Winnipeg Minute: Community Space, New Monument, and an Accessible Transit Program

Winnipeg Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Winnipeg politics

This Week In Winnipeg:

• The Standing Policy Committee on Community Services will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss the Winnipeg Arts Council’s 2025 Corporate Plan, the Winnipeg Police Service’s 2023 Statement of Revenues and Expenses, and the Winnipeg Police Board’s 2023 Annual Report, among other items.
  
  
• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Public Works. The agenda includes updates from the Transit Advisory Committee, a contract for accessible transportation services, and discussions on fare collection strategies. Additionally, the committee will review updates on the Winnipeg Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Pilot Project (more on that below!), asphalt plant operations, and gravel road maintenance.
  
  
• The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development will meet on Thursday at 9:30 am. On the agenda is a discussion about the City accepting a War Monument donated by the Manitoba Métis Federation to be placed at Brookside Cemetery. The Committee will also discuss the subdivision and rezoning of 134 Plaza Drive. On Friday, at 9:30 am, the Standing Policy Committee of Water, Waste and Environment will meet. The agenda includes a building emissions reduction strategy.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• A new monument was unveiled to honour the eight residential school students and their pilot who died in a tragic plane crash in 1972. The crash occurred on June 24th, 1972, as the plane was transporting the students to Bunibonibee Cree Nation, resulting in the loss of all lives on board. Bunibonibee Cree Nation Chief Richard Hart emphasized the deep emotional scars left by the tragedy, while Mayor Scott Gillingham highlighted the monument's role in ensuring the victims' stories are remembered as part of the reconciliation journey. The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada spearheaded the project, which took over two years to realize.
  
  
• The pilot program providing wheelchair-accessible vehicles may become permanent in January 2025, after a report was released about the program’s progress. Launched in 2022, the program aims to reduce long wait times for accessible rides, and has achieved over 90% of pickups within 20 minutes. Users can book rides via app, website, or phone, similar to ride-hailing services, and it serves as a backup to Winnipeg Transit Plus. The program has received positive feedback for improving mobility and independence for users, and is estimated to cost $800,000 annually, funded through a City accessibility surcharge.
  
  
• A new community space has opened in downtown Winnipeg, adjacent to the Circle of Life Thunderbird House. The Main and Henry Community Space features a paved plaza, seating, picnic tables, plants, and illuminated markers sharing Indigenous teachings. This project follows the creation of a public washroom facility nearby. The $567,000 project was funded by multiple organizations, including the Winnipeg Foundation, which contributed additional funds for design and engagement. The space is intended to be a place for reflection and connection, honouring the cultural roots of the land.