Winnipeg Minute: Hospital HealthBox, Recovery Centre, and Expropriating Lemay Forest

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

This Week In Winnipeg:

• The Executive Policy Committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes a proposed Percent-for-Art Program. This program would dictate that a 0.25% allocation for public art be approved and included in all eligible capital project investments for the 2028-2031 budget cycle. Also up for discussion are Youth Programming in High Needs Neighbourhood, the annual budget of the Human Rights Committee of Council, and an increase of funds to the West End BIZ for graffiti removal.
  
  
• The Climate Action and Resilience Committee will meet on Thursday at 12:00 pm to discuss its 2025 operating budget, public opinion research on climate change action, and methods for aligning local actions with climate targets. Verbal updates from the Chair and Vice-Chair are also on the agenda. The Governance Committee of Council meeting, originally scheduled for Thursday, is cancelled.
  
  
• The Manitoba government plans to expropriate Lemay Forest, a privately-owned 18-hectare property in south Winnipeg, and convert it into a provincial park. The move follows public outcry over the owner's plans to clear trees for an assisted living facility, with residents and conservationists raising concerns about the area's ecological and historical significance. Protesters had been camping at the site in an attempt to halt deforestation. Premier Wab Kinew emphasized the need to avoid further conflict and instead create a peaceful, publicly accessible green space. The Province intends to pay fair market value for the land, although the final amount is still being determined.

Last Week In Winnipeg:

• The Manitoba government has pledged $1.5 million to support the creation of the Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre, a new addiction treatment facility for women and their children in Winnipeg. The Centre, located across from Victoria Hospital, will include 50 to 70 treatment beds and an on-site licensed child-care centre to ensure mothers can stay with their children during recovery. Foundation President Scott Oake highlighted the urgency of beginning construction, noting the devastating impact addiction continues to have on families.
  
  
• St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg has launched Canada’s first hospital-based HealthBox, a machine that provides free harm reduction and sexual health supplies, including HIV self-tests, tampons, snacks, drinks, and naloxone kits. The goal is to offer a stigma-free, non-judgmental way for individuals to access essential health items without needing face-to-face interaction. This initiative also aims to reduce unnecessary visits to emergency rooms by addressing basic health needs directly. The machine includes educational videos and community resource information to guide users. Additionally, the system collects anonymous data to help identify gaps in community health services.
  
  
• Winnipeg has recognized the rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive by naming a section of the Disraeli Bridge Roadway in their honour. A special dedication ceremony was held on April 18th, with band members Randy Bachman and Fred Turner in attendance, alongside City Councillors. The event celebrated the group's deep ties to Winnipeg and their lasting impact on music. Fred Turner expressed gratitude for the tribute, calling it a meaningful reflection of their journey and the support of fans, family, and friends.