There will be a tree put up at City Hall this year after all. It will just be artificial.

The City of Winnipeg has bought an artificial Christmas tree this year, saying forestry crews and equipment that would usually be used to move and install a real tree are still focused on cleanup from the Thanksgiving storm

For years, Winnipeggers have donated spruce trees to Winnipeg City Hall for Christmas festivities.

But a snowstorm in early October has kept crews too busy clearing debris to install a real tree this year.

The city says the 8.5-metre artificial tree will be installed in the City Hall courtyard in the coming weeks.