Downtown Winnipeg BIZ chair Sachit Mehra announces $258,000 in safety and cleanliness additions to the downtown area on Thursday, October 15, 2015. (DOWNTOWN WINNIPEG BIZ / TWITTER)
The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ is adding more patrols to the streets to make visitors feel safer while attending events in the evening.
Five additional Downtown Watch ambassadors and five Metro Enviro-Team members will be staffed to enhance safety and cleanliness of the city’s core.
The Sports, Hospitality, and Entertainment District (SHED) will be the focus of the BIZ’s efforts, where the majority of people attending events downtown tend to centralize.
The Watch ambassadors will operate from 4 p.m. to midnight, while the Enviro-Team works from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., specifically around event destinations.
“This increase in resources show the commitment from downtown businesses that we are dedicated to providing a safe, clean, and positive experience for those coming downtown,” said Stefano Grande, executive director of the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ.
“This step is in response to the fact that more and more people are coming downtown in the evenings to enjoy the numerous wonderful events we have here. We want to make sure they feel comfortable as they come and go from their event destinations.”
The total cost for the added services is $285,000.
