$2.2-million to boost public safety downtown Beleaguered downtown business owners welcome province’s help to make streets safer over summer By: Joyanne Pursaga Posted: 6:29 PM CDT Thursday, May. 21, 2026

Drug use and vandalism are social struggles Brenden Gali witnesses regularly around his Portage Avenue business.

“We have seen the community deteriorate in the past little while (in terms of) community health and overall safety. So, it has been a challenge to serve our community, seeing so many new faces on the street openly using drugs without care…

“We witness vandalism weekly. I’ve had to interfere with altercations outside our door frequently,” said Gali, general manager of Public Domain, a restaurant, bar and live music venue on Portage between Furby and Sherbrook streets.

He previously told the Free Press his employees and customers administer anti-overdose medication to people around the site about once a month.

On Thursday, he said Public Domain’s staffers try to help people battling addictions and other challenges, but the task can feel overwhelming.

Gali shared his views during the announcement of a new $2.2-million provincial government effort to boost public safety this summer throughout downtown.

“This is a really important first step in supporting a healthier and culturally rich downtown,” he said.

The funding will also provide expanded outreach to help connect people in need with social supports.

“Visible presence is really no. 1,” said Kate Fenske, chief executive officer of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.

The money could also fund a variety of security upgrades, including cameras, alarm systems, anti-graffiti coatings, security fencing and repairs that follow vandalism or property crime, according to a provincial press release.

Fenske said the money could also help improve lighting and cleanliness downtown.

“All of that has a real impact on perception of safety and how people feel in the neighbourhood,” she said.

The money will be split among five downtown business organizations:

• $750,000 for the Downtown Community Safety Partnership,
• $750,000 for the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ,
• $300,000 for the West End BIZ,
• $250,000 for the Exchange District BIZ and
• $150,000 for the West Broadway BIZ.

Fenske said the Downtown Community Safety Partnership and the Community Safety WAYFINDERS, a partnership among the DCSP, Indigenous-led organizations and community outreach teams, manages to resolve nearly all incidents it responds to without help from emergency services.

When asked about the impact of open drug use on how safe Winnipeggers feel, Premier Wab Kinew said there are many efforts underway to address that concern, citing investments in housing and provincial support for policing.

He noted Winnipeg Police Service announced a major drug bust Wednesday, in which officers seized 525 kilograms of illicit drugs and made more than 30 arrests.

“It’s all part of a cohesive approach to bring people back downtown and let (them) know that it’s safe…. We’re doing recovery, law enforcement, we had the biggest drug bust in Winnipeg yesterday, we’re doing the harm reduction, the supervised consumption site (is) opening next month and then we’ve got prevention, as well,” said Kinew.

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ will provide $500,000 from its share of the new funding to the Community Safety WAYFINDERS program; the city will provide an additional $100,000.

Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham said that effort is needed.

“It will add (a) visible, Indigenous-led safety presence in high-traffic areas downtown to help de-escalate situations, to build trust and to connect vulnerable people with the support that they really need,” said Gillingham.

Some businesses based in or near the downtown welcomed the announcement.

Susan Lockhart, president of the volunteer-run Just Like New to You thrift store on Portage Avenue next to Public Domain, called the effort a step in the right direction.

“I’m definitely encouraged, I’m an eternal optimist,” she said. “We really want to be able to keep our doors open.”

“I’m definitely encouraged; I’m an eternal optimist.”

She’s struggled with break-ins, vandalism and drug use in front of her shop and installed shatter-proof glass windows and a security gate, though she has also considered moving.

For the last two weeks, Cobra Collectibles owner Michael Paille has taken to the streets himself during the day with naloxone kits, an overdose-reversing medication, and water bottles. He says he’s administered the overdose-reversing drug 11 times.

“This news is 100 per cent welcome,” Paille said. “We need more people walking around.”

With more cash to fund street patrols, he hopes the area will continue to improve, and he can return to working at his Sargent Avenue shop full time.

— With files from Nicole Buffie

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga