Green Action Centre seeks a Sustainable Transportation Project Coordinator
*Programs*: Commuter Challenge and Workplace Commuter Options Program
*Location*: Winnipeg, Manitoba
*Term*: 9.5 month term at 35 hours per week, with a likely extension beyond
July 2019. The position is shared between two sustainable transportation
program areas: 3-4 days/wk as the Commuter Challenge Coordinator, and 1-2
days/wk with Workplace Commuters Options.
*Position Description*: Green Action Centre seeks an independent, energetic
and well-organized individual to fill a dual role within our sustainable
transportation team. The coordinator will organize and promote our annual
Commuter Challenge event in June and our Bougeons en hiver: The Jack Frost
Challenge in February. The Coordinator will also assist with the delivery
of our Workplace Commuter Options program (WCO), which includes our
provincial wide ride-matching tool, GoManitoba. The position will focus on
engaging businesses, employees and community organizations to make active
and green transportation options both appealing and within reach for
workplaces and employees, ultimately reducing Manitoba’s GHG emissions from
drive alone travel by increasing walking, cycling, public transit and car
pooling as preferred modes of travel for Manitobans.
*Background*: Green Action Centre is an environmental, non-profit
organization, based in Winnipeg and serving Manitoba. We are a registered
charity, governed by an elected board of directors, with a core group of
passionate, dedicated staff. We promote greener living through
environmental education and encourage practical green solutions for
households <http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/at-home/>, workplaces
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/at-work/>, schools
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/at-school/> and communities
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/in-your-community/>. Our primary areas of
work are green commuting <http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/getting-around/>,
composting <http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/composting/> and waste
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/live/recycling/> reduction, sustainable living
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/blog/>, and resource conservation. We also run
a social enterprise, Compost Winnipeg, which collects commercial and
residential organic waste in Winnipeg. We are located on Portage Avenue in
the heart of downtown, and are part of the EcoCentre on the 3rd floor of
the Mountain Equipment Coop building.
*Responsibilities*: In cooperation with other sustainable transportation
team members and Green Action Centre staff, the Coordinator will have the
following duties and responsibilities:
*Commuter Challenge & Jack Frost Challenge:*
- Develop a work plan based on the timeline and activities of prior years
- Confirm and recruit Commuter Challenge Planning Partners and chair the
planning meetings
- Coordinate and build participation in the Jack Frost Challenge! in
February; and recruit and build workplace participation in the Commuter
Challenge, including connecting with 300+ participating workplaces
- Build and/or maintain relationships with workplace wellness and/or
environmental committees and champions
- Train Commuter Challenge workplace coordinators
- Sponsorship management, both maintaining existing sponsorship
relationships, and developing new marketing and partnership opportunities
- Reach out to communities outside of Winnipeg in an effort to increase
participation in Commuter Challenge and Jack Frost Challenge in other parts
of Manitoba
- Promote Challenge events, including overseeing print and electronic
advertising and securing media coverage
- Secure and manage distribution of prizes for participants, including
soliciting donations for prizes from local businesses
- Work with event firm to help coordinate logistics for Commuter
Challenge key event activities, such as the event media launch and the
awards luncheon
- Update related web pages on Green Action Centre’s website
- Work with IT technical support to facilitate smooth functioning of
web-based tracking tool for the events, and work to resolve issues arising
with workplace registrations and/or individual logging of participation;
includes liaise with organizers of the National Commuter Challenge
- Maintain participation and event records and prepare reports for
funders and sponsors
- Manage the project budgets and monitor expenses to ensure budget is on
track
- Other duties, as assigned
*Workplace Commuter Options Program:*
- Work with the team to coordinate and deliver workshops, presentations,
half-day training sessions and keynote speaker events tailored to workplace
ambassadors from a variety of organizations, specifically sustainability,
wellness and HR managers; program content focused on Transportation Demand
Management (TDM) initiatives, transit tools, bike route planning, site
assessment, and behavioral change theory.
- Support the promotion of and increased participation in Green Action
Centre’s GoManitoba ridematching app, including contests to increase new
users and subscribers, and outreach to workplaces to increase workplaces
with sub-sites
- Assist with the delivery and reporting of employee commuting surveys,
working closely with workplace representatives and IT consultant
- Staff displays and deliver presentations, including participation in
events put on by Bike Week, the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown
BIZ, etc.
- Liaise with related workplace committees such as the Downtown BIZ
transportation Committee, Workplace Wellness Alliance, City of Winnipeg’s
Active Transportation Advisory Committee (ATAC), and Manitoba Network for
Healthy Built & Social Environments
- Prepare and distribute a follow up survey for Commuter Challenge
workplace coordinators, and respond to information requests
*Qualifications*: Must be self-motivated, reliable, professional and able
to work collaboratively without close supervision. Key qualifications
include:
- Knowledge of sustainable transportation (green commuting and active
transportation)
- Experience working collaboratively, specifically with community
relations and/or with nonprofits, and in delivering on the ground programs
- Experienced in organizing events and creativity in developing ad/media
campaigns
- Previous experience and skills in media and promotion
- Demonstrated ability in public speaking and with presentations and
displays
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Experience with project management & budgeting
- Tech-savvy with knowledge of WordPress and social media
- Above average attentiveness to detail
- Strong interpersonal skills, team player
- Organized, deadline driven and excellent time management skills
- Knowledgeable about Winnipeg and rural/northern Manitoban communities
- Experience working with non profits
- Able to work independently without close supervision
*Term Position*: Starts November 2018 and ends July 15, 2019 with likely
extension subject to mutual agreement between the parties and the status of
project funding. This position reports directly to the Executive Director.
*Remuneration*: $19.75 per hour (35 hrs/wk). A monthly Winnipeg Transit
EcoPass is also provided as part of Green Action Centre’s “Active
Transportation Benefit” policy.
*Deadline*: Resume and cover letter must be received by 4:00 p.m. CDT,
October 10, 2018.
*To Apply*: Applications will be accepted until the deadline *by e-mail
only*.
If this opportunity interests you please email your cover letter and resume
to info(a)greenactioncentre.ca with “Sustainable Transportation Coordinator”
in the subject heading.
Please note in your cover letter if you:
- Are a graduate from a post-secondary institution within the last three
years; and
- Are between the ages of 15-30
For more information on Green Action Centre and our programs, please
explore our website at www.greenactioncentre.ca.
*No phone calls please.*
--
*Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre
<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your green living hub
Support our work by becoming a member
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at
CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>
<http://www.gomanitoba.ca>
*Reopening Portage and Main would be good for downtown and suburbs*
*by Glen Murray*
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/
reopening-intersection-good-for-downtown-and-suburbs-493636911.html
What does Portage and Main have to be to serve Winnipeg well? Portage and
Main is the intersection of Winnipeg’s two most important high streets. It
is the very definition of the centre of the city; the crossroads of
Winnipeg.
What makes a great city is a combination of several factors. The most
visible is a vibrant, healthy downtown brimming with businesses and
exciting cultural experiences and extraordinarily beautiful historic
streetscapes. City streets, especially a city’s high streets, are there for
more than moving traffic; in fact, most predate the automobile. Great
streets that are essential to a city’s economic success are first platforms
for commerce and culture. Transportation systems are there to support these
functions that make a street a destination.
Streets and streetscapes are major determinants of the strength of a city’s
economy, the value of its buildings and ability to attract and retain
people and tourism. Downtowns are disproportionately important because most
of us form our impression of a city based on the downtown.
This core commercial area is very important to the city’s finances, as
these properties are a disproportionately large part of the city’s tax base
and pay the city a high return, given that they require little
infrastructure and occupy a relatively small amount of land. It takes many
hectares of suburban residential neighbourhoods to generate the revenues
equivalent to a good-sized office building.
So these characteristics of design, density and heritage determine the
economic health and value of those buildings, which in turn affect the
level of revenue they generate for both the building owners and the local
municipality. A good urban renewal program grows the tax base and
consequently reduces the tax burden on individual taxpayers and businesses.
Generally successful urban renewal starts at the shoulder areas of the
downtown and works to the centre. In Winnipeg’s case, The Forks, Waterfront
Drive, Red River College's downtown campus and the Convention Centre are
examples of starting at the periphery before moving toward the centre,
Portage and Main.
The second critical factor to restoring the economic health of a street or
commercial cluster is a highly walkable and pedestrian-friendly environment.
In Winnipeg, this was realized in the development and renewal of
high-value, well-designed transit and pedestrian friendly corridors. Those
projects included the Graham transit mall, the Provencher to Broadway
pedestrian corridor, Waterfront Drive, Exchange District streetscaping, the
beginning of interior corridors like the enclosed laneway at Red River
College, the restoration of historic streetlights and sidewalks on Portage
Avenue, and so on. The most critical, and the nexus of the system, was the
renewal of the once-famous, now-infamous Portage and Main.
There have been several hubs, or nodes, developed in the downtown. The
baseball park, Waterfront Drive and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
cluster on the east side; the Centennial Concert Hall and theatre cluster,
Red River College and Union Bank Tower on the north side; the Manitoba
Hydro tower, Bell-MTS Centre, The Bay, the Winnipeg Art Gallery and its
upcoming Inuit Art Centre, the Burton Cummings Theatre, True North Centre,
Portage Place, University of Winnipeg’s campus, the Alt Hotel and Mountain
Equipment Co-op on the west side; and the Fort Garry historic site, Fort
Garry Hotel, the Forks Market and Children’s Museum on the south side.
The power of these hubs, or nodes, created by private and public sector
collaboration is the impact they have on all the buildings and storefronts
between them. The strong street-level connections created by pedestrian
traffic between these nodes is essential for retail businesses. This, in
turn, builds the tax base to pay for the essential infrastructure to
facilitate these connections or nodes and networks.
Portage and Main is a critical node and a network in one, the most
important synaptic nerve connection in the system. Restoring this
intersection’s commercial, cultural and complete transportation
functionality is the essential ingredient in the economic renewal of
downtown.
The debate over opening Portage and Main is tied up in the mistaken idea
that one intersection should be or could be responsible for so much of the
traffic flow. Before Portage Place cut off north-south traffic, there was a
better distribution of traffic along streets such as Edmonton and Kennedy.
In fact, improving transit infrastructure and restoring the functionality
of the downtown street grid system would solve any marginal traffic issues
created in opening up Portage and Main.
Most importantly, restoring Portage and Main as the downtown pedestrian
connector unlocks and restores the value and increases the income of
properties up and down the two high streets. Currently, Portage and Main
acts as an artificial border to the downtown and psychological barrier to
the east. Opening the intersection to pedestrians will allow the spilling
over of culture and commerce to Portage East and will unlock the further
potential of our downtown.
Finally, if you live in the suburbs and never drive through this
intersection, why should it matter? In the 2000/2001 city budget, the
growth in commercial assessment in the city turned a two per cent property
tax cut for residential ratepayers into a four per cent cut. Turning up the
downtown economic engine is building the urban commercial tax base, which
in turn reduces the suburban residential tax burden.
CentreVenture, the city’s downtown development corporation, has already
spun out $600 million in new revenue to the city government from its
strategic and restorative investments. While the referendum on Portage and
Main is important, it is even more important to do a rigorous study of the
economic impacts of a beautiful newly designed intersection versus the
dog’s breakfast we now endure. It is time to develop a real strategy to
unlock the value of Portage and Main’s potential.
So, when you vote on opening Portage and Main, vote yes. You'll be voting
to build the tax base and reduce the tax burden.
*Glen R. Murray served as mayor of Winnipeg from 1998 to 2004, and before
that was the city councillor for Fort Rouge ward for almost a decade. He
was elected as a Liberal MPP in the Ontario provincial government in 2010,
and served in several senior cabinet roles until his retirement in 2017.*
Opening intersection good for economy, business groups say
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/failure-
to-open-portage-and-main-will-hurt-city-biz-owners-493766851.html
KEY downtown stakeholders are throwing their weight behind the Coalition
for Portage and Main, while pushing the message that a failure to reopen
the intersection to foot traffic will stifle economic development.
This week, two corner properties at the iconic Winnipeg intersection —
James Richardson & Sons and Harvard Buildings Inc. — came out in favour of
tearing down the barricades.
That support was bolstered by ringing endorsements from the Winnipeg
Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Winnipeg. Both organizations
said no Winnipegger should make up their mind on this issue without taking
into account the opportunity it poses for economic growth.
“Opening Portage and Main is the right thing to do. It’s the right thing
for economic development. It’s the right thing for the city. We should
encourage people to want more. Let’s not be entrenched in what was the best
practice in the 1970s — it’s changed,” Dayna Spiring, president and CEO of
Economic Development Winnipeg, said on Wednesday.
“We need to keep investing in the future. When we stop, we’re not in
neutral, we’re in reverse. We have to be looking towards what we can
become... I think people should listen to all of the organizations coming
out and saying this is the right decision. But I also think they should
look inside and ask themselves what kind of city they want to live in.”
Portage and Main has been closed to pedestrians since 1979. On Oct. 24,
Winnipeggers will be asked about reopening the intersection on the
municipal ballot.
While the referendum on Portage and Main is non-binding, Mayor Brian Bowman
and rival mayoral candidate Jenny Motkaluk — who is considered his main
challenger — have both said they’ll respect the outcome.
Harvard Buildings managing director Rosanne Hill Blaisdell said her
company, which owns the building at 201 Portage Ave. as well as an adjacent
empty lot, would like to invest more in the intersection, but its current
setup has been a sticking point.
“We have an empty lot that is adjacent to our current building and we would
love to develop it. I think the single biggest impediment to us moving
forward with a vision for development is the fact that people can’t get to
it,” Blaisdell said.
Her comments were made in a video testimonial filmed at the Coalition
for Portage
and Main campaign storefront in the underground at 201 Portage Ave.
Volunteers have been staffing the storefront from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
weekdays in an effort to rally the “yes” vote in advance of the election.
“Portage and Main, right now, it’s been left to disrepair. It lacks
pedestrian vibrancy and activity. We really believe this corner is an
iconic corner and a place that needs to be celebrated, developed and
invested in long term. It’s the heart and soul of Winnipeg’s downtown,”
Blaisdell said.
ryan.thorpe(a)freepress.mb.ca
Twitter: @rk_thorpe
Reopening Portage and Main dominates conference discussion
People first, not cars, says architect
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/put-
people-first-architect-tells-city-planning-conference-493776401.html
MAKING cities livable requires planners and developers to focus on people
rather than cars and highrise buildings.
That was the message from Danish architect Jan Gehl and several others
speakers as the city’s business, development and planning communities
gathered at a half-day conference hosted by the Winnipeg Chamber of
Commerce on Wednesday.
Gehl, 82, established an international reputation as a city planner who
“pedestrianized” some of world’s major cities, including Moscow and New
York City. He incorporated design and planning that removed vehicles from
downtown areas and returned public places to pedestrians and cyclists.
He is the author of several influential books on planning, including Life
Between Buildings; Public Spaces, Public Life; and one of his most
recent, Cities
For People, which has been published in 31 languages.
During a 50-minute talk that was liberally sprinkled with humorous stories
from his 60-year career, Gehl explored the evolution of city planning
through the 20th century to today.
After the Second World War, Gehl said, city planning was dominated by a
preoccupation with the automobile and concrete buildings. Planners didn’t
consider how people interacted with their surroundings.
“The needs of the car became themajor thing,” Gehl said. “I hear the cars
in Winnipeg are the most happiest cars in the world because you have three,
four, five parking spaces for each car and that’s fantastic. I would love
to be a car here.”
Gehl was critical of architecture schools and professors who emphasize
design and esthetics at the expense of people.
“We knew nothing about what effect this had on people and people’s desire
to go outside and use public spaces,” he said, telling the audience that he
had a professor in architecture school who said, “A good housing area is
something which looks good from a freeway. That was my training.”
He credited the late city planner Jane Jacobs for sparking a revolution in
urban planning by reacquainting planners and architects with the concept of
designing streets and buildings for people.
The morning session was dominated by advocates in favour of reopening
Portage and Main to pedestrians, including architect Brent Bellamy and
former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray.
Other speakers talked about suburban and urban development, including Eric
Vogan, vice-president at homebuilder Qualico and president of the Urban
Development Institute of Manitoba; City of Winnipeg chief planner Braden
Smith; Jeannette Montufar, founding partner and CEP of MORR Transportation
Consulting; and Hazel Borys, president and CEO of Place Makers, a planning
firm with offices in Winnipeg, Calgary and several U.S. cities.
Chamber president Loren Remillard said the event was held during the civic
election campaign on purpose.
“This is the time we should be talking about what kind of city we want to
build — not for the next four years, but for the next 40 years,” Remillard
said. “Today was all about talking about the big-picture issues.
“Winnipeg is no different from any other city,” Remillard said. “Now is the
time to ask the question: is Winnipeg for people?”
Borys said streets are important, but places and destinations, such as
downtown and walkable neighbourhoods, make a community valuable.
“They are our cash cow,” Borys said. “I’m not going to be making the
argument that we should do away with suburban development — that’s not
going to happen in Winnipeg — but I think we need to get clear on the
return to the city and how we can level the playing field so that both
forms of development are enabled and fully supported.”
Borys said urban development projects generate greater value for
communities than suburban growth. He pointed out suburban housing costs
more than twice as much as the equivalent space in urban areas.
“While the suburbs are growing 150 per cent faster than cities in Canada,
suburban dwellers pay only half the cost that city dwellers pay for roads”
and other services, Borys said.
“We simply can’t keep building low return places without having some cash
cows downtown and notably distributed through our suburban fabric to up the
ante.”
aldo.santin(a)freepress.mb.ca
--
*Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre
<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your green living hub
Support our work by becoming a member
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at
CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>
<http://www.gomanitoba.ca>
Hi everyone,
In case you missed last night's Mayoral Fast Pitch and Forum: The
Environmental Needs of Winnipeg*, *you can watch it in full HERE
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/winnipeg-election/>, and there was plenty
media coverage (CBC
<https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-election-forum-environment…>
and Winnipeg Free Press
<https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/mayoral-candidates-tack…>
). Candidates spent 90 minutes talking about the environment and how they
would transform Winnipeg into a sustainable city. They were each given an
opportunity to share their 3 minute pitch, followed by 1-2 minutes to
answer a series of questions. The evening wrapped up with a series of
yes/no questions (*see results below*). The questions focused on organic
waste diversion, water, *transportation*,* urban development and design*,
single-use plastic, and Winnipeg’s climate action plan.
The coalition of Environmental Organizations who hosted last night's event
are compiling questions for an all-candidate (Mayoral and Councilor) survey
to be posted by October 15th.
[image: DaveElmore.png]
*Support curbside organics collection*:
Bowman: Yes
Hayat: Yes
Motkaluk: Yes
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: Yes
*Support $100M+ package of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, making it
a top priority for federal funding*:
Bowman: Yes and no
Hayat: Yes
Motkaluk: No
Wilson: Yes
Diack: No
Machiraju: No
Woodstock: Yes
*Maintain provincial pesticide ban:*
Bowman: Yes
Hayat: Yes
Motkaluk: Yes
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: No
*Support winter maintenance of bike-lane infrastructure:*
Bowman: Yes
Hayat: Yes
Motkaluk: No
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: Yes
*Support plastic bag ban:*
Bowman: Yes
Hayat: No
Motkaluk: No
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: Yes
*Accept Our Winnipeg's sustainability principles:*
Bowman: Yes
Hayat: Yes
Motkaluk: Yes
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: Yes
*Prioritize walking/cycling over vehicles:*
Bowman: No
Hayat: No
Motkaluk: No
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: Yes
*Improve Winnipeg's tree canopy:*
Bowman: Yes
Hayat: Yes
Motkaluk: Yes
Wilson: Yes
Diack: Yes
Machiraju: Yes
Woodstock: Yes
--
*Beth McKechnie* | Workplace Commuter Options
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/>Green Action Centre
<http://www.greenactioncentre.ca/>
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
3rd floor, 303 Portage Ave | (204) 925-3777 x102 | Find us here
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/content/ecocentre-directions-and-travel-options/>
Green Action Centre is your green living hub
Support our work by becoming a member
<http://greenactioncentre.ca/support/become-a-member/>. Donate at
CanadaHelps.org <http://canadahelps.org/>
<http://www.gomanitoba.ca>
Hello friends and supporters in the exciting world of active
transportation,
*We have a special invitation for you! *You are cordially invited to
celebrate our *AGM at the Forks at 6:30pm on Thursday September 27th. *
*Come meet some colleagues, join us for refreshments and stick around for
little bike/hike to see an outdoor movie. *
*All details here.
<http://www.winnipegtrails.ca/annual-general-meeting-2018/> *
This is a chance for us to share what we do and we would love to see you
there. This AGM is particularly special for us because its our very first
one as a standalone organization. As you may know, Winnipeg Trails has been
active since 2003 and doing amazing things operating under the umbrella of
our friends at Rivers West Red River Corridor. Last year, when Rivers West
was dissolved, we were asked to continue as an incorporated non-profit . We
now have our own volunteer board and have been up to some exciting new
things ever since. Building on our last strategic plan, we've growing
remarkably, enabling us to take on new activities, reach new areas and
communities, build capacity for staff, and contribute valuable new research
and ideas. Come see.
*OPTIONAL TRAIL COUNT:* Join us a little earlier that afternoon for a fun
and meaningful group activity. During the afternoon rush hour, we'll do a
little citizen science. Starting at ~3:30 we'll be meeting up at the Forks,
fanning out to capture a moment in time on Winnipeg's trails. We'll be
looking at trails and roads with bike lanes - counting people on bikes,
pushing strollers, wheelchairs, skateboarding, jogging hikers and more! You
may be surprised by what's out there. This helps gets us a baseline and
builds a picture of the "other" kinds of transportation in Winnipeg. What's
measured gets managed. We'd love to reward you with a *FREE BEER *at the
AGM party for your trouble. If you'd like to count with us, let our
coordinator, Colby Deighton, know by emailing coordinator(a)winnipegtrails.ca
and give you a little info.
RSVPs appreciated. Email Coordinator(a)WinnipegTrails.ca.
Thanks!
Anders
Only 33 per cent of those polled support removing barricades at iconic
intersection
Don’t open Portage and Main: poll
https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/civicelection2018/poll-
finds-winnipeggers-opposed-to-opening-portage-and-main-to-
pedestrians-493058361.html
THOSE hoping for Winnipeggers to come out in droves to vote in next month’s
referendum in favour of reopening Portage and Main to foot traffic
shouldn’t hold their breath.
Winnipeggers are resoundingly opposed to the idea, according to a new Probe
Research survey commissioned by CBC News.
Sixty-seven per cent of people interviewed for the survey— which employed
statistical weighting designed to make the results representative of
Winnipeg’s voting-eligible population — oppose reopening the iconic
intersection.
Only 33 per cent of those polled support removing the barricades that have
kept the Portage Avenue and Main Street intersection shuttered to
pedestrians since 1979. The poll has a four per cent margin of error,
according to Probe Research.
“We’ve tracked this over the years. There has always been a majority who
reject the reopening. I would have been surprised had this survey shown
otherwise, because I haven’t seen that in 20 years,” Probe Research
president Scott MacKay said Wednesday.
“But now, this enthusiasm for reopening has declined to an all-time low. It
seems people have really dug in on this and their views have hardened.”
While many commentators have tried to draw fault lines in the debate—
people who live downtown versus people who live in the suburbs, for example
— the poll shows otherwise.
“There really is no demographic group where you will find a majority of
people favouring the reopening. That includes groups you might expect to
favour the reopening,” MacKay said.
“People who work and play downtown, go to a lot of concerts, sports events,
live there and work there – even that group is not in favour of the
reopening. So you have to ask: if not them, then who?”
Mayor Brian Bowman, who has long been a vocal proponent of reopening the
intersection, said he wasn’t surprised by the results of the survey. It has
long been a polarizing topic people feel passionate about, he said.
On Wednesday, he took the opportunity to reaffirm his promise to respect
the outcome of the referendum — even though it’s non-binding. If the ‘no’
vote wins, he won’t bring the matter up again over his next term, if
re-elected, Bowman added.
“Voters are always right. They’ll have their say, and I’ll fully respect
that.”
Most people surveyed indicated there was little that will change their mind
prior to the Oct. 24 referendum. Seventy-six per cent of respondents said
their views on the matter were firmly entrenched.
That isn’t good news for the Coalition for Portage and Main, the volunteer
group behind the campaign to get the intersection reopened to pedestrians.
Adam Dooley, a coalition spokesman, said while the survey results are
disheartening, those involved with the campaign knew they were fighting an
uphill battle — it’s just maybe more steep than they realized.
“We respect people’s opinions, but we’re hopeful people will come out and
make an informed vote. We know that they’re smart and they want what’s best
for the city. We’re going to do our best to get the information out there,”
Dooley said.
“We take hope in the fact that when we speak to people and lay out the
facts, we tend to get people to change their minds on this issue. So,
hopefully, we’ll swing some votes. There’s still a lot of time between now
and (civic) election day.”
Brent Bellamy, a local architect and coalition spokesman, questions the
fairness of putting the matter to a referendum, as much larger and more
costly infrastructure projects don’t get such treatment.
“There are very few public works projects that we could single out and put
to a public vote that would receive a majority of public support,” Bellamy
said in an email to the Free Press.
He also pointed to other projects, including The Forks, Bell MTS Centre and
Esplanade Riel, which faced significant opposition, but which people now
recognize provide public value.
After reviewing the results of the survey, MacKay said one question posed
to respondents cuts to the heart of the matter. Pollsters asked respondents
for their take on the following statement: the smooth flow of traffic
downtown is more important than pedestrian access.
Eighty-five per cent of people opposed to reopening the intersection agreed
with the statement, while 76 per cent who want the intersection reopened
disagreed. “That’s a competing vision about what a downtown should be
about. For better or worse, the prevailing view is that it should be about
cars. That’s the whole battleground right there,” MacKay explained.
“It’s all about whether the car is king or not.”
— with files from Carol Sanders and Aldo Santin
ryan.thorpe(a)freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe
Pedestrian mall experiment starts in Winnipeg's Exchange District
Part of Albert Street to be closed off to traffic on Saturday afternoons
this September
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/pedestrian-mall-experiment-exchange…
A new pilot project is being launched in the Exchange District to see if
Winnipeggers will embrace the idea of pedestrian-only streets.
For every Saturday in September, one block of Albert Street between
McDermot and Bannatyne avenues will be closed to traffic, creating a
pedestrian mall.
The experiment is an initiative of the Exchange District Business
Improvement Zone, after the city approached the organization to conduct it.
David Pensato, the executive director of the BIZ, said the idea has been
floated for decades.
The plan is to just try different things and see if it's something people
enjoy, he said.
<http://www.gomanitoba.ca>
"We're not programming it like an event, because we do want it be an honest
experiment of what the conditions would be like if the street was for
pedestrians," he said.
"We're not trying to compete with any of the businesses on the streets
around there. What we're doing is we're inviting the businesses that are on
Albert to come out onto the street."
The area will be closed off to cars from noon to 5 p.m., with furniture,
buskers and games set up for people to enjoy.