City’s performance of ‘Ticket? Tow? We let you know!’ in Exchange District earns scathing reviews from furious theatre patrons

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This article was published 17/04/2025 (194 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dozens of people whose vehicles were ticketed and towed in the Exchange District to make way for street-cleaning machines are angry because they don’t believe there were no-parking warnings posted.

Kyle, who didn’t want to give his last name, said he and his wife parked their vehicle on Bannatyne Avenue, between Rorie Street and Waterfront Drive, and went to the Warehouse Theatre Wednesday night.

They returned a couple of hours later to find their parking spot unoccupied, several tow trucks and quite a few angry people.

“We got the last space on the street,” he said Thursday. “There was no signage anywhere saying we shouldn’t be there.”

The couple got a lift to the Tartan Towing compound in Point Douglas from the friend of another towed vehicle owner, and when they got there “it was chaos.

“There were 40 to 50 people there,” Kyle said. “There were so many people you couldn’t stand inside. I was standing in the pouring rain. Everyone was saying they didn’t see any signs.

“And, even after I paid $150 for the towing fee, my car was blocked in by all the other vehicles, so I had to wait longer until others got their vehicles.”

When Kyle reached out to the Winnipeg Parking Authority, it sent him a few photos, one of which showed his ticketed vehicle and another showed a sign reading no parking “between 20:00 and 6:00 hours,” some distance from where his vehicle had been.

Signage attached to a pole near the rear of the ticketed vehicle in the photo provides instructions on paying for the spot using a cellphone app, but there’s nothing to indicate any restrictions at the time.

“I’m definitely going to fight this ticket. And, when I win, I will call 311 to ask the city to pay for the tow.”

Coun. Janice Lukes, chair of the civic public works committee, said she will be asking the department to look into the matter.

Lukes (Waverley West) said the parking authority’s general manager has already told her he believes the no-parking signs were up when the vehicles were ticketed.

“But something definitely seems off if there were that many towed,” she said.

“I can’t think three dozen people would miss the signs. I will continue to make inquiries on it.”

Civic spokesman Adam Campbell said “we can confirm that sidewalk cleaning took place in the Exchange District last night, and that signage was properly in place.

“Anyone who believes they received a ticket in error can request a screening online or in person at 495 Portage Ave.”

Kyle said that even though his wife loves going to the theatre, he’s not sure whether they’ll return.

“She enjoyed it so much I thought I will have to take her to more but then she was crying all the way home that the night was ruined,” he said.

“This is why we stay home. You don’t get ticketed and towed.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca