Red River Co-Op to Move Into Portage Place

The signage has gone up and the parties have confirmed it. Portage Place will have a ground floor grocery and a pharmacy. That store will be Red River Co-Op. At 22,500 square foot store and a 6,500 square foot pharmacy and a staff of 57. This will be the 10th store in the Winnipeg region for the Co-Op. The timing of the opening is 2029. Construction has been ongoing all this year and the building of the Pan Am Clinic is the first priority. 

The Bay is also under intense construction and there hasn't be an update on where they are at but it is ongoing. Housing and offices will eventually be in place there and nearby and the need for the grocery store will be apparent. Initial response that a Red River Co-Op going is has been positive. There are five national grocers with their huge suppliers. It was thought that a Sobeys/Safeway had the inside track. However, the Co-Op is local and likely pushed hard to expand their store size after a near death experience back in 1983. The entire grocery business was shut down along with anything not related to fuel sales. It was a painful recovery.

Munther Zeid from Foodfare questioned the economic reasons and said if there was a market for grocery, Safeway or Safe on Foods would have moved in. He has a point save for one thing. Grocery store size. The companies he mentions builds new stores that are 40,000 square feet. The South Osborne Safeway has a legacy store at 19,000 square feet. It is hanging on because it has no competition and a parking lot.

None of the biggies want a store with no dedicated parking lot. So why does Red River think they can do it? The pharmacy. There are only a handful of pharmacies downtown even with a few thousand residents living nearby. The few Shoppers and Rexall are all south of Portage Avenue. Red River Co-Op notably kept their pharmacy as a stand alone location on Main when Giant Tiger took over their lease (which they have since abandoned) on Main Street. Pharmacies make money. And they are built with layered security everywhere. 

Know what Foodfares don't have? Pharmacies. Zeid knows groceries better than anyone. He has been on the frontline for decades and fighting shoplifting harder than anyone. He knows what he talks about when it comes to trying to make a living in the grocery business. The pharmacy and its safes and locked areas is a good cushion for profitability. Thousands of students at the University of Winnipeg, student housing across the street by the Winnipeg Art Gallery, housing behind Portage Place and new housing onsite atop Portage Place provides the population base to build a store customer base. 

The lack of a food court in Portage Place should discourage the type of congregating for the purpose of drug distribution. And thousands of patients a day at the new Pam Am Clinic should create the safety of crowds that is seen when hockey and concert events happen downtown. Harassment of people will have dozens of people calling 911 and filming it. Likewise, True North properties have zero tolerance for encampments or people taking up residence of doorways. Seriously. Watch security make themselves present if people linger in the Square for purposes other than commuting or commerce. Also, get in a fracas at Canada Life Centre, find yourself banned for life from all events there. Malls like Polo Park also institute bans so I expect to see Portage Place ban people from the property if they are violent or shoplifting. Technology will be used to identify people who are consistently a problem.

Low income people have to be protected and the work with the community patrols will help with people who need assistance. Housing geared to income is part of what is going up in the area but success with come from a mix of people which could include tourists in hotels, visitors for concerts, conventions and sports. 

In keeping with the standard set ups for most urban groceries, there will be one entrance in, delivery, deli, bakery, meat, dairy and produce sections. If there is any area I feel they might skimp on, I would say sections of ethnic and specialty stuff. This probably suits some of the ethnic convenience stores that have tried to carve out new niche areas for themselves downtown and elsewhere. Self checkouts are likely to have two forms of control. The first will be scanner exiting the checkout and the next will be receipt control. It is unclear whether the store will exit to the front street or inside the mall. Staples found it was better inside. One thing is clear is that there will be another line of security for the mall and apartment entrances. And street patrols will be plainly visible.

Things have to be a multi-pronged approach to make the area successful for housing, retail, recreation and healthcare. If people feel there are no go zones where they could face danger, they will resist going there. In some cases though, you will have no choice. If you have a knee surgery at Pan Am, you will be there are 8 AM. Likewise, many people work downtown and not some suburb. They need to know they can ride the bus without fear, park their cars and find them later and go outside for lunch without the chance of homicide or being swept up in arrest.

I suspect there will be a lot ways this happens and it will be black by block that are reclaimed as neighbourhoods. A grocery is essential to that and the amount of spending to convert Portage Place and the former Bay building tops $1 billion. This isn't just a luxury mall and luxury housing. It is a comprehensive reconstruction and not a trip down nostalgia lane. It is trying to build housing in the area and make sure there are services to support it. The mistake at Portage Place is the investment stopped after the 1980s. The money earned was delivered to The Forks for their ultimate success.

Six British Prime Ministers in Seven Years

It seems difficult to think of Britain as a stable place when yet another prime minister resigns two years into their government. Sir Keir Starmer joins a growing list of prime ministers who could not govern. The Labour leader was thought to be a tonic to the chaos of the Conservatives who were still reeling in the aftermath of Covid as well Brexit. The British economy has not been the same since breaking with the European Union.

Britain has had a long history of Game of Thrones tussles. The Reform Party, who are growing in elected members, are peeling off people who feel displaced and are motivated by that. It has led to boisterous protests. There has been violence at times. In Canada, governing parties usually get two tern between 8 to 10 years in length before they run out of steam. This applies to both provinces and federal governments. It is rare to get a third term. Only the exceptional campaigner and popular politician can do it. It also helps to have a weak and embattled opposition.

Starmer had a landslide two years ago only to score on his own goal repeatedly. Picking an ambassador to the U.S. linked to Epstein as well as financial shenanigans likely took him down in the polls in trust. Having Trump in office and the prickly relationship hurt Starmer in a way it didn't hurt Trudeau or Carney.

In the months after Trump was re-elected, support for Trudeau actually went up. However, the die was cast and his own Liberal party, was looking to someone who might be able to get a deal with the U.S. or at the least, have a plan to broaden the economy. To that end, the Liberals turned to Mark Carney and his support has not been this high for a leader in many a year.

I think the economy following Brexit and Covid has dragged Britain down quite a bit. In Canada, the reaction to the convoy of protestors was more negative towards them than supportive. There were a variety of parties in power at the provincial level when Covid hit. It is hard blaming any one of them without hurting your own party. Ontario has the same Premier Doug Ford because he seems to know how to navigate the tough times and has collaborated with the federal government to the benefit of his province.

What hurt Starmer was probably not making decisive actions early and the ones he did have haunted him like the ambassadorship. The staff in his office were very much needed to vette appointments, manage the party and set up a vision that was achievable and could help the people who had given them a mandate. The resignation today of Starmer is an awful result for a party 14 years out of office. The victory they had two years ago was the biggest win for Labour in decades.

Starmer ought to have known to avoid some of the pitfalls ahead of him. Free event tickets are never really free and the very active media are going to always ask how you got then. Starmer and his ministers ought to have known on free Taylor Swift tickets. Or free glasses or clothes or whatever. None of those things by themselves defeat you. It is the accumulation. And the appointing of an ambassador with such questionable ties. 

I think what made his own party mad enough was not picking a direction and committing to it. He didn't make the case for cuts to in budget to leverage an economic jump, he didn't look to reform tax across the board, he didn't look at defence needs or establish a response to growing Russian threats. Instead, he and his party reacted slowly and befuddled to crime stories, suffering and stagnant economy stories and in total confusion to Trump. It isn't like Carney hasn't had problems like this in Canada. However, he has acted quickly and on things like defence whereas Trudeau said Canada would never reach 2% of GDP on spending even though it has committed to it. Likewise, Trudeau committed to carbon pricing without it showing it brought down emissions or was able to meet Canada's energy needs.

As mentioned previously here, Canada doesn't have an age problem in politics like many nations. We generally have a time limit in our heads of two terms. An exceptional leader or political party that renew itself can extend that time. The Liberals did this by changing leaders and shifting. The Canadian public showed a willingness to do this. And the Liberals won an election and later a majority as a result. Perhaps Carney trips up and faces the same timeline as Starmer for popularity.

Canadian can only look on in shock at the revolving door at the Game of Thrones in the UK. We just don't have this type of turnover. And while we could have two provinces vote on separation, there doesn't seem to be much of an appetite for it if the polls are to be believed. In some ways, there has been more unity than we have seen in some time. Part of it is as a result of Trump, some is sport such as World Cup and Olympics and some could be a sense of common purpose.

A leader appears to be in waiting in Britain. Perhaps that helps Labour find a direction without heading to an election. The biggest momentum in recent years has been Reform Party which seems committed to a rupture in the status quo. It remains to be seen whether the UK really wants that. Perhaps this summer the country will finally find the stability it has lacked for years. 

Arby's and Pur & Simple Come to Kildonan's Peguis Promenade in 2027

Arby's said they would be expanding again in Winnipeg. The one Arby's now is at Seasons of Tuxedo. The new Arby's will be adjacent to the one that closed in Kildonan Place in a small mall on Reenders Driver. When Arby's retreated from the Canadian market for a while there were fans in Manitoba and Ontario who mourned its loss and lobbied for its return. When a location opened at Seasons, there were lineups for weeks.

Shindico has indicated that the first tenants will be in place before the end of 2027. Aside from Arby's, the Quebec-based Pur and Simple breakfast place will also be moving in. Breakfasts are proving to be a strength in the fast food industry lately. Pur and Simple has already found success with their Seasons location so one off Regent is likely to do well.

The road construction in the area seemed to last years as did Kildonan Place. Even now the final touches on a multi-year changes to the mall are reaching completion. The collapse of so many department stores and other retailers plus the post Covid world has re-shaped the commercial and residential market. They have found they need each other in proximity for success.

I suspect Arby's as well as Pur and Simple are looking for other locations in the city. The Costco locations off Main and the Downs are both in need of local restaurants as more and more housing reaches completion in those areas. Winnipeg's population has gone up and some stores and restaurants are closing due to shifting tastes, retirements or changes in where traffic goes. 

The economy is showing mixed signals but the heavy duty infrastructure is helping with employment. Were it is not for the trade issues south of the border, Canada might be in a better place with inflation and growth. Some developments which have been very slow out the gate seem to be ready to go market this year and next. For the Kildonan area, this will likely help people stick to their area for shopping and restaurants. Quite a few from the neighbourhood went all the way across town for their roast beef fix.

Donald Trump to Attend Opening of Teddy Roosevelt Library in Medora, North Dakota July 1, 2026

It will be a busy July 1st for President Trump. He will be visiting North Dakota to be there for the opening of the Teddy Roosevelt Library in Medora, North Dakota. It will be a quick trip because he is supposed to be back in Washington, D.C. for the trilateral meeting of Canada, Mexico and the United States for trade talks and possibly a deal or does Trump announce U.S. is pulling out? Carney will be meeting him that day. No word on that itinerary. 

The Teddy Roosevelt Library is a non-profit creation since the official libraries program for presidents only started in 1955. The 96,000 square foot building is on a 92,000 square foot campus carved into a butte in Medora, North Dakota beside the Teddy Roosevelt National Park in the far west part of the state by the Badlands.

Roosevelt is intimately identified with North Dakota from his journeys in the state from 1883 to 1887. His wife and mother died a short time after one another in the state where he was a cattle rancher. He was popular writer and historian and became a war hero. As a progressive Republican, he established a conservation program that is the basis of the national park system that exists today. He was first non-European to win a Nobel Prize. In many presidential rankings, he consistently is one of the highest in approval in U.S. history.

The name Teddy Bear is coined for the man and his connection to the death of a black bear. How it ended up being a cute kids stuffie is apart of American. It certainly is not the story of Winnie, the bear named after Winnipeg that became Winnie the Pooh. Roosevelt visited Winnipeg a number of times on his way to Delta Marsh where they hired Metis guides for hunting trips.

There is probably just too little space to go over the expansive life of Teddy Roosevelt. He makes the last several years of presidents look like croppers. It is of little wonder that Trump wants to visit the Teddy Roosevelt Library. Built be the same designer of the gorgeous central library in Calgary, the building and the campus is stunning.

The design allows the visitor to feel part of the incredible vista. The curation of the collection appears to be a worthy homage to the 26th President of the United States. Trump's visit should help garner some publicity to the area. Many people from Manitoba are very fond of North Dakota and not just the eastern cities of Grand Forks or Fargo. The $150 million facility is architecturally noteworthy.

Medora has honoured Teddy Roosevelt since 1965 with the Medora Musical. It is an old timey Old West musical review and it is as charming as it is fun. It is very nearby the new library. Perhaps in the near future people in Manitoba will want to visit their old friend. Some of that enthusiasm could be tempered by Trump's later appointment on that same day with Carney. Here's hoping the visit July 1 is positive in so many ways.

The End of Hockey Night in Canada 2026

The renewal of the very lengthy 12 year Rogers NHL contract should have been a clue. Some of the changes were already announced such as Amazon Prime games as well as more Netflix games. Television came to Canada in 1952 and that is when CBC began to broadcast it on Saturdays. Foster Hewitt led the TV broadcast from that year until 1965. It was familiar territory for him as he had been the national radio broadcaster for hockey since 1931. From 1952 to 1965 CBC TV and CBC radio simulcast Hockey Night in Canada.

Everything about hockey broadcasting was as a result of the CBC and it went on to become the most watched sport on a weekly basis across Canada. Alas, the profitability of it made it more difficult for CBC to keep bidding on it and winning. They could have possibly had a partnership and retained some rights but dropped the puck on that. Rogers took control in 2014 and only used the CBC network for its coast to coast broadcast reach as well its talent.

As of June 16, the CBC will not host any NHL hockey on Saturday as Rogers brings it all in house. Both sides, Sportsnet and CBC, jointly announced the end of the arrangement. Neither side as really indicated what comes next aside from the name will change for Rogers broadcasts on Saturday on CityTV, Sportsnet channels and streaming partners like Netflix and Amazon Prime. It will likely cost more to see hockey each year as more things move to streaming.

In the early part of my life, Hockey Night in Canada was on a bit too late for me. By 1968, they were on at 7 in Winnipeg on Wednesdays on CTV and Saturdays on CBC. The French channel broadcast every Montreal Canadiens game Saturday so if, by chance, the Canadiens were not on CBC, the switch was made to French. The Canadiens were on a lot though because they were a winning team with the best players. By 1975 CTV was no longer doing weekday games but individual channels were. Winnipeg was not one of them. Our family only got cable and a colour TV by 1971.

There was only one game a night Saturday even though Vancouver Canucks joined in 1970. Back to back games only happened occasionally when Wayne Gretzky was traded to Los Angeles Kings in 1988. After, when a Canadian team was in LA, CBC made time for a back to back game. It was in 1994 that back to back games became the staple of Hockey Night in Canada's Saturday. It was no doubt because of the frustration in much of Canada that the Toronto Maple Leafs were locked into Saturday night, every night, despite the lack of a winning record.

Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary all came on broad the NHL from 1979 to 1980, the most any western team could hope for was many one or two games on HNIC. This is where the regional broadcasts by CTV and CKND became very important. Many fans of the Winnipeg Jets came to believe there was a curse playing on Hockey Night in Canada and still do. We often performed poorly.

Prior to 1979 though, it was possible to be a fan of the WHA Jets as well a team in the NHL. And there were plenty of those. My dad was originally from Montreal so the Canadiens were a favourite and the fact they were a very winning team meant I liked them a lot. The first NHL game for the Jets versus Canadiens, everyone wore tuxedos and ball gowns. It felt like a royal affair.

To get NHL hockey for the 2027-2027 season, Canadians will have to have pay for a cable or streaming subscription. CBC was free for everyone. It is hard to get regular season viewer numbers but Hockey Night in Canada likely got a base of 500,000 people for the first game of the night and rose higher according to who was playing the Leafs. In the playoffs, Canadian matches could bring in 5 million viewers in Canada alone if a Canadian team was playing.

This was the best year for NHL ratings for playoffs in many years. Live television is still something that can attract eyeballs but the new Rogers contract is more than double the last contract. A licence agreement on CBC is not enough money and certainly more than CBC was willing to pay when it doesn't get any ad revenue from broadcasting it. The grand bargain was that CBC was able to provide studio and labour resources. Rogers took that all in house three years ago. So, coming this fall, there will be no Saturday NHL that is free to watch for Canadians.

The CBC has been instrumental in creating the dynamic of how the NHL, CFL and curling are broadcast. Eventually, these sports became so successful, they longer needed the public broadcasters support. The private networks now want these jewels and it will be to Canadians to see if they want to pay for them. With many people cutting cable, the hunt for sports could take people to many streaming sites. In the end, it might be as expensive as cable was.

Rogers will be going into details about the new name and look and where to find their NHL games. Toronto fans might end up paying the most since they have the most games broadcast. There may be a re-evaluation on hosts, panels and even how the broadcast is filmed. At this point, all we know is it will look different. And if a new streamer is added for the mid-week game, what will that look like? Another subscription? A new broadcast team?

As for CBC, the new program will feature sports on Saturday. The Hockey Night in Canada name will pop up from time to time. More than likely for women's hockey although we might see university hockey for men and women now as well. To be blunt, compared to the U.S., Britain and Australia, we are pathetic for sports coverage. There is superior high school and college sports coverage in much smaller North Dakota. Some of our national newspapers barely cover sports. We are luckier than most in Winnipeg that we have reporters who cover sports for both our newspapers but it has been a long time since The Sun has sent reporters on the road to travel with teams. The Free Press is one of the last newspapers to do that. CJOB does exceptional sports coverage but it is for programs they could rights for.

Our national news media barely covers it. Nada is in the National Post. The Globe has a tiny sports section. The media companies have gutted their local sports departments in radio and TV. Most newspapers barely report on amateur sports even in their own areas. The CBC could have plenty of material in sports they could build an audience in at a fraction of the cost. It has been many a year since ABC and CTV's Wide World of Sports but it does show that one network can cover a range of amateur and professional sports. No one else in Canada is covering these areas and CBC has a proven track record of building an audience for Canadian sports.

I remember watching Jim McKay on Wide World of Sports and so many sports were introduced to me from watching that show. In Canada, Rod Black eventually hosted the CTV version. One of the reasons these sports shows ended is because of the rise of the four professional sports leagues taking up more and more of the schedule. Expansion teams like the Blue Jays in 1977 and the Jets and Nordiques in 1979 and Calgary shortly after in 1980 expanded coverage of those sports. CTV gave up on the Wide World of Sports in the mid 1970s but had other sports they began to cover.

CBC has one other asset that can enhance their newly focused Saturday Night and that is their streaming service Gem. Sports on the network can be mirrored on CBC.ca as well as Gem. In fact, Gem has been seriously underutilized since it was founded in 2018. It seems only now they are realizing they can actually bring older CBC material there that is still popular as well as commission to kids and documentary material. This applies to news and sports. There is no reason that Gem can't be the Tubi or DAZN of the north. It is time the CBC took sports seriously as part of its national mission.

Canada About to Increase Fighter Purchase to Two Different Fighters

Be careful when military sources say that certain military purchases are not what some in military want. There is a strong chance that they are paid lobbyists or hope to be be paid lobbyists of chosen companies. To that end, military people will make specifications exactly matching Boeing, General Dynamics and a host of U.S. supplier. They will encourage complete integration and training with U.S. to the point that policies match. In other words, self serving in that they get a commission for setting the table for billions in military bids.

Not all military are like that. But fair to be concerned that when billions will be added to military budgets, you will find yourself buying $250 hammers. Ronald Reagan's people found that out when they plowed money into new equipment. It is discouraging and causes people to lose faith. In 2003, there will military advisers saying Canada should go to war despite our own intelligence questioning weapons of mass destruction. 

Stephen Harper took out a full page ad in the U.S. saying Canada should be fighting. Funny, how Poilievre today doesn't talk about this finest moment of his party. We really do need to do our own due diligence. Britain has still not full recovered from this breech of trust for their involvement in Iraq. They have literally eaten up prime ministers and invited chaos in the years since.

Over 50 countries operate more than one category of fighter jet aircraft. If you listen to critics in Canada, the consensus is that Canada should buy more F-35s if the budget is there for it. Remember again these same people are often paid lobbyists. The truth is that the F-35 is the most expensive option on the table. If Canada wants another option for NATO and other work, the Gripen from Sweden offers both a cheaper option as well as an industrial program for Canada.

The sole-sourced aircraft that Canada recently purchased (Poseidon) was uncompetitive. The military assured that no other choice, timetable or price was better. They said this is the one we wanted. No other choice will do. We are the experts. Trust us. But how can when the system is so gamed and when so many former military lobbyists get handsomely paid? This happens so routinely in every country that you come to realize what Eisenhower meant when he talked about the military-industrial complex. He didn't trust their motivations and desire for money.

On the other side of the equation is politics and economics. Some politicians are okay with military contracts so long as they help their communities. They don't care about the cost to taxpayer or if the equipment is on time or even the right equipment. Just as long as money is spent in their area. Safe to say that only a few provinces benefit from the bulk of spending on ship construction.

The reason some countries build their own weapons is because they sometimes find that other countries won't sell them what they want or need. Case in point is Israel and Ukraine. Each of those countries created industries to build them weapons when other countries refused to sell to them. However, some military equipment takes too long to develop and too much to build. Submarines fall in that category. Canada has generally bought submarines from nations that build them. However, the U.S. has vetoed some of our choices if they involved technology the Americans didn't want us to have or threatened their traditional dominance. This is the case of when we tried to buy nuclear submarines in 1987.

The F35 jets make Canada even more dependent on the U.S. and they still are not offering the best version of the aircraft there is. We have been part of the process of building the jet for 30 years and the Harper government attempted to sole-source the purchase with no details. It was widely rejected by the public. Even when it was cancelled in favour of a new bidding process, the military procurement refused to hear from other bidders. Sometimes it was hard to tell who the military and Conservative staffers were. Military were paid to lobby for the F35. The whole thing is a fiasco.

The military basically uses the specifications of the F35 as the basis of their choice. It is an excellent aircraft but sole-sourcing it and then taking money to lobby and as a commission means taking the taxpayer for granted and self enrichment. The relaxed attitude about sovereignty threats from the United States causes some worry. This isn't an idle statement considering the arrests of Canadian military in Quebec recently who looked to overthrow the government. The push to buy 40 or 50 more F35s after the initial 88 has to be questioned.

So here are the facts. The Canadian government has invested a lot of time and money into the F35. However, the aircraft is very dependent on the U.S. for servers, updates and training as well as parts. Any or all could be under threat when not based in Canada. The CF18s had a substantial repair and update contracts in Canada. The F35s require heavy American involvement on a regular basis. The "we are friends" argument feels a lot more hollow when we are fighting all the time to get our goods like aluminum and steel in the market and are called a security threat.

The F35 is like a Ferrari. It is very expensive to operate. Not surprisingly, many Ferrari owners have another car to do things like ship at IKEA. Canada could probably use another aircraft to do that. It isn't the first time we have used other aircraft either. Back in the 50 years ago, we updated our fighters and used older fighters for other tasks until they were retired. If more than 50 other countries do it, why can't Canada? And why is there horror that it is impossible for use to do and that we should go and buy more F35s? Oh, and untendered too.

It now seems highly probable that Canada will likely get most of the F35 order and then put in an additional order for Saab Gripens as part of a NATO industrial strategy. According to the Globe and Mail, the Canadian government is looking to go with two fights with Lockheed-Martin and Saab. How many jets? Well, to put it into perspective, Canada has generally ordered just under 140 fighters at a time delivered over years. The F35s Canada has ordered is 88. To put that in perspective, the UK ordered 60. Australia ordered 72. Japan has an order of 147.

Canada has one of the most significant orders for the F35 in the world. It is one reason the U.S. is angry we have not committed to buying them right away. Keep in mind that the U.S. has treated Australia like crap even after they have taken possession of all 72 aircraft. And you have to wonder if they ever get their nuclear submarines when the U.S. can't even produce enough themselves.

Expanding who Canada buys its military equipment from makes sense given the fact that the U.S. is so unreliable. As much as we can, we should buy in Canada and use Canadian steel and Canadian aluminum. Having American companies complain when we don't use their steel and aluminum is rich. We have a lot of ships and with U.S. steel tariffs, it makes sense we use what we have in Canada.

Most NATO countries predict that by 2029, Russia will be in a position to move against a member country. Most intelligence reports indicate it is the Baltic area that faces the biggest danger. Canada has thousands of military people in Latvia and there have already been Russian incursions into the territory. Unlike the present U.S., Canada seems more committed to NATO than any time in the past decades. At one point prior to the Berlin Wall coming down, Canada had up to four squadrons of fighters based in Germany.

A decision is likely coming soon. It isn't likely before July 1 as the trade deal reaches a new phase at that point. So far any concessions have been met with no quid pro quo. Announcing a purchase of 140 F35s might gain nothing and still have the U.S. demanding more. Why not add to your industrial base and ally with NATO friends. Create an export market for Ukraine to have fighters. Have an aircraft that is not the sports car you have to take out for the regular work. The United States under normal circumstances shouldn't care what NATO aircraft that Canada buys. At some point Canada will make a decision. It seems weird that the purchase might be linked to the Gordie Howe Bridge but we exist in strange times.

Canada Day Celebration Princess Auto Stadium 2026

The Forks and Assiniboine Park don't do them anymore. Fireworks, that is. When evening comes on July 1st, most parks that we helped to build and pay for tell us, the citizenry, don't let the door hit you on the way out. We are told fireworks are bad. In the past few years celebrations have been somber. Lots of be ashamed about over 150 plus years. In Winnipeg, in particular, it has just turned into a shopping day. Not much free, not much to do, everything costing something.

But we are Canadian. We want to celebrate as Canadians. Trying to find our joy even when it isn't easy. This is why over the last few years, the Blue Bomber stadium has been a consistent place to get free Canada Day entertainment all day as well as fireworks at night. And the best part is that it is free. Unlike The Forks which stops programming at 5 PM, Bomber stadium is doing events right up to 10:30 PM. And yes, there are fireworks.

A mix of pop and country music will be on the mainstage and lots of activities for kids in the the tailgate area should keep people entertained. Parking is free where available at the University of Manitoba. There will be no park and ride for the event but there will be more city buses assigned for the event.

I'm not sure why The Forks and Assiniboine Park ends programming while the sun shines but they do. Hats off to the events they do plan but sending people off so early seems a missed opportunity. Part of it is the movement against fireworks. I know many want them banned but the government knows they would have to compensate businesses who operate in the province so they don't. However, many large public park areas have ended them forever. The days of 30 or 60 thousand people in Winnipeg gathering into the evening are over.

The Bomber stadium is one area in the city you can still have the full day event for the family. Good for Bombers.

Anti-Semitism in Manitoba

A lot of focus has happened with Prime Minister Mark Carney speech on anti-Semitism in Toronto. It is notable that the government felt it necessary, even essential to indicate that the people of Canada need to do everything to combat anti-Semitism. Depending on who you talked to after, it was a very productive speech or it was an utter failure. Those that say Carney anti Semite or heads an anti Semite government and nothing will be better till the right party is in place should be taken with a grain of salt.

The latter opinion comes from the American owned National Post that runs more opinion pieces on anti-Semitism than the Jerusalem Post. That isn't an exaggeration. The newspaper seems to run pieces on the federal government and anti-Semitism every day. The Conservative titled newspaper is outrageously focused on the Liberal party and often ignores provincial and municipal issues, including hate crimes that fall as much on other levels of government than the Feds.

To that end, let's focus on the hate crime report from the Winnipeg Police Service for 2025. One interesting note: This story was published in the Jerusalem Post as well. The report stated that hate crimes have gone up 154% since 2019. In 2025 there were 112 incidents versus 44 incidents there year before. Race and ethnicity accounted for 49 incidents with black people accounting for 13 reports.

In terms of religious hate crime. there were 37 incidents with 32 incidents that were against Jewish people. Some critics say there are so many unreported claims. This may well be true but government and police can only do much when incidents are not reported. All we can do is encourage people to report and to try to ensure their safety. If people fear to report because because they will be killed, the police have to investigate deeper. If swastikas are all over the place, it might be important to figure out if you have a cowed population living in fear.

To be fair, despite Winnipeg's large increase in hate crime since 2019, it doesn't even come close to other provinces in total numbers or per capita. One incident is too many but we are in no way close to other places in the country. Still, we need to dig down at Jewish hate here. There has always been an undercurrent in the far left and far right. For some on the left is not accepting Israel's existence and that Jewish people are to blame wherever they are.  For some on the right, it is that Jewish people are part of world cabal that plans to take over the world and control things.

Zionism is the crux here for many. Most Jewish people who live in Canada are not citizens of Israel, can vote in Israel or are even involved in day to day things that happen in Israel. What the majority of Jewish people do support is the right of Israel to exist. Supporters of Hamas and Hezbollah cheering the murder and rape of Israelis on the streets of Canada is both hatred and terrorism. It should be dealt with.

Israel has a right to exist and those who push a "river to the sea" are preaching death to Jews. Driving Jews into the sea basically shows all that some people care about is killing. And if you are in Winnipeg and gather at Kenaston and Grant just to harass Jewish people at a synagogue with death threats, you are preaching hatred. Trying to appoint collective guilt to Jewish people living in Canada about Israel by protesting outside their places of worship, business and homes is not freedom of speech. 

In 1982, the Israel occupation in Lebanon was the last time we saw such a rise of anti-Semitism in Canada. We are kind of back in that time again. If Canadians wish to protest, which is their right, they can do embassies, consulates, various government offices and the like. The moment you go to someone's home, place of worship or business should be dealt with every time. Harassment online doesn't get a free pass either.

Israel is a democracy. They do change their policies and have exchanged land for peace. The Sinai Peninsula is evidence of that. If a Winnipegger wants to lobby for that, do so. But advocating for death should earn you a time in court. This applies to all hate crimes. Criticizing Israel's government policy on Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon is fair game. Even Trump does that. Spray painting a synagogue is not.

In terms of what Carney can do, there have been legislative changes to help police track and make arrests like those for anti-Semitism. However, even Conservatives are wary of such warrantless searches. I guess it depends on whose ox you gore. Still, the federal government needs to show zero tolerance for hate violence and work to prevent that.

As for those who disagree with Israeli actions, do to the Legislature or City Hall. Push for sanctions or divestment. Go to constituency offices and protest. Those are your rights. Protest at universities. But cross the line with violence, harassment of worship places or business and pay the price. Threaten hate and violence online and prepare for legal consequences. No more free rides for bad behaviour.

For those Winnipeggers who socially engage without nonsense, good on you. Report stuff when you see it. Let's not have this end up with terrorism and gunfire. We're better than that. 

New Apartment Faces Opposition on Des Meurons

Des Meurons has always been a mix of everything. It has a fair amount of through traffic with industrial, residential and commercial literally next to one another. There has also been a fair amount of new house building that has gone up as close to the Seine River as possible. Some streets are like Wildwood Park with alleys and houses facing each other in park-like environments. There is a lot of green space in the area.

Residents of the area have lived next to mixed industrial and commercial space for decades. Such spaces pre-date many of the homes in the area and complaints about moving them probably would fall on deaf ears. The owners of 470 Des Meurons though decided their business would do well to move to one of the newer industrial parks as is their right to do so. The neighbourhood was excited to see the for sale sign go up at Overhead Doors. It isn't entirely clear what they might have expected.

Once the land was sold, developers with a record for lowrise apartments, began the consulting phase for a six floor apartment. The well heeled streets nearby became upset at the height and encroachment as well as too few parking spaces. The zoning department has indicated the neighbourhood has a point on some these issues but there seems to be a concerted effort to tank the project and claim it is because it is an indigenous heritage site. 

 There once stood a residential school on the site 120 years ago but it had long since burned down and no one was every buried there. No historic claim was raised while it was industrial land and one shouldn't be imposed now. Nor should any new owner be forced to give up the land. A plaque is acceptable but taking advantage of a claim to cancel an apartment is gross.

Freedhome, the builder, is already building an apartment of similar size on Provencher that will be owned by First Nations. That place also had resistance. Everyone always says such projects are good except when on their own street. Then it it doesn't fit the character. There is nothing wrong in trying to get the best design but the hope for a park or one floor housing is an attempt to cripple anything at all. The neighbourhood should consider themselves lucky another industry didn't decide to continue on the site.

The irony is that some in the neighbourhood might seek multi-unit places at different stages in their life and have to move far away. Ask people in River Heights about that. Just a block over is a building that comes right to the street and stands just as tall. It is an older building but it shows it can co-exist with the rest of the neighbourhood and it does fit.

The whole thing goes before Council next week and the feeling is that a decision will get kicked past the fall civic election. The slow walking of approving something can last 10 or 15 years in many cases. Much of the housing being built this year has been going through zoning and revisions for give years or more. A lot of development has simply been abandoned over the years. 

Everyone agrees we need new housing. Too many people think it should be located away from them. The city should give a sympathetic hearing to concerns but a memorial park for a school 120 years in the past is not in the cards. A park in general is not in the cards. Refusing any commercial, residential or industrial use is not in the cards. The city must not give in and only allow about 6 or 7 monster houses with room for parking several cars. We already see that in the neighbourhood.

I think at this point the city should be able to address some of the issues of the zoning department. The one thing they shouldn't do is kick the decision to the next council and leave the property vacant only to be burned down in an arson.

TSN Signs Biggest Deal Ever for Broadcasting 2026

The new Commissioner of the CFL Stewart Johnston is a former TSN executive and it stands to reason the teams across the league were looking for a good TV deal to give them. The league got the highest price and the most game ever across TV, cable and streaming. The estimated amount of money paid out is $500 million over six years. The previous six years was $50 million season.

Bell Media does the most in broadcasts through TSN, CTV and Crave. They will carry 60 of 81 games on Thursday Night Football  and Friday Night Football games starting on next year. DAZN becomes the new streaming partner and will start a new Saturday Night Football program for CFL that has its own broadcast crew, play by play, colour and sideline staff. All CFL broadcasts will be available on DAZN internationally for free.

DAZN is a paid service premium versus watching on basic cable. All sports watching has a fee attached, it will just be curious what one game a week on DAZN ends up costing. Their basic service now is $29.00 Canadian a month. That might be steep for a month where your team only places once or twice on the channel.

As for YouTube, they will be covering pre-season games. Not clear on if they have their own broadcast team for that. They will also cover the CFL Combine which is exciting because it really is a fan experience when done right. There will also be a lot of CFL material on YouTube such as highlights and other features. An All Access behind the scenes show is planned.

To be sure there is a need for more clarity on exactly the costs and the coverage for this extended CFL coverage. It is doubtful Americans would pay that type of money for one NFL game a week for a subscription so why would DAZN think Canadians would? Hope the company clarifies this as there are sure to be questions. Two play-off games are to be on DAZN. Do you need a year subscription to get those?

Make no mistake this is a very good news story for the CFL. They money stabilizes the league finances for years to come. There may be more TV deals coming. The U.S. rights are currently held by CBS Sports for $1 million a year. It stands to reason there may be more coming, especially if there are more teams and more product. Could we see a CBS renewal and more term and money? Or are their other sports networks out there that might want the CFL?

There are a lot of rule changes this year so we'll see if the product on the field makes for exciting football. It is still unique compared to the NFL. That has always been a strength. Too much like the NFL though and there question might be: why a CFL at all? 

Should Stony Mountain Penitentiary Be Replaced?

Following the closure of Kingston, Ontario's federal pen, Stony Mountain has become Canada's oldest and continuously operating federal penitentiary. Soon, with the closure of Newfoundland's provincial pen, it will become the oldest penitentiary in Canada period. Built in 1877, it replaced Lower Fort Garry for federal inmates.

In 2014, an expansion added 96 inmates for a maximum security wing. There are also medium and minimum security wings of 481 and 217 respectively. Adjacent to Stony Mountain is Rockwood Institution built in 1962 which houses as additional 167 inmates. It last had a renovation in 2010 which added 50 inmates. It should be noted these improvements were done during the Harper government. 

Stony is, without doubt, one of the most dangerous prisons in Canada. It has become all too common to have one or two people die inside the walls. Presently, the only real prison construction that is taking place in Canada is at massive provincial level in Ontario to the tune of billions. In Manitoba, the provincial jail system had seen closures but now Dauphin is getting a $142 million correctional facility to replace one that has closed. 

Prisons get old. And they get dangerous. Manitoba's provincial jail in Headingly had a riot that caused so much damage in the 1990s that it took millions to fix. Inmates were kept all over the province until it was done. Now, in 2026, it is one of the older provincial facilities in Canada. At some point, the cost of electrical, water, crumbling concrete would seem to trigger a new build but it hard to get the public excited about prison construction. That is, until you try to close a facility like they did in Dauphin. And then you hear about not facilitating corrections, the loss of jobs and general lack of preparedness for repeat offender who are not fit for the community because they see no consequences for their acts.

The various investigations of deaths at Stony Mountain and the execrable process of time, will continue to put pressure on the corrections facility infrastructure. It is reported violent crime is down the last two years running in Winnipeg but it is higher in rural areas. This could be attributed to more people being arrested for violent crimes and repeat offences being convicted. Or more police prevention. Possibly more work on crime prevention? The list is long on what could account for it.

A replacement of Stony Mountain Institution has to be as much about corrections versus consequences. Turning people into better gang members after 20 years is self defeating. Keeping people in prison for 40 years seems expensive and excessive depending on their crime. Is the present prison even built well enough for security and safety given how many deaths there? There are probably a whole list of things to consider. One thing that should not be considered is not having a prison. There are a number of people in prison who are there for very good reasons. It isn't safe to not incarcerate someone who hunts humans. But prison is not a good place to solve poverty and homelessness.

Regardless of what people think of prison, I think many will agree they don't want a serial killer out on the streets any time soon. Stony Mountain isn't getting any younger. They shouldn't wait till it falls apart like Kingston did.

The Mandalorian and Grogu

George Lucas once said that Star Wars was aimed at 12 year olds when it came out in 1977. That so happened to be my age at the time. Perhaps he meant the 12 year old in all of us. That summer I saw the movie 13 times in various theatres in Winnipeg. I bought the books, has the stickers and bought the soundtrack. But I was also able to laugh at it. In junior high, we were ever parodying it. A classmate had written something where the hero was named Puke Groundjogger.

In the time of no Internet, the Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. was the kickoff to a season of horror, sci-fi and fantasy leaving the serious film worthy of Oscar consideration in November and December. Jaws, a horror, film in 1975 was the first of this May long weekend blockbusters. The following summer it was The Omen. The 1970s had a number of studios who were still experimenting with a number of hotshot young directors like Spielberg and Lucas.

Star Wars didn't invent the sequel. Hollywood had been doing that already for decades. Even serious films like the The Godfather warranted a sequel two years after the first one. It is not surprising that the overwhelming popularity of Star Wars saw sequels produced. The first was a movie for CBS called Holiday Special, a universally derided show. However, the Christmas special in 1978 did introduce one of the most popular characters in the Star Wars universe: Boba Fett. He was the original Mandalorian and was featured as a cartoon segment made by Canada's Nelvana Studios.

The Holiday Special, which I did see, was broadcast only once and has become legendary for how poorly it was received. It was not just dreck and but complete sewage. You can only really see in poor quality uploads. Still, it was from this awful piece of TV trash that a character emerged that formed the base of a race called the Mandalorians.

One of the things I learned very early on as a TV and film viewer was sometimes studios would pander. Someone who was 12 didn't want the writing or characters to insult our intelligence. Holiday Special insulted everyone despite some jewels in it. Boba Fett, begat Mando, the Mandalorian. So that part of the equation was good. And the look, feel and voice of Mandalorians in their armour owes a lot to Nelvana of Canada.

The chaos in the movie studio business of acquisition, firings, strikes and general effort to monetize every aspect of a production often leaves very little effort in original material being made. It is no wonder why some creative people, actors, writers and directors, have moved to streaming series so that longer form stories can be done and where budgets are large. And so, it was an attractive move for Jon Favreau who was pitching a Star Wars series. He was partnered with Dave Filoni who had been carrying the water for the franchise in animation with the Clone Wars on cable. The animated series were by far the more clever and original of the Star Wars material.

Still, animated series still have at their hearts a younger audience even though they attract kids of all ages. Some of the easy humour of droids or Ewoks in animation has to be measured when done as a live action show. There is no substitute for good writing and good characters. Make no mistake, The Mandalorian through three season was good writing and good story. And the producers had a fourth season all lined up when the actors and writers strike took place.

Even now, Hollywood is having to come to terms with the strike and the change around the world of streaming and mega-corporations controlling everything. Disney is a mega-corporation. However, even they are up against a world economy that is in flux. And pushback from unions, inflation, toxic fans and fear of new ideas can make any attempt to create something subject to pressure to conform to certain lobbies. Because of the backlog at Disney, they believed the Mandalorian would make for a good feature film.

This meant the planned villain for the fourth season, Admiral Thrawn, was off the table. No one has said whether a fourth season is off the table forever. Presumably, it successful, Mandalorian and Grogu stays in film. Regardless, this meant a new villain had to be created. For whatever reason, it was decided it should be the Hutts. Since Jabba was dead, it was thought that maybe the Jabba's relatives, the Hutt Twins might make good villains. This was a mistake. At best, they were minor and the quest to find Rotta, Jabba's son in exchange for information seemed like thin soup.

However, first Colonel Ward, played by Sigourney Weaver in an underwritten role, sends Mando on a mission to hunt Imperial Remnants. We are dropped into one of these missions just like a James Bond teaser minus the hit single credits. The terrible bonifides of the bad guy are established as he bullies and kills and then Mando and Grogu come save the day. Various storm troopers and walkers are blown up in set action pieces as we see Grogu and Mando work together. The fact that most reviews don't even mention the beginning shows it literally was about starting with a bang and showing Mando take out Imperials.

The reward for Mando by Colonel Ward was a replacement ship for the lost Razor Crest from the series. One can only imagine the fandom swooning. While there is nothing wrong with the parade of ships, equipment and blasters, the service to the fans can derail storytelling. Much like the push for characters having romantic relationship has proven tricky in Star Wars. Sometimes the fanbase will call you woke, some will disagree with matches and will literally send hate mail to actors who have nothing to do with the writing of the story. It is a bit interesting to see Weaver and Pascal portray characters about parenthood. Weaver with Alien and Pascal with The Mandalorian.

Rotta, voiced by Jeremy Allen White, is not a typical Hutt. He is one forged by the fighting pits and seems to revel as a fan favourite. His cousins, a brother and sister known only as The Twins have featured in both Boba Fett series and The Mandalorian have offered intelligence for the rescue of their nephew whom they have not seen since he was a child. Even Mando expresses doubt but Colonel Ward says they need the information to go after one of her game cards of former Imperials. The comparison to the Iraq War is plain to see. As mentioned, the Hutts seem small potatoes even in the streaming series. And even with CGI, the old puppetry feels more real that what we see on screen.

The story moves swiftly along and the Hutts relay only the flimsiest of clues but it leads to a planet outside the old empire. The strength of the series is always Mando and Grogu but it bubbles along with featured players. In the case of the planet our heroes go to, it is a four armed cook at the street vendor voiced by a nervous Martin Scorsese. Through him we learn of where Rotta is and what he is doing in the fighting pits. It is how Mando finds out about Lord Janu who runs the pits and specifically, Rotta.

The special effects are pretty impressive throughout but the musical score really carries the film in a way we have not seen in some time. I think what could have used some work is some characters floating in and out, sometimes involved in the mission and then other times on the sidelines. One specific character is Garazeb "Zeb" Orellios is in and then out helping Mando and Grogu but he always seems to be on call.

The animated series of Star Wars Rebels has been ripe material for use on The Mandalorian. For Star Wars fans, not all might be familiar with the storylines from the animated series. And for younger fans, they might not know all the Star Wars history and characters. Each story in film still has to have one coherent story.

I think I can't reveal too much more of the storyline without giving everything away. A lot of is riding on this movie for Disney and trying to appeal to as big an audience without peeving those off looking for woke moments to criticize, or lack of X-wing fighter or no romance moments. Tick off every box or don't and the accusations of pandering will come or not paying enough attention to Star Wars main touchstones.

Some movies I have to see again to properly assess just as a restaurant review based on a single visit might not capture everything about what you can get. I liked a lot of the movie to see it again and enjoy it once more. Unlike Star Wars in 1977 which I saw 13 times, I think I might be able to enjoy this a few more times. I don't know that I will be buying all the merchandise as I did back in the 1970s. For Disney, that sales of toys for this movie might outmatch the box office. And for that alone, it will get a sequel.

Two More 7-Elevens Immediately Close in Winnipeg, Four or Five on the Bubble 2026

Two More 7-Elevens have closed immediately and have been emptied out and boarded up. The locations are Notre Dame and Arlington and Keeewatin and Logan. The rumour is all 7-Elevens east of the Red River are next and at least two others could go as well. The security and thefts have gotten so bad that the company felt they had no choice but to close. It pretty much mean everything in the northern part of the city is closed.

The news gets worse. It appears some Dolloramas, Shoppers and other pharmacy and grocery stores are hanging on by their finger nails in those same areas. By the end of 2026, it is possible that every convenience store, grocery, pharmacy and gas station in certain areas could be closed. The issue is spreading from neighbourhood to neighbourhood.

After suggesting there would be an uptick in 7-Elevens for the city, the company is abandoning certain areas because it is a struggle every day. Some councillors are suggesting it is because 7-Eleven prices are too high. They are convenience stores, not Walmart. However, no store no matter the low price, can withstand removal of products from their shelves at this scale and the level of violence that can often happen.

The city and the province have a real problem on their hands. If the burnt out and empty buildings are not making it clear, the lack of banks, grocery stores, convenience stores and other businesses makes it plain to see. And the problem just extends down every major road as those looking places where they can take things with seemingly no consequence.

A lot of sympathy can be given for people who are suffering. That won't stop the problem now. Addiction is so prevalent now that what is in stores is used as currency. As any family who has tried to support a family member with addiction, it can be impossible at times for them to take whatever they can in the house to support that need. If no family can sustain that indefinitely, neither can a business.

Tom Broadbeck at the Free Press says businesses might have to control who comes into stores like the liquor stores do. Already drastic security measures such as rolling door and window covers are in place like Beirut. This doesn't help if your place is set on fire. While the police have caught many arsonists, protection rackets and repeat offenders, it hasn't been enough to stop what may be the worst of summer. The huge drug bust by police might see addicted people act more desperately. Still, the trafficking of Mexican cartel and bikers gangs can't continue to bring worse and worse drugs into Manitoba. It seems shortsighted to let them continue just because addicted people will seek out other stimulants.

It is unclear if a safe injection center or a sobering centre with a 72 hour hold will work or help the way the government thinks it might. Most charities are struggling right now to keep up. Some might criticize that they are religious and they screw it up. Still, they the ones who donate. Some are saying we need a collectivist society where housing, food and transport are all free. That may well be helpful. But will all those things overcome addiction? So many people who have homes with supports still reject them in favour of substances. It is heartbreaking.

This is a crisis at this point. The election is in the fall. Crime will be an issue. The loss of stores, housing, safety will be issues. And yet no prominent left or right of center candidate are stepping forward so far and no councillor will ever give up their seat because they have to resign from council to run. Talk is cheap. We have a lot of people who seem to want to bypass other elected areas straight to mayor. There are some who have sought other offices but turning up every four years just for mayor seems to happen often. Unless your name was the late Nick Ternette who was an urban activist all his life, it seems a vanity project.

The campaign is likely to be about crime. Mayor Gillingham will be on the defensive if an entire area of the city collapses from businesses fleeing. Blaming the businesses is going to not stop them from closing.

Osborne Village 2026

There is always a lamenting for the great old days of an area. Osborne Village has been called Canada's greatest neighbourhoods pre-pandemic. Honestly, the entire area has gone in cycles of ups and downs. I'm sure someone would say the best era was when it was the Osborne Barracks and housing was free...for the soldiers. And it was mostly horses. For some the 1980s and 90s with various clubs and Papa Georgie's open till 4 AM. Plus rents from $400 to $600 a month. If you back into the 1970s, rooming houses were $100 or less.

The days of rooming houses and fraternity houses are over. With many of the houses way over a 100 years old, they simply either had to be upgraded and demolished. Much of the older housing stock has to face this. Even Wellington Crescent houses have to be constantly cared for of they fall apart.

In Osborne there are still two and three story houses. Some are owned by one family but others are now condos inside houses. This was the story of the 1980s as house after house made way for something new. Oddly, density went down in part of the neighbourhood but that is true of many areas like River Heights and Wolseley. Fewer kids under the roof of a mom and dad. Still, in the highrise areas, the density is still high by Canadian standards.

There are good bones in Osborne. Grocery, pharmacy and some restaurants are resilient. Nearly 300 units of housing built since 2020 have helped. Regular police and support foot patrols have been helpful. The city still is coping with massive drug use, encampments and theft. It could get very bad again this summer. It seems no matter how fast supportive housing takes in new people, more are on the street. This might be the year to see if all of Canada can turn things around.

There is also lots of housing all over the city going up. The rule of thumb still applies that the housing built now becomes the affordable housing of 20 years from now. However, there does seem to be a focus on geared to income housing and affordable that is slowly starting to materialize including in the Osborne area. 

We have had an enormous growth in population but did nothing to improve housing starts or twenty years prior to 2020. In fact, we dragged our feet even when the obvious benefits were plain to see. It is still painful to get approvals for a lot of space even when consultations drag out years. And any vacant place now faces arson for even short periods where no one is there. One after the other 7-Elevens are closing all over the city. We need to get a handle on this city-wide problem.

But, as mentioned, Osborne as good bones. It doesn't have to look for things that other neighbourhoods don't to make them walkable. River Heights doesn't have a large grocer that is easily a walk away. The larger density and various commercial space makes for more opportunities in Osborne. The connectivity is both a strength and a weakness. More people are coming through Osborne than live there. It can be traffic chaos. There are frequent suggestions to divert it elsewhere but it is like putting a finger in a dike. The problem materializes elsewhere.

If a neighbourhood becomes too popular, people want to come and will ask: Where do I park or how do I drive there? If neighbourhood becomes too unpopular it can whither on the vine. What is the perfect mix? Somehow, you try to make sure people leave their cars and walk more in a neighbourhood. Osborne lost 24 businesses last year and it is just starting to recover. Each business that fills a gap creates foot traffic. Every empty part of the street is a difficult gap for people to commit to, especially if they are accosted for money or abused simply for being each step.

There is safety in crowds. Perhaps this is the moment where the tide is turning. Still, it will probably feel like sliding backwards from time to time with desperate addictions problems. The big police arrests of Hell's Angels drugs might make for a supply problem on streets where some resort to ever more aggressive moves to make money and more toxic options for getting high. The province is kicking in millions for street patrols downtown. It might have to be extended elsewhere. It might not be enough even at that.

Osborne will only be reclaimed one building at a time, one street at a time. I think video security and sadly, facial recognition, will be used to crackdown on those who abuse people and target stores over and over. If there are no consequences, the bad acts will continue. Osborne Village will probably never have as old and cheap housing as once before. The dream of $400 may only be achievable through geared to income supports and mixed developments. 

 There is sadness about the closure of the Osborne Village Inn and the end of music and meeting halls. Not to mention the loss of a beer vendor. However, the apartment that went up is likely to bring new life to a large space. The first commercial tenants on the first floor could breath life on the street. It could be transformative. Some of the larger spaces owned by previous long term owners have been sub-divided. The days of very large restaurants is over. Likewise, shops don't need as big a space.

We should be seeing if this summer things start to change back to a time when the neighbourhood was getting recognition from across Canada.

David Byrne - Burning Down the House 2026 Goodbye Colbert

U.S. Pulls Out of Canada/Defence Group

The U.S. has suspended activities in a defence board set up by Franklin D. Roosevelt and William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1940 in WWII. Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby blames the Davos speech by Mark Carney as the reason for the move although the speech never mentioned the U.S. or North American defence.

In addition to blaming the speech, it says Canada has not met it's obligations to the U.S. but doesn't specifically say what those area. The 2% GDP of defence spending has been met and moves are being made to take it to 3.5% and beyond. Is he referring to that? Is he referring to the F-35s being re-assessed by Canada? There have 16 bought so far of the 88 and down payments made on the next batch. Canadian pilots begin training on the planes very shortly. Canada has already committed to purchase other aircraft fully from American contractors. However, is it enough for our American blowhard is defence?

He should sit down in front of a reporter and explain his thuggish behaviour and what he truly means. It could be all about trade which is not really in the remit of an underlying in Pete Hegseth's department. It is just more vague gangster bullying until they pout up what they actually want. For all we know this is the response to Canada not graciously taking the U.S. up on 51st state.

The Canadian government has long learned not to overreact. It commented but the fact that has largely been ignored by U.S. and world media is noteworthy. Carney rightfully pointed out that there are other areas of cooperation in defence. Unless this Colby is hinting the U.S. is about to pull out of NORAD because of the relationship, he is probably just trying to be a thug.

The National Post as it is wont to do says this is all Carney's fault and says if he would just sign a trade deal and commit to buying all 88 F-35s. Seriously. The conservative media and Poilievre seem to think that only if they were in charge, the chaos would end. Ask the countries that have signed deals how they feel. Nothing but instability. The endless tributes of money and flattery earn nothing except more requests for same.

Given the lack of publicity in the U.S., let's assume this gangland threat wasn't exactly approved by the capo. However, it is broader policy of transactional bullying where the States gets what they want and we are allowed to buy their products instead of making our own. No one in Canada should be hoping for a quick fix or deal to get back to normal. Colby was part of a group that wrote the policy of how to be a brute.

Should Victoria Day End?

Should Victoria Day end?

Well, not as a holiday but Victoria Day? That is to say, change the name and expand what it celebrates. Keep the first Monday of the third as a statutory day between May 18 and May 24 but why should be Queen Victoria be honoured in perpetuity? 

I don'ts think she should have been pushed down and had her head cut off on the north lawn of the Legislature. You go down that route and maybe you are climbing up the walls to cut the head off the Golden Boy to make a point.

Queen Victoria is a historically important figure in Canada becoming a nation. However, even in Manitoba, she was long gone by the time the Legislature went up. Manitoba is slow to change though. Our flag still has the Union Jack on it and is barely recognizable compared to Ontario's. 

I suppose no one moves slower than Ontario. They finally allowed shopping on Victoria Day. One tradition they have still is fireworks. In Manitoba, or at least Winnipeg, zero fireworks at all. For anything.

While people appreciate the holiday, there is no significant meaning of Victoria Day for today's Canadian. None. It is frequently just another shopping day.

The day needs to be re-claimed and that probably means expanding the honours given to those important in the last and in the present. 

It is worth noting that the U.S. has Memorial Day on the following weekend. It has evolved over the years too from Decoration Day for the Civil War to Memorial Day for all veterans. The traditional kick off to summer in U.S.

Canada's Remembrance is not a national statutory day off all over Canada. It is a holiday in Manitoba but in say, Ontario. The U.S. has Veterans Day on the same day. Ceremonies take place on November 11 in Canada and the U.S. but in most of the Canada, it is a regular day except at 11 AM.

It may be time to consider a national Memorial Day that is a statutory day. There are no more WWI veterans and if a few more years there will not be any WWII veterans. However, we should maybe have a debate what Victoria Day might change to.

Just honours for veterans? How about first responders too. Police, fire, paramedics, fire fighters? One thing is certain: Victoria Day means less and less. Canadian holidays are evolving. Or they should. Even New Year's Day is barely celebrated. 

At least Canada Day keeps evolving. Except in Manitoba where nothing happens on the Eve anymore and the day is a snoozefest.

Uniqlo Opens in Polo Park

When I lived in Japan, Uniqlo was just a few years open and only really known by Japanese or foreigners who lived in the country. While a lot of people were focused on international stores opening in the country such as Virgin Records, not as much attention was paid to a number stores opening in Japan that would take the world by storm. In 1984, the first store in Hiroshima was called Unique Clothing Warehouse. By 1988, because of an error in registration for brand name in Hong Kong, someone slipped a Q in and by 1989 Uniqlo was the official name. This is when I arrived in Japan.

People said the company was fast fashion but the reputation even then was for durable and enjoyable clothing. Affordable, which Japanese had not seen much of, during a steady luxury brands and stores entering the market. Living there as long as I did, I appreciated goods that fit and were not insanely priced. As Japan's economy went through a prolonged stagnation in the 1990s, Uniqlo grew in popularity as a staple of men and women's closets.

The first store in Canada was Eaton Centre in Toronto in 2016. Last years there was a flurry of stores in places in places like Vancouver and Calgary. Now Polo Park and later this year, St. Vital Centre get their Uniqlos.

How important is Uniqlo to the malls of Winnipeg? Very important. Generation Z is very much into a return to the mall. Unlike some Millennials who only order online, only text and don't like social settings, Generation Z is into experiences and socializing. It has been this generation that lined up for the store opening and showed a general enthusiasm for the event. Other generations also went but Uniqlo and Zara are among a few stores that have helped malls in Winnipeg find their mojo.

We are not nearly as over-malled as the U.S. nor have some of the long contracts that crippled some malls such as Mall of America. Sears, which has been closed for a very long time, has a 99 year lease at the mall so the space remains unoccupied. Columbia Mall is nearly abandoned in Grand Forks, North Dakota. At one time, the mall in Grand Forks led the way of what people in Winnipeg hoped to see in their malls. Overall, most cities seems to be absorbing the lost space left by retailers like Sears and The Bay.

Uniqlo had some of the best marketing we have seen in some time. They hired local as many times as they could in entertainment and food and product. The brought in influencers, They bought ads, And they invited media. It was a masterclass of how to make a grand entrance. And their target audience came even though it was a school day. I don't think this is the last retailer we see that draws a crowd but it might be harder to find leasable space since Polo Park and St. Vital seem to have a plan to attract stores people want.

How Bad A Summer Will It Be?

More and more businesses are saying problems along Portage and into Wolseley are exploding. Rampant drug use, aggressive behaviour and fires set are out of control. The Free Press interviewed people about the new security rebate from the province and emerged with a scary story of how fast things are deteriorating. 

How bad is it? It is so bad that the block around north Portage by Sherbrook narrowly avoided being burned down. There are a number of businesses there begging for help from the government. They are not reactionary types with a hate for low income people. They are desperate not not be hurt through violence. They don't want their customers to be driven away. And they don't want to clean up people using their doorways as washrooms, sleeping stalls or spots to launch attacks.

These are not corporate tycoons. They are small businesses and ordinary people. Some have opened convenience stores and no one should feel they might subject to assault, fire or outright neglect. Blaming the people who are trying to make sure the area is not without bakeries, restaurants and stores is so unfair.

There are so many NDP MLAs and cabinet ministers in Winnipeg. Double the amount of councillors. They seem to be content fighting in the Legislature. Wab Kinew and Obby Khan just call each other names in Question Period. The NDP government is saying they are doing something but one building after another burns down. The NDP MLAs are invisible.

This is an election year in Winnipeg. They councillors and mayor could be vulnerable to defeat but the voter turnout is very low. No sitting mayor has been defeated since the 1950s. Very rarely does a sitting councillor get defeated. Unless a new system like ballot selection is chosen, there may be no fix for the same people in office. Ditto the MLAs who are just not visible.

This is not to say that some areas of improvement are helpful. The downtown safety patrols that are in part funded by True North are being trusted enough to get people on the path to some care routine. The spike in HIV and other diseases is an indication of some of the accelerated breakdown in health, especially in preventable diseases. Drug addiction, mental health are running rampant. Hepatitis A is running out of control. This suggests a complete failure in care. People are only being revived by paramedics just to suffer treatable diseases the rest of their lives.

It is clear that some on the streets have no impulse control and even placing them in homes is not enough support for the toxicity of the drugs. In fact, seniors who have had drug addiction folks placed in their buildings are saying they are under siege. Where are the wraparound supports? What we've been hearing is support staff won't go in buildings because it is too dangerous. This is outrageous. 

Every citizen will have the misfortune to use a hospital for their own use or family and friends in the next years and one by one, they are all being listed as unsafe by the very nurses who have to work there. This is considered acceptable? The amount of assaults on staff inside and outside hospitals is at critical levels.

Gordon Bell High School is in the middle of meth and fentanyl overdoses in the middle of the day as student walk through discarded needles. Security guards specializing in hard reduction are planned for next school term but the problem grows every day until then.

The fire department is reporting ever rising cases of places being brought down by arson. The city can barely keep up with vacant buildings and demolished buildings. A building that is closes could face arson only days after being boarded up. Fire services can be out multiple times a night. Paramedics are out at even great rates.

As far as Transit goes, the new route system sometimes leaves people feeling vulnerable during transfers. Many shelters might be filled with needles and occupied permanently. Inside the buses, the drivers want to shut off from the passengers. This may help the drivers while the passengers don't have any protections. 

An interesting story about San Francisco Democratic mayor Daniel Lurie appeared in the the Washington Post in the past days. He has done been cited even by Donald Trump about his crime fighting in the city. Using both public and private partnerships, he has made progress in the city that went through a terrible downtown following Covid and crime that seemed to have little regard for enforcement. Using technology and backfilling shortages of police has helped as well as various strategies to help people from falling into harmful behaviour.

So the question remains, how bad could it get for Winnipeg and Manitoba? While we may not have police shortages in Winnipeg, the RCMP is short very many officers. This does not help in terms of drug and human trafficking or episodes of school violence where response time is terrible. It seems unbelievable we have rising unemployment with a shortage of thousands of RCMP. Why are these positions unfilled?

Things have been moving so quickly that something terrible is going to happen and then it will be all reactive. It is hard to say what that might be. Homicide, arson, encampments along Portage Avenue, major city parks, multiple deaths from Hep A, overdoses and deaths? I don't know but things are moving painfully slow and the government and opposition seem only interested in calling each other names in the Legislature. City Hall seems overwhelmed and more focused on road construction and trying to get the Feds to pay for their sewer.

The election is in November and the situation with crime and drugs isn't going to go away. If it is a horrific summer, it will surely goad various governments to act. Finger pointing won't cut it although we are likely to see a lot of it. Winnipeg will need to surge all out. Simply swapping out needles and testing drugs won't cut it if violence and property crime escalate beyond the pale. If even the support workers fear going to work, you have already lost the battle.

Summer is when a lot of politicians in Manitoba like to take time off but it is unlikely that they will be able to escape scrutiny. Last years the province was on fire and there was no break. This year the drug and crime issue will do the same. There will be no hiding from it.