Arts centre’s woes reflect village’s struggle

Opinion

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This article was published 11/07/2024 (423 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When acclaimed 20th-century American actress and drama teacher Stella Adler described theatre as “the place people come to see the truth about life and the social situation,” she was no doubt referring to the art that is presented on the stage inside.

But recent events in Winnipeg suggest the sentiment can also relate to what goes on outside a theatre’s walls. Specifically, the new security measures announced last week by the Gas Station Arts Centre are a reflection of life and the deteriorating social situation in the city’s once-thriving Osborne Village.

Management at the beloved performance space, which is celebrating its 40th year, unveiled plans to rip up its outdoor courtyard and redesign its entrance in an effort to create a more secure and patron-friendly entry space. The move, according to GSAC executive director Nick Kowalchuk, is in response to increased violence and drug use in the area directly outside the facility.

“What we’re looking at is establishing our courtyard for our patrons,” Kowalchuk said. “What I want is (for) a patron to feel comfortable.”

While the statement is a concise encapsulation of the plan’s practical intent, it’s easy to also view it as a broader commentary about the ongoing struggles with which the Gas Station and its surrounding area are contending.

A 2023 report released by the Winnipeg Police Service indicates crime in Osborne Village had increased 33 per cent over the previous year; the statistics for violent crime were even more daunting, at 50 per cent higher. Recent reported events include a stabbing at a nearby pharmacy last fall and a serious assault on River Avenue this spring.

Crime and concerns for customer and staff safety were among the reasons cited when the giant coffee chain Starbucks permanently closed its popular location at the corner of River and Osborne, across the street from the GSAC.

That the theatre’s management would consider it necessary to reconfigure the space outside its entrance is neither surprising nor unreasonable, given the current conditions. While the GSAC has always demonstrated a commitment to the area in which it is located, and the people who live and work there, the simple fact of the matter is that the Gas Station is a business that cannot survive if its patrons are uncomfortable attending events there.

Poverty, homelessness and addiction, and the crime associated with all three, are issues with which the city and province have struggled mightily in the past few decades. Anecdotal observation suggests conditions have worsened, both here and in other urban settings across the continent, since the pandemic.

While governments employ a combination of strategies — such as increased foot patrols and crisis outreach services for downtown Winnipeg, as were announced this week by Mayor Scott Gillingham and Premier Wab Kinew, and longer-term efforts to address the root causes of poverty and addiction — it is entirely reasonable for individual businesses to make decisions that best protect their interests.

Some, like Starbucks, might choose to flee. Others, including the GSAC, remain committed to their neighbourhoods and will adapt as required to ensure their customers remain safe and comfortable.

Compassion and understanding are paramount in the ongoing challenges of urban life and the city’s most vulnerable populations, but immediate practical matters such as maintaining a customer base must also be considered.

Gillingham summed up the dilemma rather succinctly at this week’s downtown-safety announcement:

“We want to ensure that individuals who are struggling … have access to the necessary supports they need to lead healthy and dignified lives. At the same time, we cannot let unwell people determine the state of our downtown. We can’t be continually threatened by safety issues.”