Safety concerns on downtown workers’ minds

Many downtown workers told the Free Press Wednesday they feel the area has become less safe in recent years, amid labour unions’ calls for the city and province to take action.

Those who agreed to be interviewed said they’d welcome new or enhanced efforts to improve safety for people who live in, work in or visit Winnipeg’s downtown.

“If you want to revitalize downtown, people need to feel safe,” Joy Shen said during the lunch hour, while office workers streamed through the skywalk between Cityplace and Canada Life Centre.

Shen said she doesn’t feel very safe downtown, where she avoids some places.

“I would say, in general, I stick to the main areas when I walk. I would not walk this after hours, for example,” she said of the skywalk.

Workers for Downtown Public Safety, a coalition of eight unions, on Tuesday publicly called for meetings with Mayor Scott Gillingham and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe to discuss concerns and solutions, based on input from union members.

The requests came the on heels of several recent incidents, including random assaults in the skywalk system and the random assault of an employee at Manitoba Hydro’s headquarters.

The coalition will share ideas to address immediate concerns and long-term root causes, including an expansion of mental-health and addictions supports.

The unions represent workers in transit, emergency services, retail, public services and community programs that offer addictions treatment and services for homeless people.

“It has definitely become less safe to be working downtown and walking.”

Debbie Mante said she felt safer working in downtown Calgary before moving to Winnipeg about three years ago.

“I don’t think it’s safe. I’ve had a couple of situations where people bump into you, scream at you — the normal stuff for downtown,” she said. Her vehicle was broken into in a parkade.

Others described similar encounters. Some said they regularly see people who appear to be intoxicated or in a mental-health crisis.

Several employees said social issues were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which also led to a decline in the number of people working downtown.

Workers who spoke to the Free Press proposed increased police or security patrols, more safe-walk services at night or additional addictions and mental-health services.

Some said safety will improve if more people live in, work in and visit downtown.

Angie Driver, who’s worked downtown for more than 20 years, said she doesn’t go for walks as often as she used to during lunch breaks. This week, a colleague suggested they pair up instead of walking solo.

“It has definitely become less safe to be working downtown and walking,” she said.

Driver said some workers who commute via Winnipeg Transit are now required to transfer at bus stops where they don’t feel safe, following last year’s route network changes.

Christopher Campbell said his feelings of safety depend on the part of downtown that he’s in.

“Some areas are better than some others,” he said during a visit Wednesday.

The total number of reported crimes (6,450) in the downtown area declined by nine per cent in 2024 compared with 2023, according to the most recent Winnipeg Police Service annual report. The figure was about three per cent higher than the five-year average.

The Winnipeg Police Board’s most recent public survey, conducted in 2024, found 50 per cent of respondents felt very or reasonably safe walking downtown during the day, down from 63 per cent in a 2019 poll. Nine per cent of respondents said they felt safe walking alone at night.

Downtown safety has been an issue for decades, with multiple strategies or standalone measures implemented by current and past city councils and NDP and Tory provincial governments at a cost of millions of dollars.

The current strategy includes foot patrols and/or outreach by police officers and cadets, the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, the city’s community safety team and others. A team from Downtown Winnipeg BIZ cleans up litter and needles, removes graffiti and cleans bus shelters.

Last summer, a 16-week “action plan,” mostly funded by the province, was renewed to curb crime and provide mental-health and addictions supports to people in need via increased outreach patrols by DCSP.

Kate Fenske, chief executive officer of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, said additional patrols brought a visible presence and helped to reduce calls to emergency services.

“Having more feet on the street, it’s eyes and ears that are out there,” she said.

Fenske said Downtown Winnipeg BIZ supports a proposal to expand the program and make it permanent. The organization, meanwhile, launched a new 12-day food festival Wednesday to encourage people to visit downtown.

City spokesman Kalen Qually said major investments, including redevelopments of Portage Place and the former Bay building, are expected to lead to more housing, economic growth and increased safety.

A new health-care tower on the east side of Portage Place will include mental-health and addiction supports.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca