Security Spending Soars in Winnipeg as City Responds to Violence and Safety Concerns
May 5, 2025 | Winnipeg
Over the past decade, the City of Winnipeg has seen a dramatic rise in security spending — and it’s not just at police stations or fire halls. Libraries, animal services, and other public buildings are increasingly under protection, with city departments reassessing safety in response to threats, vandalism, and even violence.
According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Winnipeg Free Press, security-related costs in the City’s Community Services department rose from $198,260 in 2015 to over $826,000 in 2024 — a fourfold increase. This includes new investments in contracted security guards for places like the Millennium Library and the Animal Services Agency on Logan Avenue.
Why the Increase?
Security measures ramped up after several concerning incidents. In 2022, a fatal stabbing at the downtown Millennium Library led to airport-style bag checks and the presence of contracted guards. In 2024, similar precautions were added at the city’s animal services building following repeated property damage and inappropriate behaviour on-site.
“We’ve seen security costs increase across North America,” Mayor Scott Gillingham noted, citing local and national incidents — including a recent vehicle-ramming tragedy in Vancouver and an alleged terror attack in Edmonton — as examples of why added protection has become necessary.
But it’s not just high-profile events driving change. Everyday experiences, like retail theft, disruptive behaviour, or concerns from frontline workers, are influencing how the city views public safety.
Incomplete Picture, But a Clear Trend
The Free Press reported that total security costs for seven key city departments (excluding police and fire) reached nearly $3 million in 2024, up from just $1 million in 2015. However, the data isn’t uniform or complete. Some departments — such as Public Works and Water and Waste — embed security expenses in other budget lines, making exact tracking difficult.
Even seemingly minor changes — like installing protective glass — might not appear under “security” expenses, since they’re recorded as building upgrades. This fragmented record-keeping makes it hard for residents to know the full picture of public safety costs.
Community Voices
Not everyone is upset by the increased spending.
“I want to be safe in these buildings, and the people who work there have to be safe,” said Winnipegger Michelle Milani, outside a library where no visible security presence was observed. Another library user, Fern Swedlove, expressed hope that the need for such precautions is temporary, adding that strong social services could ease the underlying issues.
But others feel the change more deeply.
Ken Campbell reflected on a different Winnipeg: “When I was a boy growing up in Winnipeg, there wasn’t any [security]. Nobody even thought about it.”
Balancing Openness and Safety
Security expert Andrew Kirsch, a former CSIS intelligence officer, says this trend is playing out across Canada. Municipalities face a tough balance: providing accessible, welcoming spaces while also protecting the public and staff from harm.
Since the pandemic, threats against public officials, civil servants, and even librarians have increased — leading to security reassessments at city halls, libraries, and other civic facilities.
“Anyone responsible for public spaces has a dual duty of care,” Kirsch explains. “And that means constantly reassessing whether their safety measures are still enough for the times we’re living in.”
Takeaway for Winnipeggers:
