City plans to hire, train security team ‘as soon as possible’ to quell transit violence, mayor says Gillingham’s first state of city address draws positive reviews from bus drivers union, chamber of commerce By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 2:32 PM CST Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023 Last Modified: 3:01 PM CST Thursday, Mar. 2, 2023 Updates

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The City of Winnipeg wants to hire and train 24 peace officers to patrol buses and bus stops this year to combat rising violence on the public transit system.

During his first state of the city address Thursday, Mayor Scott Gillingham revealed his goal is to have the promised transit security team in place by the end of 2023.

“In the days ahead, my office will circulate a working document that outlines our plan to establish a city peace officer unit that will start its work on our transit system… as soon as possible,” Gillingham told 1,000 people gathered at the RBC Convention Centre.

The city’s preliminary 2023 budget proposes $5 million for the transit-safety effort.

The mayor noted that while security team members won’t be on every bus at all times, many serious incidents have occurred on the same five routes, which will help the city put patrols where the need is greatest.

The mayor’s office said routes 11, 15, 16, 18 and 47 combined to account for 44 per cent of assault and unruly passenger incidents, based on average counts between 2019 and October 2022.

Gillingham told reporters he “doubts very much” the patrols would carry guns but believes they should be able to detain and arrest people.

If proven successful, the patrols could eventually be expanded to the Millennium Library and other city sites, he said.

The downtown library recently shut down for more than a month, after a man was stabbed to death inside the building on Dec. 11. Aside from limited pickup and return service that resumed Dec. 23, the library did not fully reopen to visitors until Jan. 23. A walk-through metal detector, two police officers and more security staff have since been posted to screen people at the entrance.

The city is waiting for a consultant’s audit to help determine long-term safety measures.

“We could deploy as we need them.… If there’s a big event at Kildonan Park on a weekend, they could go there and be a presence. (Winnipeg) Jets whiteout parties, they could be a presence there, as well,” he said.

“We could deploy as we need them.… If there’s a big event at Kildonan Park on a weekend, they could go there and be a presence. (Winnipeg) Jets whiteout parties, they could be a presence there, as well.”–Mayor Scott Gillingham

The security announcement comes after at least 18 bus drivers reported physical and verbal assaults to their union in January alone, following a record 130 such attacks throughout 2022.

Passengers have also been assaulted on and near buses, including serious attacks with weapons last month. On Feb. 18, a woman was stabbed after another passenger followed her off a bus in the Main Street and Mayfair Avenue area. And on Feb. 9, a man was left with a life-threatening injury after he was randomly attacked with a machete after getting off a bus at Ness Avenue and Mount Royal Road.

The head of the union that represents Winnipeg Transit drivers said he was thrilled to hear Gillingham’s announcement.

“We’re ecstatic with that,” said Chris Scott, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

He expects the safety patrols, along with recent investments in housing, mental health and addictions treatment, should make it safer to ride and drive city buses.

It is essential for the patrol staff to be thoroughly trained to avoid physical altercations whenever possible and operate safely in the confined space of a bus, Scott said.

“(They) need to have the patience, the training in tactical communication, in de-escalation techniques,” he said.

Gillingham said it will take “several months’ to get the security team in place.

Frequent safety threats are a key obstacle to attracting riders and retaining drivers, Scott said, noting the union also hopes to ensure buses are equipped with full driver safety shields soon. Partial driver shields are currently installed.

Meanwhile, the mayor’s address also noted an effort to reinvigorate the city’s pandemic-battered downtown.

“You’re going to hear a lot more in the next weeks about CentrePlan 2050. That will be the blueprint for the development of our downtown communities over the next quarter-century,” he said.

“You’re going to hear a lot more in the next weeks about CentrePlan 2050. That will be the blueprint for the development of our downtown communities over the next quarter-century.”–Mayor Scott Gillingham

That process will assess 80 studies of the downtown completed over the last 20 years and combine the most promising ideas into one co-ordinated plan, he said.

Gillingham also plans to make it easier for restaurants to add patios by 2024, which he expects will eliminate the need to obtain a separate permit.

Gillingham said the city is also “days away” from releasing a draft extreme cold-weather policy.

Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, said he’s encouraged by the promises, including the effort to revitalize the downtown area.

“Heading into the (last civic) election, when we polled our members, 77 per cent said the downtown was the No. 1 issue,” Remillard said. “There is a widespread recognition… the downtown is a reflection of our community as a whole.…We need a healthy, vibrant downtown.”

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga

Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

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