Student crew keeps community clean

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/3/2014 (1227 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Diversity is an exciting part of West End life.  I was reminded of this when the West End BIZ’s dining guide arrived this March.

Taste of the World: Winnipeg’s West End Dining Guide shows off some of the best our neighbourhood has to offer.

Just steps away from my constituency office are fabulous places to eat, featuring Filipino, Vietnamese, Caribbean and Portuguese cuisine. Add a couple of blocks to the walk, and you’ll see Indian, French, Italian and some fabulous fish and chips. Many of these businesses are family-run and create jobs for newcomers and young people.

This dining guide is compiled by the hard-working folks at the West End BIZ. Since 1991, as a non-profit association, the BIZ’s role in the West End has been to promote the local community as a positive place for business. This means local businesses share ideas on how best to bring in customers, what kind of physical improvements to undertake, and how to market their businesses.

The BIZ extends not just to businesses in the area. Non-profit organizations, social service agencies, schools, religious organizations, community clubs, and neighbourhood community groups are some examples of the other organizations the BIZ helps.

Programs run by the BIZ include the Community Safety Patrol, graffiti removal services, and a summer student cleanup program. The Safety Patrol works with the Winnipeg Police, noting safety hazards, helping with accidents providing "safe walks."

The BIZ’s free year-round graffiti removal service helps both local businesses and residents keep our community clean and inviting. If your property is ever tagged, give the BIZ office a call at 204-954-7900 to have the team come by to remove or paint over the graffiti for free.

The summer student cleanup program is a way to keep the West End looking its best. These students plant and maintain our neighbourhood flowers, pick up litter, perform minor repairs and generally keep our community looking welcoming. This program is a great way for students to gain first-hand work experience while improving the community where they live.

If you’d like more information on the West End BIZ or to snag a dining guide, call my office at 204-783-9860 or send me an e-mail at Andrew.Swan@YourManitoba.ca