The Wrap: Portage & Main, Houston’s homelessness solution, trans health care and the Bombers head north

The landmark intersection of Portage Avenue and Main Street, which has inspired a song, a stamp, and years of passionate debate among Winnipeggers, may soon be open to pedestrians for the first time in more than 40 years.

Mayor Scott Gillingham, who was against the reopening of the downtown junction in the last election campaign, said today he now wants it reopened to foot traffic by the summer of 2025, after receiving a report indicating it would cost $73 million to repair the leaky concourse below it.

Houston is internationally regarded as a success story when it comes to addressing homelessness. So much so that politicians from other cities flock to the Texan metropolis to learn how it works.

Recently, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham was among those who made the trek. Manitoba’s NDP government has also expressed interest in the Houston model.

What can Winnipeg learn from the Houston model? Free Press investigative reporter Katrina Clarke travelled to Texas to find out.

While provincial funding for gender-affirming health services has never been higher in Manitoba, the opaque system remains plagued by bottlenecks, red tape, lack of permanent funding and knowledge gaps among medical providers — the consequences of which can be deadly.

Piecemeal gains in trans health care have moved Manitoba forward, even as U.S.-style anti-trans political movements gain ground.

Now, the provincial government is emphatically supportive of trans rights and gender-affirming health care. But the community needs to see more action.

Eva Wasney and Katie May report in the latest in our Silenced Symptoms series, which explore underdiagnosed, underrecognized and marginalized health issues affecting the lives of women, nonbinary and trans people.

Over the next two months, select Winnipeg Blue Bombers players, along with general manager Kyle Walters and head coach Mike O’Shea, will travel to 10 Indigenous communities in Northern Manitoba. The goal is to meet with community leaders, teach flag football skills and connect with the youth.

The Winnipeg Football Club kicked off its Northern Winter Tour this week with a one-day voyage to two First Nations communities located more than 600 km northeast of Winnipeg.

Free Press multimedia producer Jeff Hamilton and photographer Mike Deal have the story.