Latest news with #SherriRollins
CBC
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Councillor urges Winnipeg mayor to rescind civic award given to Food Fare owner
City police are investigating a video circulating online regarding the Israel-Hamas war which has prompted a Winnipeg city councillor to call for a civic award to be taken away from a local businessman. Coun. Sherri Rollins wrote an open letter to Mayor Scott Gillingham on Sunday about Ramsey Zeid. Zeid, a co-owner of Winnipeg's Food Fare grocery stores and president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM), accepted a Mayor's Business Improvement Zone Award on May 15. The award was for the Maryland Food Fare's help with community events in the West Broadway area. "I urge you to rescind this award," Rollins wrote in the letter. Rollins said The Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) recently re-posted a video in their Instagram Stories that talks about actions that Palestinian people could take to advocate for their cause. The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg provided a screenshot of the post, which appears to show that CPAM shared the video in question from its account. The video features a masked figure in a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf calling for non-peaceful action around the globe to "move the needle" and "eventually destroy the status quo." It calls Israel a terrorist foreign entity and refers to "demonic Zionists." A Zionist refers to someone who supports the idea of a Jewish national homeland in Israel. The video then refers to how a group in its infancy is setting up in select cities and are planning to make this global "on a massive scale." It calls for at least one person in every city to lead teams of non-peaceful disruptors. Rollins called the posts "thinly veiled calls to violence" and said they are "not harmless expressions of opinion." In an email to CBC News, Zeid said he is seeking legal advice about what Rollins wrote to the mayor and, as such, can't comment further. As for the award, he said he's honoured because it reflects that "I've always tried, to the best of my abilities, to help those who need it, especially in a time of rising poverty here affecting my fellow Winnipeggers." Awards reception Gilligham wasn't at the awards reception — deputy Mayor Markus Chambers filled in — but repeatedly told media on Monday that Food Fare, not Zeid, was the recipient. "The award was given to a business, not an individual, and the nomination was put forward by the West Broadway Biz, and Coun. Rollins sits on that board," Gillingham said. If Rollins has a problem with the nomination, she should talk to her fellow board members and executive, he added. In an interview on Monday, Rollins said Gillingham needs to take his own accountability for an award that comes from his office. Free speech is important but "Words matter. And that's why I think it is really appropriate for a rescinding of this award," she said. "I do want to see people learn, people understand the harm, and as council we have a role to play on convening peace," she said. In her letter, Rollins cited another post, made earlier this year by an Instagram account called Zionists in Winnipeg, which featured her image. An image of Gillingham was posted by the same account. Rollins pointed to the "real-world consequences" specifically the fatal shooting last week of couple Sarah Milgram and Yaron Lischinsky in Washington, D.C., as they were leaving the Capital Jewish Museum where they attended an event promoting peace in the Middle East. Washington Metropolitan Police chief Pamela Smith has said the shooter was chanting "Free Palestine, free Palestine" as he was being taken into custody. Gillingham said Monday morning he had not yet spoken to Rollins about her concern. "I sat across the table from her on Saturday night at an event. She said nothing of this. And then Sunday I get a letter from her," he said. "I think, as a matter of good faith, she could have raised it Saturday night, pulled me aside at the event we were at, sitting across the table breaking bread together." As for the video, Gillingham has seen it and calls it concerning. It has been forwarded to the police, he added. A spokesperson for the Winnipeg Police Service confirmed it is investigating the video being circulated "calling for global violent intifada," and that those types of investigation are complicated and will take time. "There is no room for antisemitism in this city, I've been clear on that before," Gillingham said. "There's no room for the rhetoric that would incite antisemitism or Islamophobia, for that matter as well." Winnipeg councillor wants civic award to business owner rescinded 19 minutes ago Duration 2:25 Winnipeg police confirm they are investigating a video circulating online that has prompted a city councillor to call on the mayor to revoke a civic award given recently to a local businessman.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Jewish city councillor accuses grocer of sharing threatening content online, wants mayor to rescind BIZ award
A city councillor is publicly accusing a local business leader of sharing 'disturbing, threatening content' online. However, the business leader said those accusations are 'entirely false and misleading.' On Sunday, Coun. Sherri Rollins sent an open letter to Mayor Scott Gillingham, which accuses Food Fare manager Ramsey Zeid of sharing a video with 'thinly veiled calls to violence.' 'In it, people like me — Jewish, Zionist, and in public office — are portrayed as enemies to be 'dealt with,'' wrote Rollins. The councillor also accused Zeid of previously helping spread online a picture of herself and her daughter on a public list targeting Zionists. 'While I support free speech … I do think there are consequences,' said Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), in an interview. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Coun. Sherri Rollins sent an open letter to Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham accusing Food Fare manager Ramsey Zeid of sharing a video with 'thinly veiled calls to violence.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Coun. Sherri Rollins sent an open letter to Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham accusing Food Fare manager Ramsey Zeid of sharing a video with 'thinly veiled calls to violence.' She said city council members have received complaints about the matter, with some people questioning a Mayor's BIZ Zone award given to Zeid's company, Maryland Food Fare, earlier this month. In her letter, she urged the mayor to rescind the award. 'When (this) honour is given to Mr. Zeid while he continues to share content calling for escalation and destruction, it is not a neutral act,' she wrote. 'While I support free speech … I do think there are consequences.'–Coun. Sherri Rollins The video, which has been shared widely online, begins with a masked person specifically calling for action against Zionists. It accuses Zionists of violence, colonialism, land theft and occupation, at one point calling them 'demonic.' It suggests 'non-peaceful revolutions are often required' and groups around the world should 'step up.' In a written statement, Ramsey Zeid said he is now seeking legal advice to challenge 'entirely false and misleading statements about my stance and character uttered against me by Coun. Rollins.' 'It's no secret that most Manitobans are aghast at the situation in Gaza. We watch the terrible violence and are saddened and sickened by the images of civilian death. I am, too. I will always stand against unjust war, against human suffering, and against every form of hate and intolerance,' wrote Zeid. Tens of thousands of people have died in the war in Gaza since it began with Hamas militants' early morning incursion into Israel in October 2023 in which 1,200 civilians were slaughtered and another 250 were taken hostage. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Maryland Food Fare manager Ramsey Zeid, which received a Mayor's BIZ Zone award earlier this month. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES Maryland Food Fare manager Ramsey Zeid, which received a Mayor's BIZ Zone award earlier this month. Meanwhile, Zeid said he was honoured to receive a Mayor's BIZ award for his work. 'I was nominated by my colleagues in the business community because they know that I've always tried, to the best of my abilities, to help those who need it, especially in a time of rising poverty here affecting my fellow Winnipeggers,' he wrote. In an email, Winnipeg Police Service confirmed it is looking into the video itself. 'I can confirm the Winnipeg Police Service is currently investigating the video being circulated online calling for global violent 'intifada.' These types of investigation are complicated and take time to investigate. No specific individual is being linked to this video at this time,' the statement said. When asked if he will grant Rollins' request to rescind the award, Gillingham said the BIZ award was given to a business, not an individual, and followed a nomination from the West Broadway BIZ. 'Coun. Rollins sits on that biz board. So, if she's got a concern with the nomination, she should talk to her fellow board members and the executive director,' he said. The mayor said he saw the video Rollins mentioned and found it 'concerning,' though he didn't comment on who may have shared it. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. 'My understanding is that that's with the police right now,' he said. The mayor stressed hate speech is never acceptable. 'There is no room for antisemitism in the city. I've been clear on that before. There's no room for the rhetoric that would incite antisemitism or Islamophobia, for that matter, as well,' said Gillingham. X: @joyanne_pursaga Joyanne PursagaReporter Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne. Every piece of reporting Joyanne 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.
CBC
28-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Frustration, confusion over focus for City of Winnipeg committee focused on reconciliation initiative: report
Social Sharing A report commissioned by the mayor's office on a Winnipeg reconciliation initiative has revealed uncertainty around the initiative's core purpose. The Welcoming Winnipeg: Reconciling our History initiative, run by the City of Winnipeg's Indigenous relations division, was created in 2020 to better reflect the history of Indigenous people in the city, and includes a volunteer committee that considers applications to change the names of city sites like parks and trails. But the report states there are conflicting views on what that means — and whether the intent is that "Indigenous perspectives, experiences and contributions must be reflected in all re/naming," or whether "each naming opportunity should consider, but may not necessarily result, in an Indigenous name." Frustration around how the initiative's purpose should be interpreted has placed Indigenous perspectives in competition with non-Indigenous naming opportunities, the report says. The report also says the committee, half of which must be Indigenous members, "feels it has experienced racism and misogyny when presenting … recommendations to council." Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) said she isn't surprised to hear that. "I've seen first-hand how the council has disrespected Welcoming Winnipeg," Rollins said Thursday, adding that it can be difficult to be a citizen member on a community committee. "I know first-hand how upsetting it is to be a citizen body that is created by council, to go to that council and be not only misunderstood, but disrespected." The lack of political leadership to spearhead the work of the committee was also identified as a problem area by the report. "There has been generally negative and demoralizing commentary from the public," the report states. "The level of community support and involvement in this process is generally low." Lack of budget Other problems identified by the report include a lack of resources for the committee to complete its work, as well as a lack of clarity on what work the committee should take on. "They don't have a budget.… Everyone, including council, often has ambitions on their behalf, and it implies budget," said Rollins. "I think it is reasonable that if there are a great many ambitions, that that work plan be accompanied by a budget." Mayor Scott Gillingham said the committee has become overburdened with work and lacks clear direction. The report recommends measures to pare down the initiative's application process, like putting a cap on how many applications for renaming are accepted, setting eligibility times to apply and limiting the number of applications that can be proposed by each applicant. "They were receiving applications that weren't even complete, and then they were doing the work of completing the application," said Gillingham. "I think we were saddling the committee with work that really was never intended to be theirs." Clarity needed around purpose: mayor Despite the problems identified in the report, the committee has advised the city on the naming and renaming of sites around Winnipeg, and helped to rename Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Abinojii Mikanah in June 2024. The report, which reviewed the last five years of Welcoming Winnipeg, was written over four months in the fall by a consultant who conducted confidential interviews with Welcoming Winnipeg committee members and city staff. It makes over 20 recommendations and identifies five themes of areas that need to be addressed: clarity around policy, identification of a political lead, providing necessary budgets, a review of committee terms of reference and redefining the application process. "Welcoming Winnipeg is not working as it could and I want it to be successful. We need clarity around the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved — really, clarity, first of all, around the purpose of Welcoming Winnipeg," Gillingham said. "I believe that we can ultimately hit the goals of the policy, which is to advance reconciliation, to recognize the importance of Indigenous places and names," but "still have opportunity to recognize other … names in our city, in a city that is increasingly diverse," he said. Gillingham has put forward a motion to call for a review of the Welcome Winnipeg policy, which will be debated at council next month.
CBC
29-01-2025
- Business
- CBC
Winnipeg council approves 2025 operating budget in 11-5 vote
Winnipeg city councillors approved the 2025 budget after a divisive debate. The operating budget passed in an 11-5 vote, while the capital budget passed 10-6. It was the closest budget vote of Mayor Scott Gillingham's term in office. The budget raises property taxes by 5.95 per cent, the highest increase since 1990. Coun. Sherri Rollins had already announced her intention to vote against the budget. The Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry councillor, who resigned from her position as property and development chair last week, said the budget lacks crucial details, including a forthcoming report on water and sewer rates. St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes also voted against the budget, saying no one from the mayor's office reached out to him for input on his priorities. The mayor pushed back on those complaints, saying water and sewer rates are always dealt with separately from the budget, and the report will be released publicly when it is ready. He also said councillors have already identified their key objectives through the Strategic Priorities Action Plan, which all councillors compiled in early 2023. The draft 2025 budget, which was released in December, had already gone through some changes. Public backlash pushed councillors to scrap a proposed pilot project to raise the threshold for snow plowing in the city. The proposed pilot would have seen the city wait for 15 centimetres of snow to fall on residential streets before plowing begins, instead of the current threshold of 10 centimetres. And last week, the executive policy committee added $23 million to demolish the Arlington Bridge and begin designing a replacement this year.
