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Dear Readers...

Dear Readers, Pictured above is a mighty Cottonwood tree that stands on the lower shores of the Assiniboine River near my Wolseley home. It’s just one of the trees I write about in Out on a Limb, a book about the extraordinary value and benefits of our urban forests. I had tremendous fun writing the book, but now the time has come to let it go to find its place in the world. Which can be a bit nerve-wracking, because you never know how readers will respond. So when I got the

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TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Dear Readers...

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Who’s Afraid of Social Democracy?

I’ve been following Zohran Mamdani’s rise from relative obscurity to mayor of the largest city in America not just with interest, but with a kind of wild enthusiasm. And I suspect that some of you out there might be feeling the same. That’s because Mamdani ran on a list of pledges that haven’t, with a few notable exceptions, been heard out of a civic politician’s mouth in many a moon - the chief one being the promise of a just and helping hand for the millions of New Yorkers

Jan 293 min read

Stay Tuned For The Launch Of My New Book! COMING IN MAY 2026:

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: It’s often said that urban trees are the only form of city infrastructure that actually increase in value and capacity over time. So why have so many North American cities historically underfunded their care and maintenance? And why do we continue to indiscriminately mow down city trees – and entire urban forests? In Out On A Limb , Erna Buffie answers these questions and more as she explores the secret lives and extraordinary benefits of urban trees, the c

Jan 121 min read

Who Calls The Shots On City Land Use

Downtown Winnipeg Everybody thinks it, but no one wants to say it out loud – the fact that for decades, our city council and its administration have, to a large degree, been in thrall to the construction and development industries. And on one level, you can understand why. After all, these are the folks who build things – everything from high rises, homes and sewer plants to the endless kilometers of roads that service our over-expanded city. But while the construction and de

Jan 74 min read

Welcome to My Blog! It’s time to talk about nature, climate, and a whole host of other things!

They call me “the tree lady” - I’ve been called worse! - because I’m passionate about protecting and expanding Winnipeg’s urban forest. But first and foremost, I’m writer, filmmaker and environmental activist with a wide range of interests. In addition to publishing a novel and short stories, I’ve written and directed more than a dozen award-winning science and nature documentaries for CBC’s The Nature of Things With David Suzuki.

Recently, I’ve written a series of opinion editorials for The Winnipeg Free Press on urban issues, from climate change and trees to downtown renewal.

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FEATURED POST

Dear Readers...

TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Dear Readers...

Who’s Afraid of Social Democracy?

Stay Tuned For The Launch Of My New Book! COMING IN MAY 2026:

Who Calls The Shots On City Land Use

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