Latest news with #DowntownCommunitySafetyPartnership
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Downtown safety patrols stepped up for summer
The Downtown Community Safety Partnership is expanding its outreach patrols this summer to better protect and police residents and visitors, including thousands of wildfire evacuees who've sought refuge in Winnipeg. Starting Tuesday, there will be more crisis and outreach workers and service navigators working on streets and in parks in the core. The DCSP summer action plan will run for 16 weeks, up from a 12-week pilot in 2024. RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS Greg Burnett, executive director of Downtown Community Safety Partnership Executive director Greg Burnett said 84 per cent of the people that his crews helped last year received what they needed 'right away.' 'Together, we reduced calls to 911 by 220,' said Burnett, who oversees the collective founded in 2020 to provide non-emergency response, outreach and intervention services. 'But this has to be more than statistics and data. It's about helping people where they're at and meeting needs, proactively.' The Manitoba government has earmarked $500,000 for the initiative that is focused on prevention, detection and intervention of all kinds. The office of Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham is contributing an additional $50,000. The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has also pitched in with a $25,000 commitment. Burnett said the funding will support DCSP, which has a team of about 75 people, and be shared with Bear Clan Patrol, OPK (Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin) and others who do similar work in the community. He, along with representatives from all three financial backers, made the announcement at The Forks on Friday, one week after a random assault took place on the grounds. Shortly after 11 p.m. on June 6, an attacker — who remained at large Friday — beat a stranger until he was unconscious and stole an item from the 30-year-old victim before fleeing. The unprovoked assault took place outside, between the main market building and the Johnston Terminal, the Winnipeg Police Service said earlier this week. WPS has put a call out for tips to locate the male suspect who is described as Indigenous and between 25 to 35 years old, with a medium to heavy build and tattoos on both arms. Speaking to reporters about the summer safety plan, the mayor said he had just referred a case to outreach staff that involved an individual he believed could benefit from their assistance. Gillingham said he saw a man on a downtown sidewalk who appeared to be in distress, although he was conscious and talking, upon arriving to work Friday. The situation did not warrant police or paramedic intervention, he said, noting on-site security advised him they would call DCSP on his behalf. 'It's these kind of partnerships, playing out in real time, that make sure individuals within our city, who are struggling, are getting the help that they need,' Gillingham told a news conference. Emergency responders, community-serving organizations and front-line patrols are carrying out the multi-pronged plan that will be in place from June to October. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The partners are focused on three areas: criminal detection and prevention; community safety and engagement; and supports for people with mental health and addiction challenges. 'Our mission is clear — to create a welcoming and safe and vibrant downtown where everyone feels supported. Summer is short in Manitoba and we all want to make the most of it,' Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Friday. The 2025 plan builds off the success of the rollout that took place last summer, Wiebe said. A dozen new WPS constables have started working in the downtown area since graduating last week. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. 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.
Winnipeg Free Press
13-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Summer safety plan gets more money, to start earlier in 2025
The Downtown Community Safety Partnership is ramping up foot patrols to protect and police residents and visitors, including wildfire evacuees who've sought refuge in Winnipeg, as part of its now-annual summer action plan. The Manitoba government has earmarked $500,000 for the initiative. The office of Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham is contributing an additional $50,000. The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has also pitched in with $25,000. Representatives from all three organizations made the announcement at The Forks on Friday. This year's summer action plan will officially launch on June 17 with a focus on criminal detection, community engagement and mental health and addictions supports. It is scheduled to span 16 weeks, up from the inaugural 12-week initiative in 2024. 'Downtown is buzzing with new developments, big crowds at Sea Bears and Goldeyes games, summer festivals and Portage and Main reopening in a few weeks,' Mayor Scott Gillingham said in a news release. 'To keep that momentum going, we've got to make sure people feel safe. Investing in the Summer Action Plan will put more patrols on the street, connect more people to support and make downtown safer for everyone.'
Global News
13-06-2025
- Global News
‘Manitoba's downtown': Province launches safety initiative for Winnipeg's city centre
The Manitoba government says it's committing $500,000 toward a summer safety action plan for downtown Winnipeg. The 16-week project, which launches Tuesday, will focus on crime prevention, community safety, mental health and addiction supports, all via the Downtown Community Safety Partnership. The City of Winnipeg has contributed $50,000 toward the project, and the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is kicking in $25,000. 'For Manitobans enjoying a festival with loved ones or getting to work early in the morning, your safety is important,' Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Friday. 'This is why our government is committed to making Winnipeg's downtown a safer place and we are pleased to continue supporting the Downtown Community Safety Partnership and its important work in helping keep Manitobans safe and healthy.' View image in full screen Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe. Global News Premier Wab Kinew called downtown Winnipeg 'Manitoba's downtown' and said it's important for visitors and residents to feel safe. Story continues below advertisement 'Our government is tough on crime and tough on the causes of crime, and we have to put both of those kinds of responses together if we really want to make downtown safer for the long term.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Greg Burnett of the Downtown Community Safety Partnership said the initiative will help make the downtown a destination everyone can safely appreciate. 'The vision of a safer and healthier downtown gets closer when we have even more caring eyes and ears on its streets,' Burnett said. Twelve new provincially funded police officers have also started patrolling downtown Winnipeg.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- CTV News
Library association says rise in violent incidents ‘not a surprise' after Community Connections closure
A new report shows incidents at Millennium Library are on the rise this year. CTV's Joseph Bernacki takes a closer look at the data. A new report shows incidents at Millennium Library are on the rise this year. CTV's Joseph Bernacki takes a closer look at the data. A concerning rise in violent incidents at the Millennium Library came as no surprise to a group that fought to save the facility's community resources space after its funding was cut last year. According to an administrative report before the city's standing policy committee on community services, incidents at the downtown library jumped nearly 70 per cent in the first three months of 2025, with spikes in assaults, harassment, and vandalism. Kirsten Wurmann, with the Manitoba Library Association, said the rise correlates to the shuttering of Community Connections – a resource hub housed in the Millennium Library that lost its funding in the 2025 budget. 'It's not a surprise, and I don't think that it's a coincidence,' Wurmann said. Community Connections had operated in the library since 2022, offering access to librarians, library assistants, crisis workers and safety hosts trained in de-escalation. The Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP) has since moved into the space, hoping to offer similar support. 'This space gives (library users) somewhere to meet privately, in a safe space,' DCSP director of operations Matt Halchakar told CTV News Winnipeg on Monday. 'They come into the space with our staff to talk about their needs and how they can work towards them.' Wurmann said Community Connections' range of services are sorely missed—services that are tantamount to a library's function within a community. 'It's all about equity access to information and knowledge and guided by the trauma-informed and harm reduction principles and community development, as well,' she said. 'This is very much a library service. This is what libraries do.' CTV News Winnipeg requested comment on the matter from Coun. Vivian Santos, who chairs the community services committee, but did not receive a response. - With files from CTV's Joseph Bernacki
CTV News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Whiteout Street Parties bring in nearly $235K to help Winnipeg's most vulnerable
Nearly $235,000 was raised during seven Whiteout Street Parties this playoff run, with all the money helping the city's most vulnerable. Uploaded June 9, 2025. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News Winnipeg) Two rounds of Winnipeg Jets playoff hockey have resulted in almost $235,000 being raised for United Way Winnipeg. There were seven Whiteout Street Parties held throughout the Stanley Cup playoffs this year, which resulted in 35,000 fans showing up to cheer on the Jets. Half of the price of each ticket plus money from the Party in the Plaza tickets on Hargrave Street was going toward United Way. The money has now been tallied up, and $234,890 was raised. The money will go back into the community, helping support mental health, addictions, recovery, and homelessness in Winnipeg. 'We are so excited that these dollars raised will go to support frontline agencies doing the incredibly difficult and important work,' said Connie Walker, the president and CEO of United Way Winnipeg. She said four organizations that help Winnipeggers will each be receiving a portion of the money: Downtown Community Safety Partnership, N'Dinawemak-Our Relatives' Place, Okichidah Pimahtisiwin Kiskinawmatowin, and Kã Ni Kãnichihk-Velma's House. 'While this is about hockey and it is about community spirit, this is also about making a difference for people. This is about being a caring community. I could not be more grateful or more proud.' Whiteout Street Parties have been taking over a portion of Donald Street since 2019, as thousands of fans have been packing the area to celebrate Winnipeg Jets hockey. Since then, more than $546,000 has been raised. Speaking at the news conference Monday, Mark Chipman, the executive chairman of True North Sports + Entertainment, said so much work goes into putting on the parties, and the result afterward is so important. 'A friend of mine once said we're a collective act of will. Nothing has ever really come easy to us here. Once upon a time it did, but those days are long past, and everything we have here, whether it's our cultural institutions or our social service network, has been willed by the people who are here and will it every day,' said Chipman. 'This is really a small sum when you think of the totality of it. But we know it's going to places that can really use it, where people are engaged daily, who really, really care about making the most vulnerable people in our community safer.' Chipman said he hopes to be back next year with another cheque in hand, but with more money, which would mean a deeper run for the Jets in the playoffs.
