- AT-Network - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

WFP: Charges stayed against accused in bike chop shop (Jun5'26)
by Beth McKechnie 05 Jun '26

05 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. City police executed search warrant on homeless encampment last summer in unprecedented move Charges stayed against accused in chop shop https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/06/04/charges-stayed-ag… A HIGH-PROFILE arrest of two men accused of operating a bicycle chop shop at a riverside homeless encampment last summer went nowhere in court after the Crown requested the charges be stayed. The bust at a public park on Waterfront Drive made headlines last August, when the Winnipeg Police Service announced investigators had taken the unprecedented step of applying for a search warrant before entering the makeshift tarp structure. Police seized 50 bicycle frames, 77 tires, 53 rims and other equipment believed to be stolen. Two men were charged with possession of property obtained by crime. A review of court records shows the Crown prosecutor leading the case stayed the charges against the accused on April 15. The decision means the charges are suspended but not dismissed, and could be reactivated within one year if new evidence comes to light. Court documents do not reference the reason behind the decision, but criminal defence lawyer Scott Newman said the Crown typically stays charges when there is no reasonable likelihood of conviction. “It’s hard to know (why the charges were stayed) without knowing specifically what the evidence was that they gathered,” said Newman, who was not involved in the case. “I think it’s fair to say that if this were a strong case, it’s far less likely that there would have been a stay of proceedings entered.” Search warrant documents obtained by the Free Press last year showed police began investigating the encampment in Fort Douglas Park after a city employee reported he’d been conducting a walkthrough of the site and noticed a large structure he did not believe was being used as a dwelling. The documents described the structure as being approximately 900 square feet, constructed with tarps on four sides, and containing multiple rooms with no roof. Investigators said they found evidence it was being staffed by multiple people who were working in shifts to dismantle bike parts. Daniel McIntyre Coun. Cindy Gilroy, who has been vocal about the need to strengthen encampment enforcement, said the outcome of the criminal proceedings was “very frustrating to hear.” “I was at that chop shop, so I know very well what was going on there,” Gilroy said. “It’s unfortunate because we do know that some of these crimes that are being perpetrated are well organized and gang-run, and they really are taking advantage of a lot of the homeless people who are doing the work.” Newman commended police for securing a search warrant before entering the encampment, but said it would have likely been difficult for Crown prosecutors to pursue the case without solid evidence linking the accused to the stolen goods. “They have to prove knowledge that the person knows they are in possession of the stolen thing, and that the person is in control of the object,” Newman said. “When you have an open encampment… anybody can walk in, anybody can walk out… there are all kinds of issues as to who has knowledge that there are stolen goods in there and who has control over those stolen goods. Those are two obvious issues that a Crown attorney could struggle to get past.” Cases in which stolen goods are recovered from a building are easier to pursue because lawyers can draw a direct line to the owner of the property or its residents, he said. “Let’s assume police arrested these two individuals inside that lean-to. How do you tie them to any of the items or stolen goods there? Where is the evidence the Crown can point to?” Newman said. “How can I ever prove that they’ve been here and this is their stuff, versus, maybe they just walked in.” DNA evidence or witness statements could help strengthen such a case, but it’s unclear whether that was available to prosecutors, Newman said. WPS declined to comment on the stay of proceedings Thursday, and efforts to reach the Crown leading the case were unsuccessful. Gilroy said bicycle chop shops have a significant, negative impact on the community and fuel the trade of illicit drugs. She hopes the stay of proceedings does not discourage police from pursuing charges if they uncover similar operations at encampments in the future. A spokesperson for Mayor Scott Gillingham said the outcome was “ clearly disappointing,” but police and city officials will “continue to target illegal activities like chop shops in encampments.” He declined to comment further on the case without having a full understanding of why the charges were stayed. WPS Const. Stephen Spencer said he is not aware of investigators obtaining warrants for encampments before or since the search on Waterfront Drive. — with files from Dean Pritchard tyler.searle(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP Editorial: School zones and speed: a bad mix (Jun4'26)
by Beth McKechnie 04 Jun '26

04 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. EDITORIAL School zones and speed: a bad mix https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/2026/06/04/school-zone… THIS feels very much like one of those issues that fits into the category of “Why is this even a thing?” As the school year winds down in Winnipeg, education officials in the city recently received a briefing on “hot spots” for collisions and photo- radar ticketing near elementary schools, and strategies for reducing traffic and better protecting pedestrians in the areas surrounding school properties. In the wake of the briefing, which took place in March at Winnipeg School Division headquarters, two school zones with reduced speed limits (to 30 km/h) will be given safety upgrades this summer, in the form of traffic-calming curbs to force motorists to adhere to the lower posted limit. In addition, according to recent Free Press reporting, nine other schools were identified for inclusion in a pilot project employing high-visibility, in-street crosswalk signage placed in the middle of the road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days. “There’s no cookie-cutter kind of solution, unfortunately,” said Denae Dorge, the city’s road safety outreach co-ordinator. “You need to have lots of different tools in your toolbox.” While these measures are an admirable effort to make roadways and crossings safer for students travelling to and from school, one can’t help wondering why road safety around schools continues to require additional attention in the first place. In 2014, speed limits near more than 170 Winnipeg elementary schools were reduced to 30 km/h between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. from September to June; in 2019, reduced speed limits were expanded to include nearly all schools. Signage has been in place since the measures were introduced, and photo radar is often stationed within those zones to ticket offenders who ignore the reduced limit. Public education campaigns have been initiated to remind drivers of the need to slow down, and a debate has been ongoing for years over whether to extend the reduced school-zone limits year-round or to impose a 30 km/h limit on all residential streets. Add to all that the fact that it’s just simple common sense to exercise additional caution while driving through school zones — particularly during the hours when activity on sidewalks and crosswalks is at its highest — and it’s actually a bit alarming that school officials continue to grapple with the issue of making school zones safer. And yet… The frequency of speed infractions in school zones is such that the aforementioned briefing included a list identifying the 10 schools whose reduced-speed zones had the highest rates of tickets issued per hour of enforcement. Dorge’s team has “high-level plans” to analyze all the ticketing hot spots during the upcoming summer break. Among the expanded measures currently being considered is the imposition of reduced speed limits in school zones throughout the year. The WSD has already submitted a proposal to city hall requesting a year-round, 24/7 reduction in designated areas. “Our goal of reducing accidents and fatalities should not be limited to 10 months,” said Ward 9 trustee Ann Evangelista, who chairs the WSD’s environmental advisory committee. Ultimately, however, traffic safety in school zones, and on the city’s streets in general, depends on the ongoing behaviour and daily decisions of Winnipeg drivers. And for the people behind the wheel, it quite frankly couldn’t be easier: existing signage is abundant and highly visible, new attention-grabbing measures will make school-zone restrictions even harder to ignore, and the omnipresence of photo radar adds an expensive level of deterrence for would-be speed-limit scofflaws. This isn’t complicated. For the sake of the children: Just. Slow. Down.

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WFP: Construction begins on upgrades to Corydon Avenue west of Kenaston Boulevard (Jun3'26)
by Beth McKechnie 03 Jun '26

03 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Construction begins on upgrades to Corydon Avenue west of Kenaston Boulevard Smooth sailing for bumpy ride https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/06/02/construction-begi… WORK has begun on a Corydon Avenue construction project that upgrades road, water and active-transportation infrastructure in the Tuxedo area. The $7.5 million in road work on Corydon Avenue between Kenaston and Shaftesbury boulevards — funded by the municipal, provincial and federal governments — is expected to be completed by late fall, at the end of the year’s construction season. The work includes roadway paving, a new active-transportation pathway adjacent to the roadways from Kenaston to Assiniboine Park, upgrades to bus stops and new sewer and water infrastructure. All vehicle lanes on Corydon between Tuxedo Avenue and Kenaston, and from Tuxedo to Shaftesbury, will be re-paved. Municipal and provincial government officials held a news conference Tuesday at Corydon and Tuxedo avenues to highlight the project. “The federal, provincial and municipal governments are working in partnership to invest in the infrastructure needs that the citizens of Winnipeg require,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “This is a big improvement to Corydon Avenue, which is a key route.” Jeline Opina, the owner of Fruit de la Vie Juice Co. — a juice, smoothie and coffee bar that opened a location in the Tuxedo Junction strip mall on Corydon Avenue earlier this year — said she thinks the project, particularly the active-transportation path, will be positive for the area. “I think that would be better for the community,” she said. “I find that this strip is very active; there’s runners, there’s bikers… and right now it’s a little tricky with traffic flow.” Since the work began, she’s had some customers come in irritated about how inconvenient it is to access the strip mall parking lot in a vehicle. She said other business owners in the mall have reported a slowdown in customer traffic, but the work hasn’t had much effect on business at her shop. Many of her customers, including many students on lunch breaks from area schools, walk or cycle to the store, said Opina. One of the realities of road and infrastructure work is that residents and businesses are temporarily affected by it, said the mayor, adding city staff and consultants are supposed to be in regular contact with residents and business owners about projects in their area. The paved walking and cycling path will start on the south side of Corydon Avenue at Park Boulevard, across from the southeast entrance to Assiniboine Park. The path won’t be in a vehicle lane. The pathway will extend east along Corydon to Edgeland Boulevard, where it will cross at the pedestrian corridor and continue along the north side of Corydon Avenue up to Doncaster Street, then along the Lockston Avenue alley to Kenaston. The City of Winnipeg put about $3.6 million into the project, while the federal and provincial governments contributed about $2 million apiece. Waverley West Coun. Janice Lukes, who chairs city council’s public works committee, said the Corydon Avenue project is included in the approximately $164 million in road work planned this year. erik.pindera(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca>

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CBC: E-bike rider supports restrictions on electric bicycles in Manitoba
by Beth McKechnie 02 Jun '26

02 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIctTNTtrAk

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WFP: Safety upgrades set for school zone hot spots (Jun1'26)
by Beth McKechnie 01 Jun '26

01 Jun '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Safety upgrades set for school zone hot spots https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/05/31/city-taking-steps… A pair of 30-kilometre-per-hour school zones known as speeding hotspots are getting safety upgrades this summer amid a citywide probe into posted speed limits. Winnipeg school officials were recently briefed on hot spots for collisions and photo-radar tickets issued near elementary buildings between the months of September and June, when the maximum limit drops. “There’s no cookie-cutter kind of solution, unfortunately,” said Denae Dorge, the city’s road safety outreach co-ordinator. “You need to have lots of different tools in your toolbox and also, work with the families that attend your school.” Arthur E. Wright Community School in the Maples (1520 Jefferson Ave.) and H.S. Paul School (160 Southglen Blvd.) near St. Vital Centre will soon have traffic-calming curbs added to their toolboxes. A slideshow viewed by the Free Press showed both are on the city’s list of top-10 schools with the highest rates of speeding tickets per hour of enforcement in 30 km/h zones. Civil servants shared a data-packed presentation, along with new initiatives to reduce traffic and better protect pedestrians, at the Winnipeg School Division headquarters on March 10. For trustee Ann Evangelista, who represents Ward 9 residents in the inner-city division, the statistics were a wakeup call. “We could do more. We could do better, and we need to prioritize (school zone improvements),” Evangelista said, noting she was shocked to learn there’s an average of 75 crashes on city streets every day. “This is an emergency.” Four schools — Dakota Collegiate (661 Dakota St.), Victor Mager (81 Beliveau Rd.), Kelvin High School (155 Kingsway) and St. Emile School (552 St. Anne’s Rd.) — are located within 200 metres of one of the city’s top-10 problematic intersections, based on network screening data. The transportation unit ranks its priorities based on collision history, road characteristics and other issues, compared to similar locations. The Winnipeg School Division submitted a proposal to city hall to implement 24-7, year-round reduced-school speed zones in September. “Our goal of reducing accidents and fatalities should not be limited to 10 months,” said Evangelista, who chairs the board’s environmental advisory committee. While she’s personally in favour of lowering limits in all residential neighbourhoods, she said there has been no consensus among or within other boards. Members of the Manitoba School Boards Association did, however, pass a resolution at their winter convention to lobby governments to formally consult them in matters of traffic safety in and around schools. Dorge said her unit is keen to work more closely with schools to learn about particularly troublesome areas and brainstorm immediate and permanent measures. “We’re looking for more nimble ways that we can respond to safety concerns that are quick to install and quite a bit more affordable than a permanent installation,” she said. Nine schools are involved in a new pilot of in-street crosswalk signage — a traffic-calming measure that’s long been used outside the Perimeter Highway — that began in November. A total of $4,500 was budgeted to test out high-visibility signage placed in the middle of roads between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days. The new addition outside Frontenac School (866 Autumnwood Dr.) immediately elicited positive feedback from student patrollers, families and neighbours in St. Boniface. Principal Shauna Archer said it’s made “a huge difference” in reducing speeds on the block because drivers can’t ignore the bright yellow post and they’re forced to navigate around it. A designated stop-drop-go zone and regular communication with families are all part of the facility’s ongoing efforts to reduce congestion, Archer said. “It’s important that we’re having these conversations because it is a really essential piece of the puzzle of school,” she said. Dorge said the pilot has, largely, been seen as a success among participants, but several signs have gone missing. Along with new signage, her team is regularly reviewing parking zones and lighting and, as of last year, installing traffic-calming curbs, to improve road safety in school zones, she said. The March 10 slideshow indicates her team has “high-level plans” to analyze all of the top 10 ticket hot spots in school zones over the summer. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca>

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WFP: Man sent to hospital after being hit by SUV (May29'26)
by Beth McKechnie 29 May '26

29 May '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. MAN SENT TO HOSPITAL AFTER BEING HIT BY SUV A MAN was taken to hospital after he was struck by a vehicle near Main Street Thursday. Shortly after noon, officers responded to a single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian near the intersection of Main Street and Redwood Avenue, the Winnipeg Police Service said. A blue SUV with a smashed windshield and a damaged front end could be seen, surrounded by police tape. Police said no other updates were available. The incident took place approximately 200 metres away from another collision at Mountain Avenue and Main Street last week, when police said a woman in her 50s was taken to hospital in unstable condition.

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WFP OpEd: Unintended consequences of bike-safety policy (May29'26)
by Beth McKechnie 29 May '26

29 May '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Unintended consequences of bike-safety policy GREGORY MASON https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/05/29/unintended-co… WELL, after decades of blemish-free driving, I received a speeding ticket. As I headed west across Maryland Street, I imagined the speed limit was 50 km/h, as it had been all winter. With construction on my right and a tailgater crowding me, I pressed on the gas and missed the sign warning of a 30 km/h zone ahead. Just beyond the new speed zone sign, a police officer in an unmarked car pulled me over. The police officer was indefatigably polite when I expressed surprise that I thought I was under the speed limit. He said, “You were, for April, but the speed limit changed on May 1.” I remarked that, “The city should make a more prominent sign with an alert about the change.” His response is that he does not set policy and must enforce the law. After he explained that I had the option to challenge it, I might have a chance to avoid demerits and the fine, given my good record. On that note, we parted amicably, but with me still holding the ticket. I spent the rest of the day imagining how I would prepare my case. I circled back to take a picture of the diminutive speed limit sign and how the construction activity could divert a driver’s attention. I imagined appearing before a justice of the peace, eloquently pleading my case as the champion of wronged drivers everywhere. Then I heard my late wife whisper in my ear, “Greg, get over yourself.” I calculated the several hours I would spend crafting a brilliant legal argument, the time spent arranging a court date, and the time to travel to the court, the wait to give evidence, and then the time to offer my cogent analysis. The opportunity cost of the time spent in preparing and delivering my legal arguments was too high. Opportunity cost is the value of the next best option. The opportunity cost of reading this op-ed is the value of the best alternative use of your time, be it watching CNN or clipping your toenails. But there is more to this story than just me getting tagged for inattention. What we see in the city’s cycling program is an attempt to make the world safer for cyclists, a very laudable goal. This is especially since a couple of years ago, a cyclist was killed on Wellington Crescent. Now, it was not someone travelling at 30 km/h or even 50 km/h, but someone hurtling along at well over twice the speed limit. No speed limit regulation could have prevented that accident, but the result was a widespread demand to lower the speed limit to 30 km/h on Wellington Crescent; many also advocate imposing a similar speed limit in residential areas. As drivers learn of the 30 km/h speed limit on Wellington, they will switch to an alternative, most likely Academy Road. This increases congestion, leading to longer transit times from Kenaston Boulevard to the west and Sherbrook Street to the east. During rush hours, risky driving, such as accelerating to catch an amber light, will increase. While I have no hard data on this, my casual observations suggest that an increasing number of motorists are running red lights. This delays those turning left, further contributing to frustration, impatience and recklessness. Guilty as charged. The reduced speed on Wellington reduces the risk for cyclists but transfers it to motorists and pedestrians using Academy. This is the law of unintended consequences. The creation of bike lanes that narrow existing streets has the same consequence of impeding and slowing traffic. Add to that the impending construction season and we have a perfect storm of frustration. If successful, the move to slow traffic in residential areas to 30 km/h will divert even more cars to regional streets. Data from the City of Winnipeg show that for 2022 (the most recent compilation), there were 25 traffic-related deaths, a big jump from previous years, for reasons that are not obvious. Of these, 12 were either drivers or passengers in a vehicle, 12 were pedestrians, and one was a cyclist. At first blush, if the goal is to save lives, then a safety program aimed at pedestrians would appear to have a greater payoff than investments in bike safety. The focus on safe cycling may reflect the power of the bicycle lobby in the city. The law of unintended consequences is not done with us. As we invest more in bike safety measures, we can expect the number of cyclist- related accidents and deaths to increase, as the number of people using bikes increases. Reducing cycling risk but increasing bike use might result in more deaths. Cyclists’ average competence will also decline. I am not speaking of the 22-year-old in the tight shorts, travelling at 30 km/h, training for the Tour de France. It is the 72-year-old on an E-bike travelling at that speed who is likely to have poor reflexes. Remember the law of unintended consequences in the future, when we discover that cyclist deaths rise despite investments in bike safety. Gregory Mason is an associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba.

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WFP OpEd: Funding transit is Manitoba’s future (May27'26)
by Beth McKechnie 27 May '26

27 May '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Funding transit is Manitoba’s future MEL MARGINET https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/05/27/funding-trans… WHEN it comes to making decisions about how to spend our tax dollars, Manitobans want governments to spend on programs and services that tackle as many priorities as possible. Few funding decisions will be as high-impact and multi-purpose as the restoration of 50-50 transit funding with municipalities. Under the 50-50 agreement, the province covers half of the operational spending budget for conventional and accessible transit. Manitobans are under increasing pressure financially. To date, the current Manitoba government’s strategy has been to reduce or eliminate taxes on gasoline and groceries. The results of this approach will see those with the highest amount to spend receive the greatest benefit. Those who drive rarely or never, or have the most efficient vehicles, get little to no savings. The provincial government did introduce a free youth transit pass in the 2026 budget, and that is a positive gesture indeed. However, the underfunding of transit in Winnipeg and Brandon means youth might have a free pass for a bus which rarely comes, and when it does it might be so full it simply passes them by. Sadly, the youth pass may also lead to even more overcrowding on buses struggling to keep up with demand. To accompany the youth pass, we need increased investment in operations. Manitoba municipalities are under stress to keep up with rising infrastructure costs and service demands. The federal government’s latest budget — promising a generational amount of spending for Canadian cities — has served as a sobering reality check. The $51 billion over a decade will cover between five and 18 per cent of the maintenance Canadian cities need now, just to cover what’s already built. We’re reminded of this in Winnipeg each year when we spend a “record amount” of money on roads, only to find ourselves with rising infrastructure debt. How does provincial funding for transit help? It supports municipalities, improves service and generates local economic benefits. The majority of money spent on personal vehicles in Manitoba leaves the local economy. Money spent on transit, however, is incredibly local, since a majority of the cost to run the service is labour. Manitoba also has an added economic driver: we are home to New Flyer, meaning even the capital costs for new buses are dollars that stay here in Manitoba. Improved transit systems, leading to more riders, reduce the wear-and-tear on our roads and associated costs of maintenance. Some may point to Winnipeg’s move to a spine-and-feeder system, and the challenges it has faced, as a reason to not restore the 50-50 funding. Yet Edmonton, which also revamped its transit network to a spine-and-feeder system, has seen a resulting 23 per cent rider increase. I’m going to guess that the 52 per cent more per capita that Edmonton spends on transit has something to do with that success. In April 2026, the Climate Action Team Manitoba published an article, What is 50-50 Transit Funding — and How Much Might It Cost the Province?, in which it ran several scenarios, from keeping spending at the status quo, all the way to increasing operating spending by 50 per cent. The result? To restore 50-50 transit funding provincewide, the provincial government would need to spend between $5 million and $90 million per year, depending on how much municipalities decide to increase their spending by. In 2024, the gas tax holiday cost the province $340 million. On that note, we also need to think about the future of the province we live in. Instead of spending hundreds of millions of dollars to save the biggest spenders in the province money at the pump (which, again, is money that is leaving our local economy), we could invest in improving the transit systems in our cities for generations to come. Young people in Canada are driving substantially less than previous generations, and the cities to which we are losing those young people (Edmonton, Calgary, Minneapolis, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver) are investing heavily in their public transit systems. Cities that are friendly to those who cannot drive, or want to drive less, are also nicer places for seniors to age. If you are someone who cares about affordability, air quality and road safety, you will want to see a financial investment in transit. Restoring 50-50 transit funding will make a positive and tangible impact on day-to-day life for the majority of Manitobans. Mel Marginet is part of the sustainable transportation team at Green Action Centre and the publisher at Great Plains Press, which publishes The City Project.

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FW: Manitoba News Release: Manitoba Government Invests $100,000 to Expand Affordable Year-Round Recreation in Winnipeg
by Kevin Miller 26 May '26

26 May '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. [Manitoba News Release] May 26, 2026 Manitoba Government Invests $100,000 to Expand Affordable Year-Round Recreation in Winnipeg The Manitoba government is investing $100,000 through the From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program to support the Winnipeg Trails Association’s GearBox project, a community-based initiative that expands access to year-round cycling and skiing opportunities, Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced today. “Every community deserves affordable ways to stay active and enjoy the outdoors year-round,” said Simard. “By supporting the great work of the Winnipeg Trails Association, we’re helping more people in Winnipeg access the incredible cycling and skiing opportunities our city has to offer. This investment ensures that families, youth, newcomers and people of all abilities can experience the joy of movement, build confidence and connect with their neighbourhoods in meaningful ways.” With this investment, the organization will expand its reach, strengthen community partnerships and continue creating spaces where people can learn, play and thrive, the minister noted, adding that the GearBox project is an innovative, community‑driven initiative that expands access to independent recreation, active transportation and outdoor learning opportunities for people across Winnipeg. “This investment supports a project that removes barriers, builds confidence and creates opportunities for all kinds of people, including those who may not otherwise have easy access to a few different important kinds of outdoor recreation or transportation,” said Anders Swanson, executive director, Winnipeg Trails Association. “The GearBox project brings pop-up storage to public spaces like schools and community centres, fills them with skis, bikes, trail building tools or gardening gear and opens it up to community programming. The idea is to make it easier for groups of people to get together, to plan outings, to plant new trees along trails, to ski, to explore their communities and to make the city more fun and sustainable.” The investment will help the Winnipeg Trails Association continue its work improving the quality of Winnipeg’s infrastructure by sharing best practices, offering access to equipment and delivering programs that strengthen neighbourhoods. The organization’s projects range from bike repair and ski lending to tree planting, trail building, traffic calming initiatives and Indigenous language revitalization activities designed to make Winnipeg healthier, more connected and more inclusive. The From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program supports community renewal efforts, community capital projects and youth initiatives. Non-profit organizations, Northern Affairs community councils and municipalities can apply for funding. The program received a $1-million increase in Budget 2025. In 2025-26, the Manitoba government committed over $12.29 million to support 208 community development projects across Manitoba. For more information on Winnipeg Trails Association, visit https://winnipegtrails.ca/. To learn more about the From the Ground Up – Safe Healthy Communities for ALL program, visit: https://gov.mb.ca/grants/. - 30 - ________________________________ For more information: * Public information, contact Manitoba Government Inquiry: mgi(a)gov.mb.ca<mailto:mgi@gov.mb.ca> or 1-866-626-4862 or 204-945-3744. * Media requests for general information, contact Communications and Engagement: newsroom(a)gov.mb.ca<mailto:newsroom@gov.mb.ca>. * Media requests for ministerial comment, contact Cabinet Communications: cabcom(a)manitoba.ca<mailto:cabcom@manitoba.ca>. Please be advised that this email account is not monitored for inquiries or followup questions. You can also follow us x.com/mbgovnews<http://x.com/mbgovnews>. Ce compte de courriel n’est pas surveillé et vous ne recevrez pas de réponse à vos demandes d’information ou questions. Vous pouvez aussi nous suivre au x.com/mbgovnews<http://x.com/mbgovnews>.

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WFP: Everybody on the bike bus! (May25'26)
by Beth McKechnie 25 May '26

25 May '26

Caution! This message was sent from outside the University of Manitoba. Winnipeg schools inspired to join viral phenomenon Everybody on the bike bus! https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2026/05/25/everybody-on-the-… BOBBY Beattie leads Winnipeg’s newest biker gang by blasting a bubble machine and Pancake Robot, among other kid-friendly song requests, from a boombox attached to his cargo ebike. Beattie’s squad of schoolchildren and parent volunteers on wheels stop dog walkers and drivers in their tracks when they travel around Corydon. That’s one of the many goals of the “bike bus” — to remind drivers they’re sharing city streets with children. “On one hand, it’s about kids getting to school safely and participating in this active transit,” Beattie said after dropping his eight-year-old twins and their peers off at Earl Grey School last week. “On the other hand, it’s an educational moment because through showing them proper riding etiquette, we can teach them the skills they need to stay safe, even when they’re not biking in a group, and I think that’s equally important.” Inspired by the growing bike bus movement, both locally and internationally, Beattie successfully pitched the idea to the principal and parent council at Earl Grey in the fall. The concept blew up in 2022 when Sam Balto, a phys-ed teacher in Portland, Ore., went viral for his bike bus videos. Balto (@coachbalto) has since launched the non-profit Bike Bus World and hosted Justin Timberlake, Zara Larsson and other celebrities on rides. Inspired by Balto, École Provencher boasts what is believed to be the first and longest-running bike bus in Manitoba. It was founded in 2023 by teacher- librarian Suzanne Simpson and Ian Walker, a father at the St. Boniface elementary school who is currently the chair of Safe Speeds Winnipeg. “The kids at school call it the ‘party bus’ and I agree — it is like attending a party on your way to work,” Simpson said, adding it’s been heartening to see students get exercise, enjoy the outdoors and socialize during commutes. The St. Boniface-area bike bus has grown to include students from Provencher and nearby École Henri-Bergeron, a three-minute bike ride away. A recent run drew about 70 participants. Sage Creek School’s bike bus, which is coordinated by teacher Amanda Lake, attracted nearly 50 students on a recent spring day. Lake credited the program’s success to a new policy she helped create: students in the Louis Riel School Division can now join bike buses without a parent present, as long as their family signs a waiver. Prior to her first group ride of the year, she helped put on a bike repair night for families across the division on May 7 at École Howden. Howden, as well as Winnipeg’s École St. Germain and Robert H. Smith School, are also organizing bike buses this year. One Grade 3 member of Earl Grey’s squad said being a part of the new cycling group makes him feel like a celebrity in the neighbourhood. Pete, an eight-year-old rider who describes himself as “really fast,” said he was excited to learn about the initiative this year. “It sounded really fun and I love biking,” Pete said, adding one of his favourite parts of the morning commute is dodging potholes. Beattie rounded up volunteers to organize an assembly, surveyed interested families on intersections near their houses to create a route and secured high-vis equipment so they could host the first ride in early May. It’s critical that adults are trained to monitor intersections and keep all riders safe, he said. The “sweep” of the group carries a first aid kit. Nearly 30 people, including 10 students, joined the morning bike bus — also known as a “bicibús” at the Spanish bilingual school — on Friday. “Childhood should include a little independence and a little adventure,” Beattie said. “It should mean riding to school with your friends instead of sitting in a line of cars. It should mean parents getting to know their neighbours instead of waving through windshields.” Long before bike buses were a viral phenomenon, Beattie purchased a cargo ebike in a shade branded as “school bus yellow.” As is, it’s an appropriate vehicle to lead the pack to and from Earl Grey on Fridays throughout the spring, but he’s taken his decor one step further by equipping it with a school bus-themed children’s tent. maggie.macintosh(a)freepress.mb.ca<mailto:maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca>

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