A transition in power was made on Friday between the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ Outreach Program and Winnipeg Police Service.
Outreach efforts will now be handled by Winnipeg police cadets in helping keep the downtown area safe. The BIZ program has helped more than 12,000 indigent individuals off the street since it began in 2006. They have been connected with social service providers and supplied with socks, mittens, blankets, water and food.
“The Outreach has played a key role in creating a safer downtown for everyone, providing a core service to vulnerable individuals and freeing up emergency services so they can focus on more serious issues,” said Downtown BIZ executive director Stefano Grande.
— Staff