A life in pictures: Hon. Murray Sinclair By: Staff Posted: 12:59 PM CST Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 Last Modified: 11:01 AM CST Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024

Non-profit Indigenous youth, family agency’s ‘strong heart’ beats in the Exchange

Zoongizi Ode, a non-profit organization that assists and advocates for Indigenous youth and families, showed off its new home Thursday.

Calling it a home is fitting for executive director Mary Burton, because she prefers to call her clients family members.

“When people walk in our doors, they’re greeted warmly. We sit with them. We listen to their story. We don’t ask questions. We just listen. And then once they’re done telling their story, we then start asking the questions that we need to know, and once that’s done, we start,” Burton said walking through the new space, which is nestled on the fifth floor of 112 Market Ave. in the Exchange District.

Founded in 2014, the non-profit helps youth aging out of care and families reunify, as well as others navigate Child and Family Services, the Residential Tenancies Branch and welfare programs. Between its half-dozen advocates, Zoongizi Ode has nearly 100 open files.

Main Street Project's clothes closet offers choice, dignity

Choosing what to wear is a simple part of everyday life, but for people with no home and no money, making that decision can be out of reach.

A new clothing store run by Winnipeg’s Main Street Project, a nonprofit that serves the homeless populations, aims to restore that choice while honouring the memory of a volunteer who helped others feel confident and valued.

Ash’s Closet, which opened on Thursday, allows people to browse through racks of free clothing that reflect their personal tastes.

“It gives people choice and dignity, and that’s a key part of what we do,” said executive director Jamil Mahmood. “When you’re homeless, that choice gets taken away from you. You don’t know where you’re going to eat, where you’re going to sleep, where you’re going to shower, and where you’re getting your clothes from.”

A decision with potential for ‘distraction’ and ‘disrespect’ in Transcona

Transcona voters acknowledge they have a tough decision to make at the ballot box on election day.

The east Winnipeg working-class ward is replete with lawn signs and posters, but most of the people the Free Press spoke with said they were still undecided.

While Winnipeg is, historically, more likely to elect an incumbent, longtime councillor Russ Wyatt is seeking a sixth term while facing five criminal charges, including sexual assault and administering a noxious substance, after incidents alleged to have occurred in 2023 and 2025.

Residents are not without options. In addition to Wyatt, former councillor Shawn Nason — who occupied the city council seat from 2018-22 — is running for council (Wyatt chose not to run in the 2018 election after taking several months off to undergo addictions treatment), and there are three new faces on the ballot: Lora Meseman, Chris Giesbrecht and Nathine Dagdick.

Slain chef’s family infuriated by stayed charges

The family of a Ste. Anne chef who died after an altercation at a party says they are angry a manslaughter charge has been stayed against a 46-year-old man.

Gillingham vows drug crackdowns would continue on his watch

Scott Gillingham would “immediately” provide funding to extend an initiative that cracks down on open drug use and connects vulnerable people to addictions and homelessness supports, if he’s re-elected mayor.

That partnership between Winnipeg Police Service and outreach organizations began Aug. 7 and is currently set to wrap up Oct. 31.

Gillingham said he would provide $100,000 to Ka Ni Kanichihk, which led weekly outreach walks and worked with police to support the effort, since it needs more funding to extend the program.

That should cover another six months of costs and provide time for the organization to seek longer term funding, the incumbent mayoral candidate said.