Ward profiles: a look at Winnipeg’s city council candidates By: Winnipeg Free Press Posted: 2:36 PM CDT Friday, Sep. 30, 2022

Ward profiles: a look at Winnipeg’s city council candidates

As the Oct. 26 municipal election approaches, reporters from the Free Press and Canstar Community News have been preparing profiles of the potential candidates who may soon occupy city hall.

Here are those competing for councillor positions.

Battling agencies would have far greater impact on homeless crisis by working together

In the midst of one of the most concerted efforts to reduce, if not eliminate, homelessness, why are two of Winnipeg’s more prominent social service agencies fighting each other?

This week, city councillors Cindy Gilroy and Ross Eadie accused Main Street Project of trying to derail efforts by another agency — St. Boniface Street Links — to find housing for people living in homeless encampments. Gilroy and Eadie said as Street Links outreach workers started efforts to move encampment residents into more stable housing, MSP workers arrived to tell the same residents they did not have to leave if they preferred to stay where they were.

This is not the first time these two organizations have clashed, reportedly over the same issue.

In July 2024, Coun. Janice Lukes told the Free Press she called Street Links to help the residents of a Southwood encampment find permanent housing, but as its outreach workers were collecting personal information, MSP outreach workers arrived and told residents they didn’t have to leave.

Muslims celebrate Eid in person for first time in three years

In what is likely the largest religious gathering since the pandemic started, thousands of Muslims expect to gather at the convention centre Monday morning for Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic festival that marks the end of 30 days of fasting during Ramadan.

“It makes me feel elated to meet everyone and see everyone for the first time in two years,” said university student Abdul Ahad of the celebration.

“This will be the biggest reunion for the community at large for three years.”

Manitoba’s Muslims last met for Eid prayers and celebrations at the convention centre in 2019. Events in 2020 and 2021 were cancelled due to lockdowns or public health restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Wildfires force two northern First Nations, Lynn Lake to evacuate for second consecutive year, province warns of ‘high to extreme’ danger

The Manitoba government warned of “a high to extreme level of fire danger” in northern parts of the province Monday, where out-of-control wildfires have already prompted hundreds of people to flee their homes.

The community of Lynn Lake, about 800 kilometres north of Winnipeg, was evacuated Saturday and nearby Marcel Colomb First Nation followed suit through the weekend. O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation, located about 130 kilometres east of the communities, also issued a local state of emergency and began to evacuate vulnerable residents owing to smoke in the region, the province said in a news release Monday.

The province said it is tracking 127 active fires across Manitoba, bringing the year-to-date total up to 196 — well above the annual average of 156 on the same date in previous years.

About 600 people were ordered to leave Lynn Lake Saturday. Some fled in their vehicles while others boarded flights destined for Brandon.