Motion Brought Forward – July 2025
As your City Councillor, I’ve always believed that our parks, playgrounds, and public spaces should be safe, inclusive, and welcoming especially for children and families. That’s why I brought forward a motion to prohibit encampments specifically in areas meant for family use, such as community gardens, spray pads, playgrounds, pools, and community centres.
However I want to be clear: this motion is not about criminalizing poverty or targeting those who are unhoused. I know that many people experiencing homelessness are also dealing with mental health challenges, trauma, and substance use. And I know we are failing as a society at all levels of government when people are forced to take shelter in public spaces because there are no better options.
What’s happening in our parks is not fair to families, to children, and especially not to those who have no place else to go. No one should be living in a park. People need homes, treatment, and support and not just enforcement.
We’ve heard from families, daycares, and frontline workers about unsafe materials like discarded needles and fentanyl packaging found in places where children play or learn. We have a duty to act when public safety is at risk. But we also have a moral obligation to ensure that any action we take upholds the dignity and humanity of people experiencing homelessness.
This motion calls for these family oriented spaces to be protected, while also respecting the federal government’s direction that encampments cannot be removed unless adequate housing is available. It also directs the city to work closely with outreach teams and community organizations to offer support, not punishment.
Homelessness is not just about housing it’s rooted in deep systemic issues, including mental health and addiction. These are provincial and federal responsibilities, and Winnipeg cannot solve them alone. But while we wait for stronger action, we must do what we can to keep our shared spaces safe and continue advocating for the supports people desperately need.
— Cindy Gilroy
City Councillor, Daniel McIntyre Ward
