BIZ optimistic about the future of Winnipeg's downtown despite survey showing declining perceptions
A new survey says nearly half of Canadians think their downtown has declined in the last year, but Winnipeg's downtown advocates are optimistic about its future, and say they are working hard to make downtown a safe space for everyone.
The web survey, conducted by Leger from August 5 to 7, received responses from 1,509 Canadians and 1,002 Americans, randomly recruited from the research company's online panel.
It found that 45 per cent of Canadians surveyed think their downtown core has declined, with 20 per cent saying it had significantly declined, and 25 per cent saying it had only somewhat declined.
28 per cent of Canadian respondents said they thought their downtown had stayed the same. Only 10 per cent thought it had improved over the past year.
Some of the factors contributing to the decline according to the survey are homelessness, mental health challenges for vulnerable populations, and rising crime rates.
One of the organizations working to make downtown Winnipeg safe is the Downtown Community Safety Partnership (DCSP), which has been in operation for more than two years.
DCSP outreach worker Mitch Bourbonniere says it has been going very well so far.
"We have people on the street 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with medical training, with de-escalation training, we're out meeting people, being part of the community," he said.
Bourbonniere says DCSP teams regularly patrol the streets downtown, making sure people are safe and attending to the unsheltered population. He thinks the perception of Winnipeg's downtown being unsafe is not entirely accurate.
"I think it's as about as safe as any major city in North America. I don’t think it's any more dangerous than anywhere else, said Bourbonniere. "But certainly, there are things that happen in our city that should not happen."
Crime rates in downtown Winnipeg have actually gone down in recent years. According to the Winnipeg Police Service 2021 statistical report, downtown crime dropped 13.1 per cent in 2021, with 13,768 incidents taking place in total. That drop could be attributed to the pandemic forcing people to work from home, but Bourbonniere says the key to making downtown Winnipeg safe is to bring workers back.
"The more alive we can make our spaces, the safer were going to be," said Bourbonniere. "So I think we need to help our downtown spaces become vibrant."
The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has been doing just that, encouraging people to come downtown with events like a weekly farmers market and free daily fitness classes at various parks around downtown .
Pam Hardman, Director of Marketing, Engagement and Communications, says they're working hard to encourage Winnipeggers to come work downtown again.
Pam Hardman with the Winnipeg Downtown BIZ is optimistic about the future of our downtown. (Source: CTV News Winnipeg)
"Our goal is to make the downtown office more exciting than the home office," said Hardman. "We want to encourage people who are maybe just working downtown a few days a week to come back and spend more time here, enjoy what the neighbourhood has to offer, and connect with people again face to face."
Hardman says their data shows the amount of people visiting downtown Winnipeg is not quite at 2019 levels yet, but it's getting close. She's expecting more people to return in the fall.
"We're looking at ways we can continue our programming into September … we know Culture Days is coming up as well, so the fall can continue to be as exciting as we're seeing this summer," said Hardman.
This includes the return of Manyfest, the Downtown BIZ's annual festival that, like many others, went on hiatus during the pandemic. Back are the food truck wars, local artisan market, live music, carnival rides, and other attractions. Hardman is excited about the festival's return September 9 – 11, and is optimistic about the future of Winnipeg's downtown.
"When we are out and about, we can see that there are more people on the streets," she said. "There's lots of events happening, not just on the weekdays for that 9-5 crowd, but on the weekends as well."
Hardman encourages anyone who hasn't been downtown in a while to come check it out, "It's the place where business, arts and culture come together. There are things downtown that you really can't find anywhere else."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.