Letters, July 29

Street sensibility

Re: Manage failure or align responses (Think Tank, July 28)

Marion Willis’s recent comments on Winnipeg’s homelessness crisis deserve serious attention.

Few people in our city bring her depth of front-line experience or her unwavering commitment to those most affected. She is right to point out that Winnipeg is not managing homelessness — it is managing system failure. The cycle of encampment clearances, displacement, and repeated emergency response is not a strategy. It is evidence of a system that cannot meet the realities of toxic drug supply, untreated mental illness, and chronic homelessness.

Her call for designated, managed communities is both practical and humane. Marion understands that housing, harm reduction, recovery, and public safety are interconnected, not competing ideas. Through St. Boniface Street Links, she has shown what effective leadership looks like: compassion paired with structure, accountability and evidence‑based practice.

Marion is an extraordinary, dedicated front-line leader. Her insights should be treated not as commentary, but as direction. Winnipeg has an opportunity to break the cycle and build a system that works — if we choose to follow the leadership already standing right in front of us.

Richard Rajotte, Winnipeg

Time for military response?

I was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces from 1985 to 2007. Back in the day, when we deployed for training, we utilized modular tenting as a “home away from home” while in the field. There were sections of modular tenting for living quarters, dining, imbibing, showers, etc.

All these tents are capable of being heated in the colder months. There was also a mobile bath and laundry unit, as well as flying kitchens which were utilized by the great cooks we had. If 500 troops could deploy and be self-sufficient, then why can’t the federal government step up and utilize the Canadian Armed Forces in every major city and temporarily house the homeless until permanent housing is built?

A bit of logistics and high-level action could help make our streets safer for everyone.

Jerrold Campbell, Winnipeg

Carney must stand firm

The latest opinion poll showing declining public confidence in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ability to negotiate with the Trump administration reflect a growing sense of uncertainty, but they should not distract Canadians from the larger issue: the increasingly aggressive and unpredictable approach of the United States toward one of its closest allies.

The growing movement among Canadians to buy domestic products instead of American also sends an important message. Consumer choices alone will not resolve a trade conflict, but they reflect a broader desire to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience. This should encourage governments to reduce interprovincial trade barriers, expand markets beyond the United States, invest in domestic manufacturing, and build stronger supply chains at home.

This dispute is about more than tariffs. It is about whether Canada will continue to allow its economic future to be shaped by political decisions made in Washington. A strong relationship with the United States remains essential, but genuine partnerships are built on respect, not intimidation.

Yog Rahi Gupta, Winnipeg

Fond memories

Re: “Sad reminder of better days” (Letters, July 15)

When Brian and I bought our property in 1996, everyone in town knew that our house had bats in the attic. They wanted us to be sure that this was where we wanted to live.

We were not concerned about the bats because they are only there in the summer. We always kept the attic door closed so that our house would not disturb the bats. Every now and then a bat would manage to crawl out of the attic and fly down the back stairs, ending up in the kitchen. Brian went upstairs and opened the window on the balcony door so our little brown bat could safely exit.

We found out about the research project and went to a seminar in Clear Lake. We were shocked to learn that the bats were listed as an endangered species. When the presentation was over, we told the presenter about our bats. She was very interested in hearing more and asked if we were willing to participate in a research project. We thought it was a great idea, and it didn’t take long until we had a call from the research people and they explained what they wanted to do on our property.

I do remember when Sarah, Emma and Lauren were here.

I was surprised to see three young women climb out of the truck because I expected it would be men doing that job. I was impressed to see how well they worked together. They quickly got to work, setting up the net and explaining what they were doing. They had no problem getting everything just right.

By the time the sun went down, the bats were already in the air. It didn’t take long to capture them in a net, and the girls retrieved them and began measuring, weighing and determining the sex of the tiny bats. I was impressed by how they treated them. They were gentle but quick.

I had the opportunity a few years later to talk about our bat project when substituting at our elementary school. I told the students in a Grade 6 class about the importance of protecting little brown bats.

It’s a fascinating project and we were delighted to help in any way we could. We always looked forward to the bat crew visits and were disappointed when the 142 female bats in our maternity colony succumbed to white nose syndrome.

We thank Sarah Teillet for her kind words and wish her and all the other crew members great success in their future endeavours.

Bernadine Brown, Rossburn

Fear and loathing

Re: What are we teaching our children at the rodeo? (Think Tank, July 27)

What an excellent article about what shapes young minds and how sad and cruel rodeos are.

As is mentioned, “animals experience fear, pain, and distress, just like us. Yet, when school ends, we celebrate events built around chasing, restraining, roping and riding animals for entertainment.”

Children are the future and showing them these barbaric acts as so-called entertainment does nothing to ensure that these practices should come to an immediate end. Traditions are not always a good thing. I sincerely hope that this cruelty has more days behind it than it does going forward.

Thank you, Danae Tonge, and the folks at Manitoba Animal Save for this sadly necessary reminder.

Ian Shanley, Winnipeg

Social enterprise should be lauded

Re: City neighbourhood looks to new foundations (July 27)

I was excited to see the cover of (the July 27) Free Press. However, it appears the Canadian Press reporter, Ian Bickis, missed key aspects of the story. Purpose Construction not only bought the lot: they built the home Mr. Bettcher now lives in using labour from the neighbourhood as a part of a trades-training program. And they helped build the financing model.

I happen to know this because I’ve been undertaking an ethnography of social enterprises like Purpose Construction for the past three years.

I can’t speak for the organization, but I can share that building that house and establishing the financial model so Mr. Bettcher could buy it was a story of “blood, sweat, and tears” — years in the making with multiple levels of government that are slow, shy, and, at times, suspicious when community-based organizations present solutions that don’t look like development as usual.

Organizations like Purpose Construction are fighting to offer jobs and a new urban future in neighbourhoods. While I am glad to see the city is finally helping make it happen, it is unfortunate that the organization behind this change did not receive their due credit. Bravo to Purpose Construction for building a beautiful home!

Jonah Pearce, Winnipeg