ManitobaThe owner of a Charleswood home that was once the site of a popular Christmas display has begun clearing trees from the property and plans to demolish the house after repeated break-ins, vandalism and thefts. Roblin Boulevard property was once home to elaborate model train, Christmas lights displayCameron MacLean · CBC News · Posted: Aug 29, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours agoPaul Taylor says his childhood home has become a target for squatters and thieves. He’s decided to demolish it and an adjacent vacant house he also owns and clear the trees from the property out of safety concerns. (Warren Kay/CBC)The owner of a Charleswood home that was once the site of a popular Christmas display has begun clearing trees from the property and plans to demolish the house after repeated break-ins, vandalism and thefts. Paul Taylor’s childhood home sits far back from Roblin Boulevard, on a heavily wooded lot along the edge of Assiniboine Park. For years his dad, Bill Taylor, would transform the property into a Christmas scene, including 100,000 lights and structures. His father also built what was called the Assiniboine Valley Railway, a model train that children could ride through the trees. Taylor took over the property after his dad died in 2013, and his mother continued to live there.But in October 2023, Taylor’s family returned from a week-long family vacation to find squatters had broken in.”The entire house was ransacked and robbed of all of its valuables,” Taylor said. Taylor’s dad, Bill, created the Assiniboine Valley Railway, a model train that children could ride through the trees. He would also decorate the property in an elaborate Christmas display. (CBC)Thieves ripped out wiring, cut power to the sump pump and flooded the basement, causing black mould. Since then, he said thieves have continued to break in and take things. Windows have been smashed, debris litters the ground and graffiti covers the buildings, including “freaky” messages referencing his dad’s birth and death dates, Taylor said.In one incident after the first break-in, insurance company employees were about to enter the house when a man came out wearing a balaclava and holding a butcher knife.”Despite our greatest efforts to try to secure it … people keep coming and going in there, and doing drugs, committing crimes, continuing to do more damage,” Taylor said.’Completely secluded’With the house set far from the road and obstructed by trees, it’s hard to monitor.”You’re completely secluded,” Taylor said. “You always feel like you’re taking your life in your hands every time.”Safety concerns, including for the people breaking in, led Taylor to decide to demolish the house — along with an adjacent vacant house which he also owns — and clear the surrounding trees.”If you enable them by providing a venue like this, then you’re just part of the problem. So I don’t want to be part of the problem anymore,” he said.Taylor plans to demolish both his former home and an adjacent vacant house, which he also owns. (Warren Kay/CBC)On Tuesday, a crew with an excavator began clearing the trees. But on Wednesday, the City of Winnipeg ordered work to stop.”Currently, the Winnipeg Zoning By-law requires that a person obtain a development permit in respect of any development, which includes various site works and the removal of vegetation,” city spokesperson Deborah Bowers wrote in an email.”Based on this, a development permit is required for the removal of trees. The City has not received any development permit applications for this property related to vegetation removal.”Taylor said he didn’t know he needed a permit to clear trees from his property. He’s now applied for one, and expects the tree clearing to continue.Neighbours shockedBrian Paterson has lived next door for 67 years. The sight of hundreds of broken trees came as a shock.”I knew there was plans, I knew something was happening, but I just didn’t realize the scope of — I hesitate to say destruction, but that’s what it is,” Paterson said.The City of Winnipeg ordered tree clearing to stop on Wednesday because a development permit had not been obtained. (Warren Kay/CBC)Larry Stefanec, another neighbour, said knew nothing about the owner’s plans.”He might have really good ideas, and I think sharing that with the [other] property owners around does go a long way, especially in this community,” Stefanec said.Taylor said it wasn’t an easy decision to clear the property, but the safety risks were too much to bear.”Even if the houses are gone … it’s still a nice hiding place,” he said. “It’s private property. We pay oodles of insurance on it. Now the things that are lurking in the woods, they just have to be exposed.”Taylor has no immediate plans to develop the property. It falls within part of the Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Protection Area, which prohibits new residential housing construction. “Who knows the future? Right now it’s just about safety,” he said.Charleswood homeowner demolishing vacant houses, clearing trees after repeat break-insA Winnipeg property was once home to a popular model train and Christmas lights display, but the owner says safety concerns from repeat break-ins and vandalism have become too much to bear.ABOUT THE AUTHORCameron MacLean is a journalist for CBC Manitoba living in Winnipeg, where he was born and raised. He has more than a decade of experience reporting in the city and across Manitoba, covering a wide range of topics, including courts, politics, housing, arts, health and breaking news. Email story tips to cameron.maclean@cbc.ca.
Repeat break-ins, thefts push Charleswood homeowner to decide to demolish vacant houses, clear trees
