Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - November 21, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba INVITATION TO SUBMIT AN EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF SPACE FOR LEASE IN BRANDON, MANITOBA FILE NUMBER: 81003031 Public Services and Procurement Canada is asking interested parties to submit a response by December 9, 2025, with respect to providing office space for lease in buildings in Brandon, for a term of 10 years commencing on or about February 1, 2030. To view the complete text of this invitation, consult CanadaBuys at https://canadabuys.canada.ca/en/tender-opportunities or contact Dayo Adeyemo at dayo.adeyemo@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca or 587 385 7301. A SERIAL arson spree in Winnipeg could lead to security changes for MLAs and their constituency offices, while some business owners spend thousands to add surveillance cameras or brighter lights. The offices of Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Housing, Addic- tions and Homelessness Minister Ber- nadette Smith, and several downtown restaurants and bars were set on fire — allegedly by the same suspect — be- tween June and November. “We convene a regular table here at the legislative assembly with regards to MLAs, ministers, the activities that happen within this building and the activities that happen at constituency offices,” Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said Thursday. “We’re certainly going to be taking the information that we’re learning from this investigation and incorpor- ating that into our protocols, but that’s an ongoing discussion that continues to happen.” Premier Wab Kinew said last month security may be increased at constitu- ency offices. The Winnipeg School Division’s of- fice on Wall Street and an addictions treatment centre in North Point Doug- las were also targeted. Some businesses are planning to up- grade security to help deter crime or identify suspects after a crime. “We’re going to be adding a couple more cameras and lighting,” said Niko- la Maharajh, owner of the Common- wealth Kitchen & Bar at Main Street and McDermot Avenue, which has been closed since a July arson. Kishan Zalawadai, owner of La Roca, which reopened after being targeted Nov. 14, said he will improve lighting around the Smith Street restaurant and bar, about a block from police head- quarters. He looked into installing shat- ter-proof glass, which would cost him more than $60,000. The entrepreneur made significant investments in secur- ity cameras and lighting last summer. Police reviewed his surveillance foot- age after the blaze. The suspect’s face was covered by a mask, said Zalawadai, who has at least 20 cameras at a cost of about $500 each, excluding installation. “It’s cost thousands of dollars,” he said. Jay Kilgour, chair of the Manitoba Restaurant and Foodservices Associ- ation, is planning to improve lighting around his Grant Avenue restaurant and bar, Fionn MacCool’s, after conver- sations with police Chief Gene Bowers and senior officers this week. “Arsons are a big deal, and there’s very little we can do about it,” he said. “In both meetings I’ve had this week, they’ve stressed there’s cameras everywhere, but there isn’t a lot of light everywhere.” At a news conference Wednesday, police Insp. Jennifer McKinnon en- couraged property owners to invest in security cameras and lighting, which allows for better footage of suspects. Jesse Wheatland, 35, was charged with 22 arson, break-in and damage-re- lated offences after he was arrested Tuesday, police said. The province is launching a $2,500 security rebate for businesses next month. “I’m encouraged that this will happen very soon,” Kilgour said. “You know, $2,500 doesn’t go a long way for secur- ity equipment, but maybe for a business owner that has nothing, that’s their entry-level step into protecting their business better.” Wiebe said the total fund is $10 mil- lion. “It not only protects businesses, but it protects whole communities,” he said of security systems. Progressive Conservative justice critic Wayne Balcaen said the rebate is “reactionary,” and the government’s focus should be paying for more police officers, cadets and Downtown Com- munity Safety Partnership staff. “Whatever it takes to have those ac- tual boots on the ground,” the former Brandon police chief said. One of the easiest solutions, he said, is increasing the amount of lighting in an area such as downtown Winnipeg. As for MLA and office security, Bal- caen said it’s not in Wiebe’s “wheel- house,” nor his, to talk about possible changes. That should come from the assembly’s sergeant-at-arms, the Tory MLA said. Firefighters were called to four fires at Smith’s office, at 804 Selkirk Ave., in August and September. Fontaine’s office at 1763 Main St. was set on fire twice in September. Their staff have been working from home and at the legislature since then. Smith said Wednesday staff changed their routines, even driving home “other ways,” out of concern for their safety. “We’ve had to do that, too. No one should have to do that,” she said. Smith’s office will reopen in the new year. The owner of the building — where Fontaine’s office was situated — told her the space will be ready in six to nine months, should she choose to return. “It certainly does make me consider if there are different spaces to having a constituency office. Maybe ones that are maybe not at the ground level,” Fon- taine said Wednesday. “Those are some of the conversations that myself and my team are having, whether or not we need to look at if it’s safe for us to be in the space that we were just a little while ago and that is currently being renovated.” MLAs can claim up to $4,400 during a four-year session for the installation and operation of security systems at constituency offices, homes or regular- ly used temporary second homes, such as cottages. The allotment also applies to personal protective services when at- tending a public event. Spending varied in 2024-25, with some MLAs spending the maximum amount and some claiming nothing, a report on their expenses showed. Fon- taine, for example, claimed $4,400 and Smith claimed $227.81. — with files from Nicole Buffie and Carol Sanders fpcity@freepress.mb.ca TOP NEWS A3 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2025 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM MLAs also mull safety options after arrest made in arson spree Restaurants putting security on the menu CHRIS KITCHING AND SCOTT BILLECK MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar owner Nikola Maharajh says he will be adding more cameras and lighting around his business after being targeted in an arson spree in July. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Jay Kilgour, owner of restaurant and bar Fionn MacCool’s, says officers advised him there isn’t enough light around his establishment. On Tuesday around 7 p.m., police arrested a suspect near the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba treatment facility on Magnus Avenue in the North End. It’s one of the sites he’s alleged to have damaged over the past five months. Winnipeg Police Service officials said the arrest was the result of collaboration between several of its units and the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service during an extensive and complex investigation. Police allege Wheatland committed 22 ar- son, break-in and property-damage offences at 11 locations since June 11, including fires at the constituency offices of Families Min- ister Nahanni Fontaine and her colleague, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Min- ister Bernadette Smith, as well as downtown bars and restaurants. A Facebook account under the name Jesse Wheatland has posted comments in a Point Douglas community group, which is within Smith’s constituency. The posts express opposition to a super- vised consumption site — a project led by Smith — that had been proposed for the neighbourhood. The government scrapped the original plan following public backlash- over the location and is now considering a new site nearby. Investigators would not comment on a possible motive, but confirmed the case is unrelated to previous extortion-related fires. They have also not ruled out his involvement in additional incidents. “(The arrest) is a relief because one of our biggest fears when it comes to reopening was not having anyone arrested for the first fire,” Maharajh said. Wheatland is charged with 13 counts of arson causing property damage, two counts of break-and-enter and commit arson, one count of arson with disregard for human life, four counts of mischief under $5,000 and two counts of break-and-enter with intent. He remains in custody. A court search showed Wheatland has no criminal convictions in Manitoba, and police said he was not previously known to them. Wheatland is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. “I met with my client, and we are waiting for police files before we proceed further,” his lawyer, Martin Glazer, said Thursday. A LinkedIn profile in Wheatland’s name says his security expertise includes “uni- formed guard service, loss prevention, events, traffic control and system monitor- ing.” The profile listed him as head of security for a company — starting in 2018 — and the owner of a mobile personal training service from 2014 to 2018. The page said he obtained a provincial security guard licence in 2009. Wheatland also worked odd jobs, including home renovations, according to people who know him. A contractor who briefly worked with him in June said Wheatland was on the job on a casual part-time basis. Wheatland mentioned he used to work security for restaurants and bars, said the contractor, who asked not to be identified. Former employers also said that Wheatland briefly worked for AC Security Inc. The com- pany declined to comment on Thursday. One of Wheatland’s cousins was shocked when she learned about his arrest from a Free Press reporter Wednesday night. “This is terrible news,” said the cousin, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity. “I don’t know what happened. He’s a good kid. He comes from a damn good home.” The cousin said she had been worried about Wheatland for some time. She said he didn’t have a home of his own and worked odd jobs, sometimes staying in unoccupied homes he was hired to renovate. She said she gave him rides and offered meals when he was in need. They last spoke about a month ago. Wheatland grew up in the West End and attended Tec-Voc High School. One of his uncles is a retired firefighter, the cousin said. — With files from Dean Pritchard and Chris Kitching scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca ARSON ● FROM A1 ;