Low attendance at Jets game

The Winnipeg Jets recently saw their lowest turnout for a home game since pandemic safety restrictions were in effect. They played the Los Angeles Kings on Oct. 17, and only 11,226 of the Canada Life Centre’s 15,324 seats were in use. The Jets also reported low ticket sales for their Oct. 19 game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Trick or Treat and Meow

Craig Street Cats, a non-profit organization working with Winnipeg’s community cats, is hosting a drop-in trick-or-treat fundraiser. Parents with kids in costumes will receive a candy goodie bag in exchange for a $10 cash or canned cat-food donation. Trick-or-treaters can visit the cats this weekend from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29 at 16-1421 St. James St.

Free flow of menstrual products

The University of Winnipeg Students’ Association is launching Free Flow, an initiative providing accessible emergency-use menstrual products on campus. UWSA leaders started this initiative to help minimize students’ financial burdens and support people who “don’t have a choice to bleed.” Students can attend the launch in The Hive on Monday, Oct. 30 at 12:15 p.m. Students can also receive free menstrual products through the UWSA Foodbank.

Highest demand for the city’s bus services

The demand for bus service in Winnipeg has reached its highest point since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Winnipeg has 897 active bus drivers, but they need 95 more to operate a full fall schedule. This driver shortage, including operator absences, is causing route cancellations and delays. Although Winnipeg Transit hired 118 drivers this fall, roughly 100 employees retired or quit. It is unknown when bus service routes will be restored.

Record number of nationwide foodbank visits

On Oct. 25, Food Banks Canada released their latest HungerCount 2023 report, showing a 32 per cent increase in food-bank visits in March compared to last year. Their findings show that nearly two million people across the country accessed a food bank during the month, which provided more than 3.8 million total meals and snacks, excluding food hampers. The report states a 79 per cent increase in total visits from 2019 to 2023, the highest year-to-year increase in usage ever reported.

Homeless shelters need winter clothing

Winnipeg’s first snowfall happened this week, and chiller temperatures are here. Several homeless shelters in the city say their shelves are empty and are calling for community donations of sweaters, winter jackets, new socks, mittens, hats, boots and cold medication. End Homelessness Winnipeg’s 2023-24 cold-weather plan has created a funding stream where organizations can apply to receive support. In addition, staff from some organizations are working to maintain popup warming shelters during extreme-weather advisories, along with increased outreach through Main Street Project’s 24/7 van.

Published in Volume 78, Number 07 of The Uniter (October 26, 2023)