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Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘You can't force people into housing'
Tents, tarps, and makeshift shelters line the beaten path along the Assiniboine River near Balmoral Street in West Broadway — a community hidden in plain sight. At first glance, the scene could be mistaken for a Manitoba summer festival: there are colourful tents, birds chirping overhead, and geese with their goslings feeding nearby. The natural beauty of the river view masks the harsh truth. The mattresses, shopping carts, broken glass, empty naloxone kits and food wrappers break the illusion. This isn't a weekend retreat. This is home. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS A large encampment along the banks of the Assiniboine River at the end of Spence Street at Balmoral Street. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS A large encampment along the embankment of the Assiniboine River at the end of Spence Street off of Balmoral Street. Reporter: Scott Billeck 250528 - Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Curtis, a 44-year-old who is originally from Saskatchewan, wears a black Red River College nursing program zip-up hoodie. He has been without a home for the past six or seven years. He says he'd move into permanent housing 'today, if I could.' But walking away from his camp family — and the freedom of life outside of society — isn't easy. 'It's abandonment,' he said. 'I'd feel like I'm leaving them behind.' That feeling runs deep for Curtis, who says he knows the pain of separation. The father of four hasn't seen his children since his own father died four or five years ago. 'Living in the white society is really tough being a native — an Indian, a savage, a scrub,' he says. 'That's what we've been called for hundreds of years, and for hundreds of years more, it will be the same.' He questions why there's homelessness in a country such as Canada, and how people can go about their business. 'The most richest city in Canada — Vancouver — they have a whole street full of homeless people. How is that possible?' he said. 'How does the richest city allow a whole street to be homeless?' He also offers insight into why many people stay outside, pointing to friends evicted from government-supported housing for breaking strict rules — including having visitors. 'It's hard to abide by the rules of a situated house,' Curtis said. 'We're free. There's freedom (living unsheltered) right here.' For many in Winnipeg's encampments, the path to housing is far from straightforward. Trauma, addiction and complex life circumstances often stand in the way of simply finding a bed. Curtis says he was supposed to start a job on Monday, but he didn't show up. 'I hadn't really slept for two to three weeks… because of my drug of choice,' he said, holding a cloudy glass pipe in his hand. 'Choices and consequences,' he says, repeating those three words often. Mentioning the NDP government's two-year, $20-million Your Way Home strategy earns mixed reviews among the unsheltered. Some seem eager for the province to accelerate its pace, while others remain skeptical it will change anything. 'There's a huge trust issue,' says another woman. 'Trust is a big thing. Technically, I think everybody wants housing, but there's peace of mind. It boils down to rules and regulations.' 'Domestication,' says another man, who refuses to elaborate out of anger. Main Street Project declined to comment, instead pointing the Free Press to its public educational material that explains why some people avoid shelters. 'People may experience barriers to accessing shelters or choose not to go,' the 18-page document says. 'Barriers may include shelters being at capacity; having restrictions on pets, belongings or alcohol; separating couples; or requiring detailed intake criteria or processes. It also notes that people avoid shelters due to past experiences of violence, crowding, stigma, and safety concerns. Al Wiebe, who was homeless for 29 months and later became an advocate, says the reasons are many. 'They have to feel respected, and they don't right now,' he says. 'There needed to be more consultation. And the rhetoric about shutting down encampments, people's homes… there's never going to not be encampments,' says the man who recently received the King's Coronation Medal for community service. Wiebe says encampment communities keep people alive. 'You can't force people into housing; they will leave housing,' Wiebe says, adding that soon the province will likely learn the approach is flawed. A few blocks west of the riverside, a small encampment is tucked into a park, partially hidden by bushes. A woman says she's been on a housing waiting list for years, struggled with obtaining proper ID and related delays forced her to survive outside. 'I hate living like this,' she says, adding she's been on the streets for the past three years. Premier Wab Kinew said during question period Wednesday, not far from where the woman lives, that it could take six to seven years to repair the damage he accused the former PC government of causing. Kinew added that MSP has housed 37 of the 40 people who have left encampments to date. The province has said it wants to move about 700 people from encampments into housing. The woman says she's grateful for organizations such as MSP and people in West Broadway who bring food, water, and supplies — even tarps to keep out the elements. MSP's outreach services, as outlined in its material, include essential items and relationship-building efforts. 'Each element is crucial in building meaningful relationships with people who have been repeatedly disappointed, and who have experienced so much systemic harm and oppression,' the document reads. 'Something as simple as offering food and coffee to someone experiencing homelessness lays the groundwork for building critical trust.' Last week, MSP came under fire when its outreach staff were recorded dragging tents and belongings to the riverbank in Point Douglas, another of the city's encampment hot spots. MSP declined to comment, referring only to a letter it sent in response to the Point Douglas residents committee, which was outraged by staff behaviour. 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. On Monday, Housing Minister Bernadette Smith directed MSP — one of the key players in the province's Your Way Home strategy — and other service organizations not to move people into encampments. 'Going forward, it's from encampment to housing. The Your Way Home strategy outlines that pretty clearly,' she said. Back at the riverbank, some residents acknowledged they had received tents from shelters — though they didn't name them. 'I'm grateful,' one person says. Scott BilleckReporter Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade's worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024. Read more about Scott. Every piece of reporting Scott 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
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
School bus converted to electric ready to ride
Red River College Polytech unveiled Manitoba's first low-carbon school bus converted from diesel power to electric on Tuesday. The conversion kit — the result of a collaborative project involving RRC Polytech's vehicle technology and energy centre, Noble Northern and Seven Oaks School Division — was funded by the province and the Canadian Shield Foundation. The project began in August 2023, when Seven Oaks provided a bus for conversion. RRC Polytech said in a news release that retrofitting an already-owned diesel bus is more than $100,000 cheaper than buying a new Type C electric school bus, even when including labour costs. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS A view under the hood of Manitoba's first low-carbon school bus converted from diesel to electric power. 'The benefits of converting just one bus also include saving up to $11,000 in fuel costs and reducing 21.6 tonnes of CO2 emissions per school year,' the release said. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. Other advantages include lower maintenance costs and less air and noise pollution. fpcity@
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Car sharing is caring
American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan generated controversy when he started recording and performing with electric instruments in 1965, but it's unlikely Peg City Car Co-op will face any backlash as it goes electric. In recent years, the car sharing consumer co-operative has been shifting away from internal combustion engines toward electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Winnipeg-based Jubilee Fund announced last week it has partnered with Peg City to help finance that shift. The $500,000 financing initiative has enabled the co-op to add 13 new hybrid electric vehicles to its fleet, plus two new fully electric vehicles. The co-op now has 43 hybrids and five fully electric vehicles. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Peg City Car Co-op, 402-460 Main Street, for Aaron App's 'Made in Manitoba' article. Ryan Dueck, fleet assistant, with the mobile car washing unit at one of their vehicles in St. Boniface. Reporter: Aaron Epp 250520 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 'As an environmentally conscious organization and knowing many of our members also care about their footprint, we continue to work toward investing in full electrification of our fleet,' says Philip Mikulec, Peg City chief executive officer. 'We see hybrids as a nice middle ground as the city and the province continue to build its charging network, essentially. As that happens and as that becomes more reliable, we will continue to buy more of those and add them into our fleet as well.' It's the latest evolution at a co-op that traces its roots to 2007, when five volunteers started talking about a new approach to transportation in Winnipeg. Peg City launched in 2011, with three cars and 40 members. Today, it hosts a diverse fleet of 200 vehicles, with round-trip and free-floating options serving around 4,500 members. 'Car sharing means we share the load of vehicle ownership together,' the co-op states on its website. 'All that sharing saves our members money, reduces CO2 emissions, decreases traffic and parking congestion and makes Winnipeg a place we're proud to call home.' The co-op's motto is: 'A car just when you need one.' Staff emphasize the convenience members enjoy and how affordable membership is compared to owning a personal vehicle. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Peg City Car Co-op, 402-460 Main Street, for Aaron App's 'Made in Manitoba' article. Philip Mikulec (left), CEO at Peg City Car Co-op, and Scott Snider, fleet manager at one of the company's car depot locations in the Exchange District. Reporter: Aaron Epp 250520 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 'Membership allows people to change their behaviour and reduce their carbon emissions and it also helps them save money,' Mikulec says. 'All the way back 13 years ago, that was an important thing — and it's only become more important in the last five years with the cost of living increases we all are familiar with.' When Juan Diaz was looking for a vehicle three years ago, he found that joining Peg City was the best option. Originally from Quito, Ecuador, Diaz moved to Winnipeg to study at the University of Manitoba. He needed a car to get to and from a research project in Brandon two times a week. As a PhD student, Diaz has a fellowship but it's not enough income to purchase and maintain a car of his own. The downtown resident usually takes the bus and uses Peg City vehicles when he needs to buy groceries, take his dogs to the vet or wants to spend the day at the beach. '(It) is easier for me because I don't have to worry about maintenance of the car, payment for the gas, looking for tires, changing oil and I don't even need to buy parking at my building,' says Diaz, 35. 'It makes life easier because a lot of that economic pressure is off for me.' Sarah Michaelson feels the same way. She and her partner had their own car but joined the co-op around five years ago, when they wanted to access a second vehicle. It ended up being so convenient for the West End couple they got rid of the vehicle they were leasing. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Peg City Car Co-op, 402-460 Main Street, for Aaron App's 'Made in Manitoba' article. One of the employees holds a phone running the company's app that shows all the available cars nearby. Reporter: Aaron Epp 250520 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025. 'The idea that I share a car with my neighbour does make me feel better on a larger scale,' says Michaelson, 43. 'I really like participating in something that's not just about reducing emissions but about reducing the amount of space and infrastructure that we need for cars.' Mikulec points out Peg City hosts two fleets. Its Fix fleet includes 130 roundtrip vehicles — trucks, vans, SUVs and a mix of cars — that are available by reservation. Its Flo fleet, introduced two years ago, consists of 70 hatchbacks and hybrid electric sedans meant for one-way car sharing that can be accessed spontaneously. The co-op has two membership options that require a $500 refundable share, as well as a casual option for people who don't want to become members. Rates start at $0.35 a minute, with flexible daily rates as low as $24. Headquartered on the fourth floor of the former Royal Bank of Canada building at 460 Main St., Peg City employs nine people — a number Mikulec says will increase to 10 before the end of the year. The organization will gross more than $3 million during its current fiscal year; any profits will be reinvested back into the organization. 'We're rooted here in Winnipeg and our members are the owners of this service,' Mikulec says. 'So our investments stay here and our profits are put back into the infrastructure of our service — it doesn't go outside of the province or to line someone's pockets. We're constantly using that revenue to reinvest in more and better car sharing.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Peg City Car Co-op, 402-460 Main Street, for Aaron App's 'Made in Manitoba' article. Michelle Panting, marketing and communications specialist, in their office at Peg City Car Co-op, 402-460 Main Street. Reporter: Aaron Epp 250520 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Peg City's rising membership numbers has allowed the organization to double its fleet in the last two years. 'We are Winnipeggers, we understand Winnipeggers — many of us were born and raised here,' Mikulec says. 'Because we're very much rooted in our community, that's a really big part of our success and that's a really big part of what's allowed us to become who we are today.' Michaelson appreciates that local quality. 'This is a real Winnipeg group that cares for Winnipeg,' she says. 'If you need to phone after hours to get help, you're not calling a call centre — you're calling literally a local person who works at the car co-op who answers your call and helps you walk through an issue.' Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. As Mikulec looks to the future, he hopes to see Peg City's fleet of vehicles become more efficient and environmentally friendly. He also hopes to see the number of vehicles increase. 'It took us over a decade to go from three cars to 100 cars and it took us two years to go from 100 to 200,' he says. 'I would like to see us do another 100 cars in another two years or maybe add 100 in a year.' MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Peg City Car Co-op, 402-460 Main Street, for Aaron App's 'Made in Manitoba' article. Employees (from left) Robyn Slade, member services coordinator , Francesca Carella Arfinengo, member services manager, and Scott Snider, fleet manager at their work stations in the Peg City Car Co-op offices at 460 Main Street. Reporter: Aaron Epp 250520 - Tuesday, May 20, 2025. No matter what, Mikulec and his staff are focused on offering members a quality experience. 'There are a lot of ways we know we're making people's lives easier and better and more affordable,' he says, 'and that's something that really drives me and, I think, my team every day.' Aaron EppReporter Aaron Epp reports on business for the Free Press. After freelancing for the paper for a decade, he joined the staff full-time in 2024. He was previously the associate editor at Canadian Mennonite. Read more about Aaron. 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
23-05-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Man, 39, Winnipeg's latest homicide victim
Homicide detectives are investigating the city's latest slaying after a man was gravely injured on Cumberland Avenue early Friday. Officers rushed to Cumberland Avenue and Carlton Street around 1 a.m., where they found a 39-year-old with serious injuries to his upper body. Officers applied chest seals to his wounds, but he later died in hospital. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Winnipeg police investigate at the scene of a homicide Friday morning near 346 Cumberland Ave. The man's name has not yet been released. Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Pat Saydak declined to comment further on the case at this early stage. A nearby resident said he witnessed a confrontation from his apartment window at about 1 a.m. that ended with what sounded like gunshots. He said a man collapsed near the entrance to the alley behind 360 Cumberland Ave., at the corner of Carlton Street. 'All I heard was 'bang, bang,'' said the 60-year-old who wanted his name withheld. 'He just collapsed and that was it… it's too bad.' He said he hadn't witnessed such violence in the decade that he's lived there. 'It's scary,' he said, although he added he doesn't worry about his safety during daylight hours. On Friday afternoon, a large crime scene was blocked off with police tape, including Cumberland Avenue at Carlton Street and Carlton at Qu'Appelle Avenue. A police forensics truck was parked nearby; a long-handled knife or saw was on the street next to a yellow evidence marker. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. At adjacent Central Park, young people played soccer in the field, people ate lunch while sitting on benches and others socialized. Another resident of 360 Cumberland Ave., a 58-year-old nursing assistant at Health Sciences Centre who lives with her adult children, said she doesn't worry about safety until after dark. 'It's not scary, it's just concerning,' said the resident, who also asked her name be withheld. 'It's everywhere — I still love downtown.' Police have asked anyone with information about the killing to contact detectives at 204-986-6508, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-8477 (TIPS) or online. Erik PinderaReporter Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik. Every piece of reporting Erik 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
17-05-2025
- Health
- Winnipeg Free Press
Many parts to fighting addictions crisis
Opinion The evidence of Winnipeg's ongoing addictions crisis is all around — so you may want to watch your step. The Free Press reported earlier this week that city staff had removed 944 used needles from downtown parks, along with more than 200 pipes, 28 bags with drugs or traces of drugs, and needle-disposal kits, between April 22 and May 1. A city project to send staffers to clean up such dangerous debris from 'high risk' parks will run until October. MIKE DEAL/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Discarded needles It's a solid bit of civil service, for the city to take responsibility for removing used drug paraphernalia — particularly the needles, which pose a huge risk to those visiting the park. Winnipeggers owe their thanks to the workers taking on this unsavoury task. However, we should hope that soon such an exhaustive effort is not necessary in the near future. As Mayor Scott Gillingham correctly noted, the detritus littering city parks is only a byproduct of the city's drug crisis, and dealing with that crisis must be a priority. Supervised consumption sites, including one currently and controversially proposed for the Point Douglas neighbourhood, will be part of the solution. Giving drug users a safe place to consume their supply — and leave behind spent materials for safe disposal — means less of it ends up in the grass at the local park. Levi Foy, executive director of Sunshine House, told the Free Press it is also the case that drug users will seek out other public spaces, such as libraries, for these activities for want of a supervised consumption site. The need to get a handle on the addictions crisis is great: according to the city's website, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responds to 10,000 service calls related to substance use per year. Last year, 570 Manitobans died over suspected drug-related causes last year, the highest number ever recorded in the province. These deaths are attributed in part to a toxic drug supply, something a supervised consumption site — which can check drugs to see if they have been tampered with — will also help to address. But it will take more than just going down the SCS route. There are also non-governmental solutions, such as the work of advocacy and non-profit groups which go out of their way to help with the cleanup, and provide services to those in the grip of addictions. They deserve, and crucially need, support for the work they do. The city and province should both lend an ear, and useful dollars, to their cause. 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. As ever, dealing with the problem for good comes down to the long, tiring work of addressing the root causes of this crisis. A provincial strategy to address homeless and relocate individuals from risky encampment living is making progress, albeit more slowly than once expected. Stable solutions on the poverty and housing fronts will be key to addressing the addictions crisis, but those are complex problems in need of comprehensive solutions, none of which will be found overnight, or even by year's end. In the meantime, civic authorities and good Samaritans will have to do their best to ensure a safe environment for everyone. While the city waits for supervised sites to come online, cleanup efforts like the one at downtown parks are important for giving us peace of mind on that front. City council approved $60,000 for this seasonal work to be done. It will require more funding if the project is to be extended into the winter. Based on results so far, it seems well worth the money.
