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Winnipeg Free Press

Don Woodstock wants Winnipeggers to give him a chance

Fort Rouge Don Woodstock says he would make Winnipeg a sports capital instead of a crime capital, if Winnipeg voters give him a chance as mayor. Don is an outlier, both in the Black community and in the local political arena. He is a plain speaker, says what he feels and is determined to get the attention of voters. Over the years, he has run unsuccessfully for city councillor, for the provincial Liberal Party and for the federal Green Party, and he has even run against Brian Bowman and Scott Gillingham for mayor. But these setbacks will not deter Don from trying again. He sees them as stepping stones. 'I am learning a lot,' he says soberly. 'I ran six times for elected office, and I won't stop until I win. I will run for office of the mayor again when the time comes.' Supplied photo Don Woodstock will go down in history as the first Black person to run for mayor in the City of Winnipeg. He says he intends to run again. Originally from St. Elisabeth, Jamaica, Don arrived in Winnipeg by way of Toronto and then Vancouver through his employment as a salesman with ADT Alarm. He quit his job with ADT to become a bus operator with Winnipeg Transit. He met his wife while working with the city and they have been happily together for 15 years now. Don has two sons and one daughter. In 2000, Don checked out all the provincial political parties and Liberal leader Dr. Jon Gerrard responded. 'In 2001, I campaigned with him for 10 days up north. I was so impressed with his level of work ethic, attention to the needs of the people and his care, that I decided to run in 2003 for the Liberals in Southdale,' Don explained. 'My message then was 'It's time for Change' and the incumbent, after 17 years, lost.' Asked whether he is discouraged by so many losses, Don admitted, 'It hurts a little, but I take comfort in the fact that there is a God, and my foundation comes from God.' A successful businessman and owner of JamRock Security Inc. which has been named top alarm company in Manitoba for several years, including 2025, Don shared that 95 per cent of his customers are non-Black. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. Don confidently said that none of his competitors in municipal elections have done more for Winnipeg 'on their own time with their own dime' than he has. 'My wife and I organized football clinics for about 150 youths for seven years,' he said. 'We believe in young people and there is a need to channel their vibrant energies in a positive way. Positive activities over having a life of crime.' A recipient of the Black History Month Award for Community Service, Don has served as vice-president of the Jamaica Association of Manitoba and said he was instrumental in organizing the first outdoor street party celebrating Jamaican independence in Manitoba. He was also instrumental in reuniting the Jamaica Association with the CCOM (The Council of Caribbean Organizations of Manitoba) to promote unity in the Caribbean community. 'When (I am) elected, the citizens will have a politician that will work for them and not their cronies,' he said Whatever happens, Don Woodstock will go down in history as the first Black person to run for mayor in the City of Winnipeg – and that's something. Beatrice WatsonFort Rouge community correspondent Beatrice Watson is a community correspondent for Fort Rouge. Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.