Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - October 21, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba TUESDAY OCTOBER 21, 2025 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM SECTION B CONNECT WITH WINNIPEG’S NO. 1 NEWS SOURCE ▼ CITY ● BUSINESS Community-driven anonymous tip service preferable to Crime Stoppers for some Province open to funding multiple ‘power lines’ M ANITOBA’S justice minister says funding is on the table for communities that want to set up “power lines” — a non-police option to report suspicious activity. Through the provincial criminal property forfeiture fund, $20,000 has been provided to the William Why- te Neighbourhood Association, which launched its line two months ago and fields two to three anonymous calls a day. “Because this is an existing model, and one that is proven, we know that if this is something (communities) come forward with, we’re willing to consider it,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Monday at a news conference at Prit- chard Playground on Pritchard Avenue. “The residents have to drive this pro- cess; they have to want it.” Six months ago, longtime William Whyte resident Darrell Warren and a team of volunteers applied for the funding. The “power line” concept was pioneered in 2007 in Point Douglas by community advocate Sel Burrows. Four months later, the William Whyte association received the grant and set up a phone line (431-336-5705) where residents can anonymously report sus- picious activity. William Whyte, an eight-by-nine- block inner-city neighbourhood, is Winnipeg’s most violent, the Winnipeg Police Service’s 2024 report said. It re- corded 619 violent incidents, surpassing West Alexander’s 570, the second-high- est total. Since the line launched, Warren said six volunteers have been working 12- hour shifts, seven days a week, and receive an honorarium for their time. They have a list of questions to ask and rules to maintain, including not allowing anyone who calls to identify themselves or where they live. A co- ordinator also works to forward infor- mation to police. “A lot of drug houses… bylaw infrac- tions and houses that are dealing stolen goods,” said Warren of the calls they are getting, adding that one such house has had eight calls forwarded to police. He expects as word gets out, both the number of volunteers and the calls they receive are expected to grow. He hopes the concept expands city- wide and is willing to help others com- munities get set up. “We want to make sure we get it right,” Warren said. “We want to make it a community again, where people feel safe and will be able to walk down the streets here… as free as anyone else that enjoys that in their neighbour- hood.” The funding covers one year of oper- ations. Warren said the long-term goal is to educate residents to call Crime Stoppers directly. The challenge, he added, is that many people mistakenly believe the program that accepts an- onymous tips is a department of the Winnipeg Police Service. “A lot of people have the miscon- ception that if you’re phoning Crime Stoppers, you’re phoning the Winni- peg police, so there could be a chance Winnipeg police come knocking at your door to get more information,” Warren said. “They’re not a part of that. This is a misconception that I’m working with them to dissolve. Hopefully, people in the neighbourhood can report to them instead of reporting to us.” SCOTT BILLECK ● TIP LINE, CONTINUED ON B2 Countdown on for Portage Place clock TIME is running out to find a new home for Portage Place’s venerable Edmonton Court Clock. The clock, with its unique terra cot- ta panels, has stood tall at the down- town mall since it opened in Septem- ber 1987. Prior to that, it was atop Winnipeg’s “Gingerbread” city hall, installed in 1903. “For decades, people set their watches, timed parades, funerals,and parties, around that clock. It was the city clock,” said Christian Cassidy, a Winnipeg historian and blogger. True North Real Estate Develop- ment finalized a deal to purchase the mall last year and has begun a $650-million mixed-use redevelop- ment. As such, the clock can’t stay. “The clock will be dismantled and put into storage and what we hope is that somebody will come forward with a credible idea, project or plan,” said Sean Kavanagh, senior director of strategic communications with True North. No one has stepped forward to claim the clock and Cassidy said it will like- ly be difficult to find a new spot. “It isn’t a simple clockface. There’s 20 feet of brass mechanics and clock bells that hang down 10 or 12 feet,” said Cassidy. “It’s something you have to build around.” The clock was removed from city hall before the building was demol- ished in 1962 due to structural con- cerns. It was put into storage before Portage Place came calling in the mid-’80s. Cassidy said he feels it’s the city’s responsibility to make sure the histor- ic timepiece is installed elsewhere. “This was the official city clock for 60 years. It’s the last remnants of the old city hall,” he said. In a statement, a spokesperson con- firmed the city is not interested in owning the relic. “The city has taken the lead on preserving the various components of the clock. We won’t be the long-term owners, but we are actively looking for a future home,” the statement said. Kavanagh said True North has partnered with Heritage Winnipeg to try to find a new home. The executive director of the non-profit said she ap- preciates the efforts by True North and the city to find a solution. “We don’t want people to get dis- couraged though,” said Cindy Tugwell. “The clock was in storage for over 20 years before it was put in Portage Place.” Stored underneath the clock in granite casing is a time capsule that was sealed at Portage Place the day it opened. It is supposed to be unearthed in 2062, 75 years later. It is being stored with other city artifacts in the basement at The Forks. “We might open it up to the public to see one day but there’s no plan for that right now,” said Adam Dooley, com- munications director at The Forks, on the time capsule. The 1.2-million-square-foot Portage Place redevelopment will create more than 200 housing units, a health-care services tower, a grocery store, com- munity centres and office space for social agencies. The housing portion of the project is expected to be completed by 2027 with the remaining development ex- pected within the next three or four years. fpcity@freepress.mb.ca No suitors for historic timepiece, originally at city hall in 1903 RYLEE GERRARD MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS The clock has lost its a home at Portage Place as renovations to the mall begin. It was first installed in 1903 at Winnipeg’s city hall. WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES ‘It’s the last remnants of the old city hall’ — historian Christian Cassidy Seven Oaks facility in need of extensive repairs Everybody out of the pool — for a year at least SCOTT BILLECK PARENTS in northwest Winnipeg say they’re worried about losing access to swimming lessons after the city an- nounced it will close Seven Oaks Pool for more than a year in order to com- plete extensive repairs. The city said Monday that the pool will shut down Dec. 14 for approximate- ly 12 to 14 months to undergo $3.5 mil- lion in structural upgrades, including concrete and waterproofing work and tile replacement on the main tank. “It sucks,” said a woman watching her 10-year-old daughter and seven- year-old son in the water during a Mon- day-evening class. “It’s hard enough to get your child into swim classes. I will look elsewhere, but the way it goes for registering, there’s a high demand. Having fewer pools will only make it harder.” The mother, who did not want to be identified, said she plans to try regis- tering her children at Sergeant Tommy Prince Place Pool or Elmwood Kil- donan Pool, though that means signifi- cantly longer drives. “Especially in winter, you’re adding time on,” she said. A man whose nine-year-old son also takes lessons at Seven Oaks said the closure could force the family to travel across the city to Pan Am Pool. “How are families who are taking the bus going to get to Pan Am Pool and back?” said the man, who didn’t want his name published. He learned of the closure last week through Amber Trails School, where his son attends and takes part in the school’s swim program. “It’s supposed to be a 10-week pro- gram, but he will only get five weeks now, and they had to move it back (from January),” the dad said, adding he’s concerned about the fate of the pool’s lifeguards and instructors once oper- ations shut down. Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma said while the closing is unfortunate, the repairs are necessary for the fa- cility built in 1977. ● POOL, CONTINUED ON B2 MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Seven Oaks Pool will be closed for a year beginning Monday. ;