Osborne Village BIZ launches Indigenous-influenced community support, safety project
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/08/2022 (1155 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The SABE Peace Walkers started as a volunteer de-escalation team. On Wednesday, they will begin an opportunity to improve health, well-being and safety in a central Winnipeg neighbourhood.
The team was chosen to lead a pilot project launched by the Osborne Village BIZ, with the aim of increasing community support and safety.
“I truly believe that with everything our city experiences — from our extreme heat and colds, the pandemic and some of the barriers people face — this is the type of thing that needs to be in place because it’s a response that meets people where they’re at, at their level,” said Daniel Hidalgo, co-founder of the SABE Peace Walkers.

JESSICA LEE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
From left to right: Dylan Olson, Daniel Hidalgo and Janet Anderson of SABE Peace Walkers at their base on the edge of the Exchange District.
Sabe is Ojibwe for the mythological creature and symbol for honesty in the Seven Grandfather Teachings.
SABE Peace Walkers will offer community safe walks and incidental support to the public, residents and businesses, providing community safety and support to those in need. The pilot will take place over the next 17 weeks, operating five days a week and was made possible through a $77,000 donation from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries as part of its Social Responsibility Program.
“It speaks to their understanding that there’s a need for change and I have to take my hat off to those organizations,” Hidalgo said. “It takes a compassionate lens and an empathetic perspective. I admire when big corporations, businesses and people in positions of power are able to come down to that level and understand the necessity for those things. They’re trying to be progressive thinkers.”
The project will have an Indigenous influence, but will be available to everyone.
“The culture is something that speaks to the people and everyone can partake in. The teachings that come with that promote living life in a good way and being kind to one another,” Hidalgo said.
Small Mercies is a retail business in the Village that will benefit from the new patrol and owner Arden Coy said she’s excited.
“I think it’s a great idea and I hope it makes a difference,” she said. “In some ways, Osborne gets a bad rap for being a dangerous area. I think having those supporters will help.”
SABE Peace Walkers are licensed in security and have training in areas such as non-violent crisis intervention, administering naloxone to people suffering from opioid overdoses, first aid/CPR, trauma-informed practice, harm reduction and seven pipe laws and seven healing methods.

SUPPLIED
Osborne Village BIZ launches pilot project to increase community support and safety. SABE Peace Walkers will offer community safe walks and incidental support to the public, residents and businesses providing community safety and support to those in need.
Osborne Village BIZ executive director Lindsay Somers hopes the project continues beyond the 17-week pilot period.
“This is a great opportunity to begin a path of reconciliation and to meet people where they’re at to support them. We believe an Indigenous-led approach is the right approach and we’re thrilled to be working with SABE and for them to take the leadership into repairing and rebuilding our community to be safer for everybody,” she said.
“We hope that the data we collect will show that this is a benefit to the community, so we’ll be working with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries after the 17 weeks to assess what the next steps are for the community.”
bryce.hunt@freepress.mb.ca