Pathways bring communities together

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/10/2021 (580 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

St. Boniface ward is comprised of many neighbourhoods, from Island Lakes in the south to Norwood in the west, Holden in the east and Point Hebert in the north.

One defining feature of the ward is the manner in which it is bisected by major natural and artificial barriers; namely, the Seine River and our highways.

In the southeast, roads such as the Trans-Canada Highway 59, and Route 165 make our community an archipelago of island neighbourhoods.

In spite of these boundaries, there is much that binds them together. Many of our children attend schools across these lines. Friends and family live on opposite sides of these boundaries. Community centres, parks, and recreation areas and activities are all held in common. We shop and run our errands at the same stores wedged between them.

Sometimes, however, it can be difficult to cross these boundaries alone, especially for young people. High-speed roads with heavy traffic volumes are a psychological barrier. There are only a limited number of entrances and exits, often requiring major backtracking. Owing to the character of suburban Winnipeg’s street layouts, direct routes are often sparse.

For all of these reasons and moremy office has set out to build proper links between our beautiful southeast Winnipeg neighbourhoods, one at a time.

On Oct. 13, we cut the ribbon on the brand new Seigneurie Park pathway connecting Island Lakes to Sage Creek. This investment will benefit youth, seniors, and everyone in both communities by providing a safe and comfortable link to friends and family, and facilitating convenient access to shops, services, and recreation on both sides of Lagimodiere. It was accomplished with the support of the Island Lakes Residents Group, and MLA Andrew Smith, with whom I am always happy to partner.

Next, I will be moving a motion at the upcoming Riel Community Committee meeting to begin work on study and design of a new pathway connecting Southdale to Island Lakes.

There was an informal pathway for students to walk across the Manitoba Hydro corridor from the signalized crossing at Boulevard de la Seigneurie and Bishop Grandin Boulevard to Cliffwood Drive in Southdale. This shortcut significantly reduces travel time to school and back for students and also makes it possible for young people to walk to school from their homes in Island Lakes instead of being driven by their parents or guardians.

A new path would reduce the number of car trips between Island Lakes and Southdale, reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as improving resident safety by reducing traffic around the school and through both neighbourhoods.

I am very excited to continue pursuing a vision of friends and neighbours connecting with each other quickly and pleasantly from one neighbourhood to the next along a proper network of pathways and linkages.

One down, and next is up!