Here is your weekly news round up from U Multicultural.

New Study to Look into Relocating Winnipeg’s Rail Lines

Lloyd Axworthy has been selected as the study lead to determine the feasibility of relocating Winnipeg’s rail lines. In the 2024 Provincial budget, a $200,000 investment was included for this initiative. Premier Wab Kinew noted that experts and community leaders have long requested this study and will examine the possibility of relocating rail lines and yards from Winnipeg, including the Canada Pacific Railway Ltd. yards and other associated rail lines.

The premier also stated. “Manitoba’s rail lines are an essential part of what makes our province a central economic hub, and it’s important we explore the best options for its location.”

Interim reports will be included before recommendations are released in the final report, which is expected to be completed in two years.

Prairie Green Landfill Entrees Third Stage

Premier Wab Kinew announced that the Manitoba government has entered the third stage of the search at the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran. He emphasized that this effort reflects the government’s commitment to compassion and dignity, stating, “I want to say to the families you have been put through something that nobody rightfully should have ever had to experience, first in the way that your loved ones were taken from you but also in all of the advocacy. Nobody ever should have had to be on the side of a road just asking for basic dignity. I hope that as you look around, you look at the many Manitobans who stepped up to deliver this work. Now, you look at the tremendous amount of infrastructure that’s been constructed and all of the human resources that are being assembled. I hope that you understand that this province cares about you and that you understand that the people of Manitoba are good people and want your loved ones to have the dignity that they deserve.”

Following a pilot test completed in June 2024 to improve search techniques and assess potential challenges, the province has established a five-stage approach. The upcoming fourth stage, set to begin in late fall 2024, will focus on excavating and searching the area believed to contain the remains of the two women.

Halloween Safety With The Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre

From October 24 – 31, the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre, and the City of Winnipeg teamed up to host “Halloweek,” a week-long celebration in Winnipeg’s North End.

This longstanding tradition in Winnipeg’s North End was formerly hosted by the Indigenous Friendship Centre and was offered to address safety concerns within the Lord Selkirk Developments. With Ma Mawi taking the reigns, the event looked to build community while addressing these safety concerns.

Crystal Leach, Ma Mawi Wi’s youth coordinator, said for young people to stay in their community, trick-or-treat safely, or attend events is a huge deal for them. For older youth, there are many opportunities to become a greater part of the community.

“So, if we have youth in the community who aren’t necessarily interested in trick-or-treating, they can still get involved by volunteering, building life skills, and helping other young people. We also have older youth participating in different volunteer roles, whether it’s helping out at haunted houses, handing out candy, or supporting various events. It’s amazing to see the whole community come together to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone to celebrate Halloween while strengthening our sense of community.”

Anti-Islamophobia Working Group Established in Manitoba

In recent years, Canada has seen a troubling rise in hate-related crimes, with Canadian Muslims increasingly reporting incidents of anti-Muslim, anti-Palestinian, and anti-Arab backlash. Amira Elghawaby, Canada’s Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia, has highlighted how this backlash has affected the Muslim community, leading to lost income, harassment, threats to employment, and even violence. A study by the Angus Reid Institute also found that 39 per cent of Canadians outside Quebec and 52 per cent in Quebec hold unfavourable views of Islam, which can translate into exclusion and hostility toward Muslim Canadians.

In response to these concerns, the Manitoba government is forming a new working group to address Islamophobia within the province’s K-12 education system. Premier Wab Kinew emphasized Manitoba’s commitment to combating hate, stating, “Hate has no place in our province.” The working group, composed of representatives from various sectors—including faith leaders, educators, and community advocates—aims to increase awareness of Islamophobia’s impact on students and staff, offer training and resources for educators, and support anti-racism policy development. This initiative will also build on resources like the Manitoba Islamic Association’s Embracing Diversity in Manitoba Education K-12 Toolkit, which is working to create a more inclusive and safe environment in schools across the province.

Organic Waste Drop-Off Locations Now Available Across Winnipeg

Wanting to become more eco-conscious and reduce organic and food waste became a little bit easier for Manitobans, with 15 organic waste drop-off locations available across Winnipeg.

The initiative between the city of Winnipeg and Compost Winnipeg is an interim initiative before curbside pickup as the city begins the development of infrastructure and a facility that can process the nearly 38,000 tons of organic waste each year. The goal is to keep food waste out of landfills to reduce the impacts of climate change. Every metric tonne of food waste kept out of a landfill equals approximately two tonnes of CO2 kept out of the atmosphere.

Karrie Blackburn, sales and customer service lead with Compost Winnipeg, encourages residents to give composting a shot, as you never know the impact it can have.

“What you’ll notice is your garbage is considerably less. Your garbage doesn’t smell. You’ll have this immediate realization that it’s not as hard as it might seem, and you’ll actually feel really good about it because you’ll realize how little you send to the landfill with this teeny, tiny daily habit change.”

For more information, visit Compost Winnipeg’s website, which has all the information you need for composting. The City of Winnipeg’s website also lists the composting locations and a complete list of compostable items.

– Ryan Funk, U Multicultural