Hello All!*

It seems I start off every newsletter with ‘so much happening at City Hall’ and I will again! Since my last newsletter I’ve spent an incredible amount of time focusing on accountability issues and working to ensure administration is being accountable to the taxpayers. This is an aspect of the role that isn’t easy and creates very uncomfortable moments for all involved BUT is very important to taxpayers. I’ve also been working on pulling together key pieces and partners for the recreation campus and have had tremendous success! The residents of South Winnipeg- St Norbert ward are outstanding to work with on issues to improve their neighbourhoods, and we’ve been working on many projects ranging from park improvements, rooming house enforcement, care of forests, and more! Thank you to all who are volunteering to make our neighbourhoods stronger, safer and a great place to call home. The newsletter is a small snapshot of the projects I’m working on and I welcome any questions you may have. Send to jlukes@winnipeg.ca

1. Recreation Campus Progress 

Tremendous steps forward! Just over 19 acres of City land has been secured, directly beside Pembina Trails School Division land! The recreation campus is located on ‘raw land’ – land which has no roads, water and sewer infrastructure, lighting and more. The process to plan and develop this land  takes time BUT we are now moving at a great pace! Detailed planning and consultations with residents is occurring and lines are being drawn on maps! For further details see South Winnipeg Recreation

2. Enforcement of Rooming House Infractions Report

Following a series of motions I put forward, the administration is now producing an annual report highlighting rooming house infractions and enforcement. I worked with Point Douglas community leader Sel Burrows and Councillor Eadie to ensure both legal and illegal rooming houses were incorporated into the report. This report is a very significant first step in ensuring accountability, and data that can help us make informed decisions going forward! I fully expect the annual report to become more comprehensive each year. There is very interesting information on the illegal rooming houses in South Winnipeg and I encourage you to read the report. For further details see New Report

3. Growth in South Winnipeg

It's almost a full time job working through the issues related to new developments! Ensuring much discussion occurs with the community, the City planners, and investors. There are some amazing new apartment and condominium projects that have been approved for the area on Pembina and others being proposed. These new units will alleviate some of the rooming house issues we are experiencing and will also provide housing for the many people wanting to move to South Winnipeg. For further details, scroll through Rental Housing

4. Road Construction in South Winnipeg

We have a record amount of road construction occurring in Winnipeg – again – this summer! In the South Winnipeg- St Norbert Ward I have posted a list of the streets that will be improved! St Norbert will experience major work on Pembina, and Killarney will undergo significant work along with many other roads! See the complete list here: Road Construction

5. Care of the Forest in Bridgwater

I’m working with community residents and the City Naturalist’s Branch to put a plan in place to care for the forest in Bridgwater. The City Naturalist’s office put together a spectacular report on issues in the forest which I’ve posted online. Just like many of our great community groups who care for Henteleff Park, the Seine River, Bishop Grandin Greenway and other public spaces, Bridgwater residents are forming a ‘Friend of the Forest’ group. If you are interested in joining, please send me an email. This is great news as the forest is experiencing some stress related to development. For further details see: Health and Care of Forest in Bridgwater

6. Accountability

I’ve written extensively on major accountability issues; failed lawsuits, roads proposed to be constructed that supposedly no one knew about, lack of reporting on major infrastructure failures and more. These are difficult issues to work through for a variety of reasons. On a positive front the City has hired our first Integrity Commissionaire. For further details see Accountability.

7. Pembina Active Living 55+ (PAL) is Moving and Shaking

Seniors in South Winnipeg have two exciting events coming up in March! On March 8th the ‘Together We Can’ event is a party aimed to raise funds to expand outreach & programming for seniors in South Winnipeg. On March 22nd the Zing into Spring event is a great party focusing on celebrating spring! Isolation & loneliness plague seniors throughout Manitoba and Pembina Active Living 55+ is working hard to support the community. Please consider attending or supporting the ‘Together We Can’ event. For details see Together We Can

Pleased to provide funding support to Bairdmore School students and Parent Advisory Committee for phase two of their playground improvements. They’ve been working hard and funding will support a new spider net playstructure for the students and community to enjoy!

*At some point in time, we have worked together on a project or communicated on a Ward issue. If you do not wish to receive my E-Newsletter, just click "unsubscribe" below.  Thank you for your time.