City briefs

Treaty knowledge centre opens at The Forks

The Agowiidiwinan Centre opened on Thursday, Dec. 15. at The Forks. The new space features information panels, interactive tools and self-guided tours. The centre hopes to educate people about treaty relations in Canada.

Record numbers for pedestrian fatalities

Winnipeg Police Service and Manitoba Public Insurance have recorded 2022 as the deadliest of the past five years for pedestrians in the city. There were 19 pedestrian collisions, 12 of which were fatal. Julie Dooley, Winnipeg’s public-works spokesperson, says city council has approved a road-safety action plan to reduce fatal and serious-injury collisions by 20 per cent by 2026.

De-escalating violent situations workshop

On Friday, Jan. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the U of W safety office is hosting a workshop about de-escalating potentially violent situations. The workshop will take place in the Manitoba Boardroom (2M70) and focus on the statistics of violence, risk factors in the workplace and different styles and cycles of anger. Participants will learn warning signs and practical tips for de-escalating violence.

Initiative to increase campus safety and awareness

During the last academic year, the SafeWalk and SafeRide programs at the U of W reported 236 walks and 49 rides. After recent incidents, including a fatal stabbing at the Millennium Library and a man reportedly swinging a machete at students and security personnel on campus, the campus safety and awareness review committee is looking into increased security and safety practices.

First Nation-led committee to study feasibility of landfill search

Ottawa is funding a committee to study the feasibility of searching the Brady Road and Prairie Green landfill for the bodies of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. The committee includes an anthropologist and representatives from the Winnipeg Police Service, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Long Plain First Nation. A cell at Prairie Green has been blocked off while the rest of the landfill resumes operations. Protests continue to shut down waste dumping at Brady Road landfill.

Freedom Convoy reunion confusion

On Monday, Jan. 2, James Bauder, co-founder of the anti-government group Canada Unity, said in a Facebook post that the Freedom Convoy 2.0, which previously protested COVID-19 vaccine mandates across Canada, is being cancelled due to security reasons. Plans for a Freedom Convoy reunion were originally scheduled for Feb. 17 to 20. According to other organizers, Colin Ross and Ron Clark, the convoy will still take place in Winnipeg. Many anti-vaccine protesters used racist and antisemitic rhetoric, harassed and assaulted people in Ottawa and elsewhere.

Published in Volume 77, Number 13 of The Uniter (January 5, 2023)

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