Breathing new life into Winnipeg’s story

Opinion

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This article was published 11/10/2022 (763 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THERE’S no question Winnipeg’s downtown is in need of support and a significant upswing in activities and investment.

Government investment in downtown is often considered the solution. But this is usually framed as the triad of civic, provincial and federal investment. People forget the national government of the Red River Métis was here before there was a Winnipeg and a Manitoba. The MMF is the extension of that national government and remains committed to investing in this city, which is the heart of our homeland and the birthplace of our nation.

How invested?

We have invested more than $21 million in Winnipeg since 2019, with over $9 million spent on capital acquisitions and developments alone. We expect to invest a further $43 million in downtown Winnipeg over the next two to three years. This is funding that is already committed in our budget — it does not include other projects and strategic investments we will make in the future.

Our investments are not confined to the upcoming heritage centre at the corner of Portage and Main. We are also investing in transitional housing for our kids in care, for families needing to travel from outside of Winnipeg for medical care, warehouse space and office space for our government, and the development of a luxury, boutique hotel on Fort Street that will create an experience people return for time and again.

Despite not having the benefit of the land and “head start” we negotiated for our citizens as part of the creation of Manitoba as a province, it is our way to share our prosperity. The MMF’s investments into our city are for the benefit of all who visit it, and those who call it home.

Recent data from Statistics Canada confirm Winnipeg remains home to the largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. There is an appetite for Indigenous tourism and experiences, both nationally and internationally, that offers tremendous opportunity. Winnipeg is uniquely positioned to feed it.

Portage and Main are the first roads of commerce in Canada’s Northwest. Our city spans across land that saw famous battles, such as the Victory of Frog Plain. Our people’s names and stories, including Annie McDermot Bannatyne horse-whipping an upstart easterner who spoke ill of Red River Métis hospitality, have been enshrined in our city’s streets and places.

Adding to that, there is a growing celebration of Indigenous art and culture happening in our downtown. The Winnipeg Art Gallery has brought increased focus on Red River Métis, First Nations and Inuit art and culture. There’s our own Red River Métis heritage centre at the iconic corner of the city first inhabited by our nation.

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights, the Manitoba Museum, St. Boniface Museum, The Forks, the legislature, with its statue of our first premier, Louis Riel — all hold pieces of our story.

As these institutions and others continue to develop, we are creating a network of experiences that will see visitors and tourists criss-crossing our city’s core, moving from historic setting to art installation, returning to their homes to tell a story about Winnipeg that must be seen to be believed.

A successful downtown is one where people live, which means suitable and affordable housing, safety and access to amenities must also be addressed. To get there, we need to improve transit, improve livability, improve conditions and create more jobs that draw people back to our downtown core.

These required solutions are not new, but through deeper understanding and collaboration on concrete actions I know that we can collectively achieve positive results. Greater creativity and innovation are needed to draw suburbanites back into the downtown area — an achievable goal if we create experiences that can’t be found anywhere else.

Progress of this kind is not accomplished in sweeping acts, but in small, incremental changes that build on each other.

The incoming mayor and council have the ability to make a profound difference in the long-term health of Winnipeg’s downtown. Their approach, and their ability to engage with Indigenous, provincial and federal governments will be critical to the movement of downtown revitalization.

The MMF is prepared to engage with the city and other levels of government for large-scale investments. Red River Métis entrepreneurship, along with small and medium-sized businesses, have been the backbone of our economy for years, and it takes collaboration and investment to pave the way for them to enter our downtown.

This could include investment in a block of storefronts to incubate emerging small and micro-businesses. The MMF has been investing in our artist and artisan community for several years, and we have seen tremendous growth in this sector, which could readily translate to bricks and mortar storefronts.

Our Red River Métis ancestors taught us that every challenge is a chance to innovate. That is the spirit that built our culture and our city, and it’s that same spirit that will bring renewal to our downtown.

There is an incredible story hidden within downtown Winnipeg. Rest assured, the MMF will do its part in engaging our citizens in activities and businesses downtown, and finding places and spaces that will attract Red River Métis owned businesses.

If the MMF is seen as part of the economic solution, and is engaged along with other invested stakeholders, the story of Winnipeg will quickly become something we are proud to share with the world.

David Chartrand is president of the Manitoba Métis Federation.