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Downtown Safety Partnership to gear up this summer with support from Province

winnipeg street

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ’s strategic plan puts a renewed focus on making downtown more inclusive, safe and welcoming for everyone in the community. To help address this need, the Manitoba government is investing $5 million in a community partnership focused on improving health, well-being and safety in downtown Winnipeg. The Downtown Safety Partnership (DSP) will offer expanded street outreach, including a 24/7 presence in key areas for the first time.

The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has played an important role in the formation of the DSP and will continue to work closely with all partners as the DSP becomes operational this summer. Today’s funding helps build an expanded, permanent, community-centered outreach presence that provides the right resources and support at the right time.

Priorities for the DSP include:

  • Expanding the presence of downtown community outreach and safety teams, and extending outreach hours to allow a 24/7 presence in key areas for the first time;
  • Enhancing downtown outreach via new community service teams – highly trained community support workers who can address situations that don’t require a police or paramedic response;
  • Establishing a 24/7 Downtown Safety Communications Centre that will facilitate real-time information sharing among downtown safety partners and support existing downtown agencies in their work.

A safe, inclusive downtown is important. That includes increased supports, visible presence, and a greater focus connecting individuals with the resources they need, when they need it.

The DSP builds on past successes and proactively addresses community needs by providing additional resources to support the organizations already doing great work downtown. The new organization will be governed by a broadly representative board of downtown stakeholders and will receive guidance from a community advisory committee.

This partnership and collaboration will help the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ deliver on its mission to promote, care and advocate for a vibrant and inclusive downtown where business thrives and people are drawn to work, live, shop and explore.