, now officially named Whitecap Pavilion, is the place for summer entertainment. Plan to take in the Wednesday weekly farmers' market hosting over 90 vendors, an evening concert or the August long-weekend Harbourfest. HTFC is pleased to be continuing work with the City of Kenora on the Downtown Revitalization Plan by providing ongoing design and planning for the surrounding main commercial streets.