{"id":5799,"date":"2025-05-09T19:51:30","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T00:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cindygilroy.ca\/?p=5799"},"modified":"2025-05-09T19:51:32","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T00:51:32","slug":"security-spending-soars-in-winnipeg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cindygilroy.ca\/index.php\/2025\/05\/09\/security-spending-soars-in-winnipeg\/","title":{"rendered":"Security Spending Soars in Winnipeg"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Security Spending Soars in Winnipeg as City Responds to Violence and Safety Concerns<\/strong>
May 5, 2025 | Winnipeg<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past decade, the City of Winnipeg has seen a dramatic rise in security spending \u2014 and it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request by the Winnipeg Free Press<\/em>, security-related costs in the City\u2019s Community Services department rose from $198,260 in 2015 to over $826,000 in 2024 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why the Increase?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s animal services building following repeated property damage and inappropriate behaviour on-site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen security costs increase across North America,\u201d Mayor Scott Gillingham noted, citing local and national incidents \u2014 including a recent vehicle-ramming tragedy in Vancouver and an alleged terror attack in Edmonton \u2014 as examples of why added protection has become necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Incomplete Picture, But a Clear Trend<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Free Press<\/em> 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 \u2014 such as Public Works and Water and Waste \u2014 embed security expenses in other budget lines, making exact tracking difficult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even seemingly minor changes \u2014 like installing protective glass \u2014 might not appear under “security” expenses, since they\u2019re recorded as building upgrades. This fragmented record-keeping makes it hard for residents to know the full picture of public safety costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Community Voices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not everyone is upset by the increased spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to be safe in these buildings, and the people who work there have to be safe,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But others feel the change more deeply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ken Campbell reflected on a different Winnipeg: \u201cWhen I was a boy growing up in Winnipeg, there wasn\u2019t any [security]. Nobody even thought about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Balancing Openness and Safety<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the pandemic, threats against public officials, civil servants, and even librarians have increased \u2014 leading to security reassessments at city halls, libraries, and other civic facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnyone responsible for public spaces has a dual duty of care,\u201d Kirsch explains. \u201cAnd that means constantly reassessing whether their safety measures are still enough for the times we\u2019re living in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Takeaway for Winnipeggers:<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Security Spending Soars in Winnipeg as City Responds to Violence and Safety ConcernsMay 5, 2025 | Winnipeg Over the past … <\/p>\n

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