Downtown Buzz News from the Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone


New city funding for Downtown Watch program


T


he Honourable Mayor Brian Bow- man recently announced an in- crease in funding and collaboration


for our downtown BIZ Watch Ambassadors, along with the West End and Exchange BIZ Patrols, and Bear Clan. Not only was the increase signifi- cant but it also recognized the individuals, neighbourhoods, business organizations and systems that are currently working together to improve downtown safety. Downtown safety is much


more than just policing and enforcement, and over the last decade the Winnipeg Police Service has communicated that they cannot do it alone. The complexity of safety re- quires partnerships, creativity coordination and integration of all com- munity resources, in order to effectively respond to the increasing challenges of safety. As a result, the downtown business com-


Downtown Stefano Grande


saving the lives of the most vulnerable, our program has proven to be effective. What makes the Downtown Watch Program special is the col- laborative work that is being done with our friends at the Winnipeg Police Service. On a daily basis we come together to identify challenges, share information and find solu- tions to keep people safe in our downtown. This community based approach to policing and managing safety issues pri- marily focuses on education, prevention and at times inter- vention from our end, while relying on the highly trained Winnipeg Police expertise to enforce safety and support the community for those issues where we need them most.


The support of the community-based


Downtown Watch Program is working and is greatly appreciated by the business community. Take a look at these 2017 stats which


munity has responded with the growth of its Downtown Watch Ambassador Pro- grams and more. We currently have 26 community Watch Ambassadors and over 200 Watch Volunteers who play a major role in providing safety services in the downtown area. Te Watch are the eyes and ears for police, reassurances to the public, information and assistance to locals and visitors, and a natural succession planning model for bringing talent into law enforce- ment. Te Watch have helped improve the perceptions of our downtown, providing SafeWalks, making presentations on per- sonal safety, keeping an eye on crimes, to


demonstrate the ef fect iveness of our Downtown Program in better managing safety issues and serving the public: 1. 387 people in the downtown utilized


the SafeWalk program and had the Down- town Watch Ambassadors safely walk them to their car, bus stop or event. 2. Over 250 persons who were found to


be intoxicated in the downtown area were taken to safety and received the help they needed 3. In total, there were 4481 calls for ser-


vice which included calls for disturbances, panhandling, and medical and well-being checks


4. Te Watch Ambassadors were called


8,082 times for special attentions Excellent work related to community


safety is already happening on a daily basis in Downtown Winnipeg. But are we there yet? Not yet. • There is a need and desire to maximize


the efficiencies and impact of that work, and a need to expand resources which include both more Watch and Police Foot Patrols. • There is a need for government to pro-


vide a home for people who are homeless, which include many who face substance abuse and mental health challenges • There is a need for more addictions


facilities and managed substance abuse programs


downtownwinnipegbiz.com (204) 958-4640


info@downtownwinnipegbiz.com 426 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0C9 April 2018 www.smartbizwpg.com Smart Biz 7 • There is a need for a high level of com-


munity participation and coordination between government and the local com- munity resources to identify and respond to the needs of the community. • The development of our Downtown as a


place for everyone, with more people living and working needs to continue. • The best vision of community safety re-


quires that we come together as a commu- nity to find solutions for downtown safety. These are all essential ingredients for


overall success of Downtown Safety, which the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, along with our partners and stakeholder are com- mitted to, on our continued path to a safe downtown for everyone.


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