Seventh contender joins Elmwood-East Kildonan byelection race

A road safety researcher and food security advocate hopes to become the next city council member for Elmwood-East Kildonan.

Christian Sweryda became the seventh candidate to enter the byelection race after completing the nomination process.

“There’s a lot of issues that I’m very passionate about. I worked very closely with (late councillor) Jason (Schreyer) for the last three years and I want to try to continue some of those projects… and continue his legacy and hopefully make a difference myself,” said Sweryda.

Schreyer held the Elmwood-East Kildonan seat until his death in April.

Sweryda, a 38-year-old University of Manitoba law student, said he worked with Schreyer at times on special projects, mostly linked to food security and transportation issues.

Sweryda plans to extend the length of his master’s program, if elected.

He also serves as project manager of the Elmwood-East Kildonan Grocery Access Program, which sells pantry items at reduced prices.

The new candidate would be a somewhat familiar face around city hall. A former member of the advocacy group WiseUp Winnipeg, Sweryda has been a vocal critic of photo radar ticketing. In 2022, he also sparked headlines by accusing the city’s transportation department of pursuing frivolous public works projects, though city officials stood by their work.

Sweryda says Schreyer encouraged him to enter politics.

If elected, he’d like to ensure more flashing lights are added at school zone crosswalks and push for changes to Winnipeg Transit, he said.

“I don’t think it was right to eliminate so many transit stops and make such abrupt changes (to the network) … I also hope to see transit (fares) lowered,” said Sweryda.

Winnipeg Transit implemented a new primary transit network in June, which changed virtually every route and reduced the total number of transit stops to 4,000 from 5,200.

The nomination deadline for candidates in the Oct. 25 byelection was 4:30 p.m. Friday.

As of 5 p.m., six other candidates were also nominated, including automotive finance broker Braydon Mazurkiewich, child-care assistant Zekaria Selahadin, city planning property and development clerk Kyle Roche, Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 500 vice-president Carmen Prefontaine, construction project manager Abel Gutierrez and community advocate Emma Durand-Wood.

Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. Saturday to withdraw from the race.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

X: @joyanne_pursaga