Winnipeg | Of Interest

[The Jabroni]

I admit, they are bangers, which is why they're making a second one. My kids are so obsessed with them right now.

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by TRSTN

KPop Demon Hunter dance parties under the bridges is how we build critical mass. Even if theres still some people experiencing homelessness around, its a lot less scary when there's also hundreds of people screaming the lyrics to Golden

Would gladly take free-roam dance party homeless people than zombie fenty-leaning homeless people LOL

[cheswick]

Sherbrook inn is being rebranded as East Gate Inn. No idea if there’s anything being done besides that.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Interesting since it’s actually closer to West Gate and Middle Gate than East Gate…but there I go geography-ing again.

[neutroniks]

Maybe they have East Coast affiliations

[drew]

Unless they re-brand and include turfing the pawn shop, sketch vendor, SROs - not much is going to change there.

[FactaNV]

Originally Posted by drew

Unless they re-brand and include turfing the pawn shop, sketch vendor, SROs - not much is going to change there.

The SROs are whatever, people need a place to live but that pawn shop needs to go. It fuels so much property crime in the area. I guarantee 3/4s of the — in there is hot.

[bon_vivant]

Originally Posted by FactaNV

The SROs are whatever, people need a place to live but that pawn shop needs to go. It fuels so much property crime in the area. I guarantee 3/4s of the — in there is hot.

Yes. Back in the early '80s (when it was the Westminster Hotel) they provided short-term, transitional accommodation for folks on social assistance, though it wasn't a dedicated SRO hotel. The top floor, which had newly renovated suites at the time, was reserved for regular guests. But yeah, booting out the sketchy pawn shop would be a huge start to cleaning up that property.

[pspeid]

A bit of good news for the end of 2025:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/burton-cummings-theatre-winnipeg-9.7029570

Nice to see a beautiful old theatre like the Burt getting some recognition. True North has done a wonderful job keeping this Winnipeg jewel relevant. Plus, we get a new ghost story about the old place!

[neutroniks]

Originally Posted by pspeid

A bit of good news for the end of 2025:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/burton-cummings-theatre-winnipeg-9.7029570

Nice to see a beautiful old theatre like the Burt getting some recognition. True North has done a wonderful job keeping this Winnipeg jewel relevant. Plus, we get a new ghost story about the old place!

They've been doing a great job of restoring that venue, and really bringing people to the area. The Burt Block Party itself is great, and I hope it continues to spur more activity in the area like restoration of the Garrick or other shops and things.

[Sheepish]

It will be interesting to see the finished landscaping to the North of the theatre.
Too bad about the parking lot across the street, and the Enterprise lot to the South at Ellice. Long term the theatre needs greater connectivity with the Exchange and Downtown proper.
On a related subject, has there been any progress or news regarding the Pantages conversion for the WSO?

[neutroniks]

Yeah, they need Enterprise out of there. I'm sure there's a better location for that somewhere, would be nice to see the Giant Tiger become something a little nicer, and what's with that building that's next to the Canada Building? That things been shuttered for decades, but there's multiple CRUs along Ellice.

Pantages probably won't start until Spring/Summer is my guess. They did resurface the lot behind it this past fall.

[Mr Tall Forehead]

Good news about the Burt.

Yeah, redevelopment of the Enterprise lot and something built on that giant triangle lot across from the Burt would really help connect the Exchange with downtown.

[neutroniks]

Would be nice to get a building similarly sized to the Lindsay building in. Can winnipeg get it's own Flat Iron building?

[pspeid]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

Would be nice to get a building similarly sized to the Lindsay building in. Can winnipeg get it's own Flat Iron building?

Sorry, only —-ugly cubes covered with rusty scrap iron allowed at the moment.

[neutroniks]

Not even a rusty flat iron building?

[bomberjet]

I honestly dont really know what the point of then realigning the street in front of the Burt actually achieved. Not much IMO, basically moved the pocket park slightly to the west. The old park was better anyways. Probably less so for the block parties.

But what will come of the block party when the triangle lot is developed into a super tall?

[James Bond Agent 007]

• Video Link

[trueviking]

Originally Posted by neutroniks

not even a rusty flat iron building?

yes!!!!

[pspeid]

This was apparently online on the 7th, but I didn't see it until today (Jan 9th) when it was referred to on a FB radio station post:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/winnipeg/article/...,when%2041%20homicides%20were%20reported.

I'm not sure what caused this drastic drop in homicides, but it's amazingly good news for the city. It may be a statistical glitch, the result of law enforcement/anti-poverty initiatives, or both. Either way it's a relief, and I hope we can continue this trend.

I would also hope there will be fewer people "celebrating" the "murder city" moniker, but I doubt it. At least we can counter that annoying habit with this recent good data.

Here's a link to the CBC article. This one includes some comparative information:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-homicide-rate-2025-9.7039748

The article pointed out that most of the victims (13) were Indigenous, and quoted Police Chief Bowers who "suggested it's possible increased police presence on streets, socio-economic factors and relationships between police and local organizations could all be at play."

This forum has discussed a number of high-profile Indigenous-led developments in the city. Projects like Weweneh have made a point out of hiring Indigenous people to work on it, providing employment and jobs skills. Do you think these projects have helped reduce some of the poverty & substance abuse that typically leads to violent crime?