‘It’s just on and on’: St. Boniface charity reels from repeated thefts

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This article was published 16/02/2025 (211 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

At a Winnipeg non-profit, some thieves take what they could have got for free if only they’d registered — an irony that underscores the organization’s challenges as it awaits re-zoning approval from the city.

Centre Flavie, a charity that assists up to 150 families a day, is looking for help from the City of Winnipeg in the form of re-zoning their 301 Archibald Street property, freeing up the charity to build a 5,000 sq. ft. storage shed to shield their delivery vehicles from rampant thefts and vandalism.

“I guess people think we have gold bars in there or something,” said executive director Gilbert Vielfaure. “But it’s just on and on.”

In lieu of the precious metal, Centre Flavie distributes clothing, furniture, household items, appliances and even cars when possible — whatever they receive from donations.

But thieves and vandals over the years have taken a toll on operations, taking a bite out of the resources the organization has to cover insurance deductibles and other associated costs, money that would be better used addressing the needs of their clients.

Vielfaure, who spoke to the Free Press on Friday, said they’ve had at least 13 catalytic converters stolen from their fleet of five delivery vehicles, which have also had their windows smashed out and fuel tanks drilled to swipe fuel.

Just last week, Vielfaure said he had to replace several padlocks after they were clipped by bandits rummaging through their trucks.

“Because we’re a charity that gives everything away, every time we incur damage or theft, it’s just that much more cost to us and impedes our ability to help those who really need it,” he said.

The charity has had cameras set up to deter criminal activity, and they’ve reported the thefts to police, who rarely come out to investigate.

“I don’t blame them because there is just so much of it,” Vielfaure said.

It’s not just money spent mending the damage, but the vital time lost with the trucks out of commission for repairs.

“We have five trucks because we need them. Losing a truck affects our ability on a practical level, never mind the money,” Vielfaure said.

Centre Flavie has been waiting for that approval for 18 months.

The good news is the Winnipeg Public Service will recommend the re-zoning request at a committee meeting this Friday, chaired by Coun. Markus Chambers. From there, it will be forwarded to council for approval.

With some luck, council will vote on the matter later this month.

“Hopefully, the building of the storage unit will go quicker, or I might be retired,” said Veilfaure, who has been with Centre Flavie since 2005.

St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard declined to comment on the specifics of the ask from the charity on Sunday.

“Given the upcoming public hearing for re-zoning, and the current fiduciary and moral obligations of city councillors to maintain impartiality, it’s best that all information pertaining to the application be considered during the hearing itself,” Allard said in a statement. “Any comment I might provide beforehand could potentially create problems with the process if those public comments were later found to be an issue.”

The Free Press also reached out to Chambers for comment.

The charity currently runs out of a 13,000 sq. ft. facility, said Vielfaure, and more space is always needed.

“The more space means more items we can have,” he said. “The more we have, the more we can give.”

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca