Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 13, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba SA V O U R M A N I T O B A M A N I T O B A ’ S P R E M I E R F O O D , D R I N K A N D L I F E S T Y L E M A G A Z I N E W I N T E R 2 0 2 5 H e a r t h , H o m e & H o l i d a y Warm up to the season C o m i n g s o o n ! Read the Fall 2025 issue at: winnipegfreepress.com/fp-features with flavours that feel like home Watch for it in your Free Press and at Manitoba Liquor Marts! S MALL city-owned lots will be tar- geted in a new strategy to create affordable homes, while the city could also soon devote millions of dol- lars to infrastructure that supports new housing units. A “small lot strategy” will seek inter- est to create projects with one to four housing units on vacant properties, says a new report on initiatives linked to Winnipeg’s share of the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. “This will help to rehabilitate vacant lots and improve health, safety, and neighbourhood revitalization,” writes Lissie Rappaport, manager of the city’s Housing Accelerator Fund office. The city plans to release an expression of interest to sell 10 to 20 smaller prop- erties for $1 each, primarily to non-prof- it and/or Indigenous developers. In an interview, Rappaport said that could produce less traditional housing, including some homes that are at least partly pre-fabricated. “When we put out the expression of interest, we do want to see some innov- ation,” she said. The number of units allowed per lot will be based on city zoning rules, with a goal to create “ground-oriented hous- ing” such as garden suites, secondary suites, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, row houses, courtyard housing and low- rise apartments (with four storeys or less). For small lots that are difficult to de- velop, such as those that require demo- lition, the city may offer financial as- sistance. City council would need to approve a bylaw change to spend accelerator fund dollars on the new strategy, since its current bylaw requires projects to include a minimum of five housing units. While the city hopes to secure finan- cial support from HAF, the Winnipeg Foundation and the Manitoba gov- ernment, municipal housing officials already have the power to start the small lot strategy itself, said Rappa- port. “Additional incentives are needed to really get the housing off the ground… We certainly have a number of small- er lots the city has owned for some time,” she said. City housing staff have proposed changes on how Winnipeg spends its share of the federal accelerator fund. If city council approves, the new plan would devote up to $20 million over the next two years to future and existing housing projects approved by the city’s land enhancement office. That funding would aim to ensure construction can start on the projects before the end of next year. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13, 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 ● HOUSING, CONTINUED ON B2 JOYANNE PURSAGA City looks at turning small lots into affordable housing Garden suites, duplexes, row houses considered options THOUSANDS of would-be bus passengers have been turned away since September, when the city started cracking down on people who don’t pay. Since then, 7,614 people were either de- nied rides (4,944) or they walked away be- fore being prompted to pay, the city said Wednesday. The city said 931 warnings have been issued and that 359 riders paid after being asked. The warnings were issued by tran- sit safety officers for fare-related issues. Winnipeg Transit inspectors have made more than 6,800 fare checks since Septem- ber, and safety officers have spent more than 1,400 hours enforcing issues. The Winnipeg Police Service said on Nov. 6 that its officers have made nine ar- rests under the Criminal Code and inter- vened in 41 fare-evasion incidents since it began placing more of its officers on and around buses in September. “These numbers, after just two months, show that this community safety officer team is needed. They’re doing good work,” Mayor Scott Gillingham said. “And the goal, ultimately, of the fare enforcement is twofold. One, to make the buses safer for riders and drivers, and, two, to recoup some of the fare that hasn’t been paid in previous years.” Gillingham pointed out that the transit union has said 90 per cent of the assaults that happen to bus drivers and passengers are committed by people who do not pay. “I believe this is making our buses safer. The fare enforcement is making our buses safer,” the mayor said. Winnipeg Transit is launching a fare-education campaign in the coming weeks, and all buses will start playing an audio message reminding passengers to have their fare ready before boarding. “Our community safety officers and transit inspectors can’t be at every bus stop, all across the city, at once,” Gilling- ham said. The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505 said the early results on enforcement efforts mark an important first step. “This is something we have been advo- cating for for a long time,” vice-president Derek Hanley said. Hanley said the union has long believed Winnipeg Transit was losing $6 million to $10 million to fare evasion annually. En- forcement will help determine whether those estimates were accurate. “The simple fact they did 4,944 denied rides — it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to do the math and see that’s a lot of money,” he said. “It’s about $16,000 in just that small portion of enforcement. And those are the people that actually got on buses where the enforcement was being done.” Hanley said bus drivers are “cautious- ly optimistic” that their job will become safer. “They know someone is going to have their back,” he said. “And that makes them feel pretty good, considering for the longest time, they’ve kind of, like I’ve said before, been out there as stagecoach driv- ers without a six-shooter to be able to help themselves.” fpcity@freepress.mb.ca Thousands of fare evaders denied bus rides since crackdown MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Parade director Monica Derksen says there is a real sense of family history being built up through a parade that first hit the streets of Winnipeg in 1909. Merry and bright: more than 40,000 expected for Santa Claus Parade featuring Grey Cup LINDA Hamilton often had to tiptoe to catch a good view of the jolly old elf at Winnipeg’s Santa Claus Parade, so when she saw volunteers in the middle of the action, she knew she had to sign up. “It’s a front row seat to the parade, and you get to help keep everybody safe… It’s a perk of the job,” said Hamilton, whose volunteer duties in- clude keeping the streets clear and safe for floats and spectators. “Just being surrounded by kids and kids at heart — it’s addictive.” Saturday’s annual Santa Claus Parade is ex- pected to draw more than 40,000 people down- town, organizers say. It will feature Santa and the Grey Cup, which will be contested Sunday between the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatche- wan Roughriders. The Cup will lead the parade and CFL cheer- leaders, including the Blue Bomber Cheer Team, will participate. Monica Derksen, parade director since 2017, has planned the event all year, co-ordinating with more than 200 volunteers. “Many people have long stories from their grandparents, and their grandparent’s grand- parents. It’s gone on for so many years that it’s become a real staple,” she said. Former department store Eaton’s started the parade in Winnipeg in 1909. “Parades are hard to keep going these days. Sponsorship is harder. Grants are harder,” said Derksen. “I think it’s really important that it continues. It brings together people from all walks of life.” She said funding is always going down, and inflation is a reality for most non-profit organiza- tions, which is why the parade will have its first 50/50 raffle this year. Hamilton, who has volunteered at the event for more than six years, remembered her father, who worked at Eaton’s, taking her as a child. Today, her twin nieces make the trip from Stonewall every year. “When all the lights come on, that’s when we know the parade is starting. I tell the kids: ‘Watch for the lights! Watch for the lights!’” Another longtime volunteer likes to help out with the magic behind the magic. “There’s an anticipation and excitement,” said Marlow Soliven on the moment when the floats are lining up to march down the street. “That ex- citement builds. And as it starts, there’s a release of excitement… every year I always look forward to that. Nothing else replaces that feeling for this event.” With the Grey Cup set for the next day and the weather expected to co-operate, attendance is expected to top the usual estimate of 40,000. The main attraction, Santa’s $100,000 float, has new lights this year highlighting the big guy and his reindeer. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. at Portage Avenue and Main Street, then head west towards Memorial Boulevard before ending near St. Mary Avenue. Tickets for the 50/50 draw are available until Nov. 17 at mbhydrosantaparade.com and in-per- son at the parade. fpcity@freepress.mb.ca TONI DE GUZMAN MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS David Walker installs new lights in Santa’s float. ;