No Easy Solution to Rebuilding Downtown Winnipeg, Advocates Say – Winnipeg | The Canadian News

Getting people back to downtown is the biggest problem facing downtown Winnipeg.

That’s according to Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, who says stepping up surveillance downtown is not the answer to helping people feel safer.

“Recognize that the issue of security goes hand in hand with the underlying social challenges facing our community and communities across the country,” he says. “It will really take a lot of groups together to say, ‘how do we tackle these underlying social problems that are really macro-problems’ and respond to the need to create safe spaces for people.”

Remillard says he’s seeing a steady stream of office workers returning downtown, which he says will help downtown small businesses recover.

He says that if there are more people in the center, especially working in the center, it helps to boost the area, but it is more than just office workers returning to their desks.

“Going to restaurants, events and enjoying the parks in our center is definitely a problem. But one thing we do know is that more feet on the street create a sense of security both real and perceived. “

Remillard says that a persistent problem affecting downtown is inadequate lighting, but there is a lot more work to do if we want to create a safe and welcoming downtown Winnipeg.

“The center report released by the Winnipeg Center BIZ shows that 69 percent of respondents believe the government should spend more money to help our center recover. Working with Downtown BIZ and other members in the city center to really bring together ideas and strategies to formulate a plan that we can present to the government, at all three levels. “

Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth says the force has stepped up its foot patrols in recent years, but ensuring your safety and the safety of others is about situational awareness no matter where you are in the city. .

“We are seeing evidence of people congregating at bus stops and parks at night. For people who have never witnessed that before, it affects their perception of the city center. “

Smyth says that the return of entertainment, like the Winnipeg Jets, will draw a lot more people downtown, which in turn will improve public safety.

In terms of what Mayor Brian Bowman thinks downtown needs, he says it will bring more office workers downtown.

Bowman says more foot traffic will help reduce safety concerns, but helping downtown businesses recover will take a few years.

“We know that this pandemic has disproportionately affected certain demographics and communities very differently. There is absolutely more work than all levels of government have to do, ”he says. “Municipal [government] It is not the main level of government for social services, mental health or housing, but we have a role to play, so we are trying to do what we can with the levers we have. “

Bowman says the federal government has provided some financial support to recoup the losses caused by running nearly empty buses during the pandemic, so front-line workers always had a ride to work.

The Winnipeg BIZ center looks to the future while focusing on the current recovery plan.

Fame markets and evening concerts are some of the events organized by the Kate Fenske team.

Fenske is the CEO of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ and says that while downtown’s recovery is improving, there is still a lot of work to do.

“We spent the summer talking to Winnipegers. We met with over 100 people from 100 organizations and 20 panel discussions and one-on-one talks to really understand the current situation. We spend a lot more time talking about what our future will be like and what we all need to do to help our center recover. “

Fenske says the pandemic brought several downtown issues to the surface and that rebuilding the area will wipe out all of Winnipeg and the city cannot afford another closure, especially downtown.

“It’s about acting. We can see some of these quick wins, whether they are events like expansion or supporting new or existing events. What can we do in the parks or green spaces of the center? And also encourage people to consider downtown as an option for living because it’s great to walk around and have so many wonderful things close by. “

Fenske says they are planning to launch the full downtown Winnipeg BIZ recovery plan this fall.