Letters, Feb. 28

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2025 (392 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Invest more in busways

Re: Peguis extension pricey but worth it: mayor (Feb. 27)

After reading about Mayor Scott Gillingham’s unqualified support for spending at least $755 million on the Chief Peguis Trail extension (not to mention his support for the Kenaston redevelopment project), I would like to remind the mayor that Winnipeg is not exempt from the runaway global warming that is increasingly threatening our planet.

We must not spend these vast sums on roadways that will make it easier for gasoline-burning vehicles to spew ever more CO2 into our atmosphere.

The money would be far better spent on completing the system of high-speed busways that our city needs and by ensuring that all buses that are purchased are electric or hybrid. And how about the city’s large fleet of gasoline-burning vehicles as well?

Joe Leven

Winnipeg

Scramble a good idea

Re: Pedestrian scramble pilot project proposed (Feb. 27)

As a citizen who wants to see our downtown flourish, I believe the pedestrian scramble could be a really good step in revitalizing our downtown.

Think of the Shibuya crossing in Japan and how mesmerizing it is to watch, with pedestrians crossing from all directions and how efficient the entire intersection is. The fact that the city is even considering installing a pedestrian scramble is completely mind-blowing, considering how they are sometimes backwards on pedestrian safety. This pilot project will hopefully show the city that pedestrian scrambles are a completely viable and safe way of letting pedestrians cross an intersection downtown, and that it is worth the cost of installing them.

It is my hope that the city starts installing them at our busiest pedestrian intersections; potentially Portage and Main after it opens to pedestrians. I am also hoping that it helps contribute to pedestrian activity downtown, making our downtown feel more vibrant and alive compared to its current state. Our downtown could really use a lot of improvement and making it safer for pedestrians will help increase activity, which will hopefully drive investment in our downtown.

Rylan Gallinera

Winnipeg

Doing the simple things

Re: Moving from the Oval Office to your laundry room (Think Tank, Feb. 26)

Peter Denton has addressed an issue which is having a critical impact on our environment. He draws our attention to the cost of washing our clothing after wearing it just once.

His simple proposal is WIT — Wear It Twice. There is, however, another way to cut down on the environmental cost of clothing ending up in landfill and that is to send our used clothing to thrift stores.

The Salvation Army estimates that close to 100 million tons of clothing is diverted from landfills each year when donated to its thrift stores. And the money raised is then put towards its community service. Yes, there are some simple things we can do to help our planet.

Ray Harris

Winnipeg

The true cost of a collision

Re: Teen suffered multiple spine fractures in rural bus crash (Feb. 21)

Kudos to Maggie Macintosh and your paper for exposing the lasting impact of road crashes as vividly described by the teen’s grandfather. Too often crashes are treated as mere traffic delays — ignoring that for those involved the effects last a lifetime.

A key question lingers: How does a standard pickup truck hit with such force that it flips a school bus? One answer is “car bloat.” Trucks and SUVs are bigger, heavier and more powerful than ever. Some of this is due to luxury features, but paradoxically it is also because of added safety measures like larger crumple zones, which protect occupants but endanger everyone else. This arms race leaves cyclists and pedestrians at extreme risk.

I know first-hand. Two and a half years ago, while biking home in Brandon, I was hit by a car. Airlifted to Winnipeg, I suffered serious injuries, including the loss of my pinky finger, which had been torn off by the car’s grill. Yet the police report merely noted I had “non-life-threatening injuries.”

This sanitized language hides the daily toll of crashes. It’s why we fail to treat road crashes with the seriousness they demand. Instead of focusing on minor tweaks like seat belts on buses, we must address the root causes: oversized vehicles, unsafe speeds and a lack of safe alternatives to driving. Better road design, stronger enforcement and investments in transit, cycling and walkable neighbourhoods are essential.

Crashes aren’t just statistics. People die. People are badly hurt. And too often, the true cost remains hidden.

Grant Hamilton

Brandon

Lessons from Grade 4

As the news media relentlessly reports, Canada and some of its allies continue to be faced with the aggressive threats, taunts and rantings of the newest bully on the world block. As we navigate these uncharted waters, a look back in time merits some consideration.

When I was a Grade 4 student, my class received a lesson about the sonnet Ozymandias which was written in the 19th century by a renowned English poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley. A decade later, I studied this composition again at university. Its message is unforgettable and timeless.

The poem and commentary on its meaning are readily accessible with a Google search. It is worth checking out. Take note of the sonnet’s reference to the despot — “… whose frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command.” Sounds familiar.

History has shown us that abuse of power repeats itself. It has also shown us that abusers, some not that long ago, do have a shelf life. Hitler comes to mind.

May Canada and all that it stands for be strong and prevail!

Carol MacKenzie

Winnipeg

A wish to connect

Re: ‘I had a wonderful life despite all the hard stuff’ (Feb. 22)

When Shawna Forester Smith shared that she’d “had a wonderful life despite all the hard stuff” in the column she wrote prior to her death, I sensed her heartfelt wish to connect with her readers, to help as much as she could with the wisdom she’d gathered over the years.

Her spirit lives on in our memories, memories of the weekends when many of us would sit and read her Free Press column, take in her amazing wisdom, courage and always some humour. Knowing that people were with her during her suffering, navigating the “hard stuff,” must have been part of how she remained courageous and so articulate. I too corresponded with her and she always replied, taking an interest in what I would share, in turn personally sharing about her incredible challenges and her correlating views about medical care, people’s health and the significant changes needed.

She was hopeful that her writing and meetings with leaders was having some impact. I looked back at our correspondence and realize now that the last thing Shawna wrote to me weeks ago was the line, “I hope you have a good day!”

This often-used, simple wish can be an act of kindness, a tiny treasure alongside other seemingly tiny gestures we too can make, ways of fostering a kind, gentle, caring and determined community as we weather the “hard stuff” together and advocate for change.

All the best to Shawna’s family and close friends who no doubt miss her incredibly while they carry on the good work.

Peter Krahn

Winnipeg