Transit, rising poverty and safety concerns — residents call for more engagement from candidates in booming south Winnipeg ward
Words and Photos by Sam Creary
A little less than a decade after its creation through a City hall ward boundary overhaul, Waverley West has become Winnipeg’s largest and fastest-growing ward.
A mix of established neighbourhoods like Whyte Ridge, Waverley Heights and Richmond West, with newer, affluent communities like Bridgwater and Bison Run, Waverley West now has a population of more than 70,000, making it larger than Brandon.
And it’s youthful — more than 40 per cent of the population is under the age of 30 and the ward is also one of the city’s most diverse. Around 38.6 per cent of Waverley West residents measured in the most recent 2021 Census were born somewhere other than Canada.
Police data shows property offences make up much of the reported crime in Waverley West, with Richmond West and Fairfield Park recording the highest numbers. Across all the neighbourhoods in the ward, there were roughly 1,700 reported incidents.
Waverley West has been represented at city hall by Janice Lukes since 2018. She was re-elected in the 2022 election with 80 per cent of the vote. She is not seeking re-election in 2026.
Sara Nasr, 43, clinical counsellor
How long lived in ward: Six years
What’s life like in the ward?
All in all, it’s been really good. The things I love most about Bridgwater are the trails. There are tons of walking spaces. I love Bridgwater Centre, the facilities. Everything I could want or need is right there… It’s safe, clean and a really good place to have a family. I love it.
What are some local needs that you notice?
The transit is a problem. I wish there were more buses and stops in most places. We need additional routes so that you have options to go to several stops without having to transfer from one bus to the other. My girls are growing up now and going to school and I really want them to use the transit more, but it’s really hard.
What’s your take on the Oct. 28 election?
This is my first election that I get to vote. So, I need to learn about all the positions and the city councillors. The system is very different from the system back in Egypt, so I need to know the vocabulary, the names … I wish there was more handy information for us with the election. So, maybe if we could get an educated flyer, or just an explanation. Maybe we need that, the more accessible information.
Melanie Bueckert, 45, lawyer
How long lived in ward: entire life
What’s life like in the ward?
I’ve basically lived in the ward my entire life. We are pretty established here. The infrastructure challenges that I think folks experience in the newer developments of Waverley West, we’re not necessarily having. We have pools and libraries and lots of great services in the neighbourhood. I love it.
What are some local needs that you notice?
I think we’re seeing more of it now [poverty and homelessness] than we ever had prior to the pandemic, in terms of people living in the bus shelter or people asking for money at the intersections. I’m even hearing of people who are taking their kids to high school or university rather than sending them on a transit bus because it might not be safe or someone’s on drugs and behaving erratically.
What’s your take on the Oct. 28 election?
Because Janice Lukes is stepping down, it’s always interesting when you have new folks. Still, I haven’t seen a single mayoral candidate physically campaigning in our area. But I’m looking at voter turnout, too. Voter turnout across the city is really disappointing to me. It’s hard to say you represent the people when 30 per cent come out and vote, and I feel like what happens in the election is probably not representing the true concerns of the ward.
Ayodele Adetona, 59, home care worker
How long lived in ward: Six years
What’s life like in the ward?
It’s peaceful. It’s clean. The neighbours are very friendly. It’s a great place to raise a family. Everything is really close. You can walk to and from all the schools, including the U of M. The trails are amazing. They go all the way to Bridgwater. It’s one of my favourite things.
What are some local needs that you notice?
The back lanes of the neighbourhood are sometimes very dark, especially in winter. It doesn’t feel very safe for people to be out. I just hope there could be some more lighting in the back lanes to make people feel safe. The transit is challenging. They have to step up, especially in the morning for students. People are frustrated. There aren’t enough buses to fit everyone in those early hours. They need the double buses in the morning.
What’s your take on the Oct. 28 election?
Those running in the election need to come around more to get know people. It’s not enough to put flyers in the mailbox. They need to get to know the people of their area if they really want to represent their ward. They need to introduce themselves. I think it would help more people want to vote in the end
Moheb Nasr, 51, pastor
How long lived in ward: Six years
What’s life like in the ward?
Most of the people in the neighbourhood are not Canadian. They are from Asia, from India, from Egypt, the Middle East. So, for people like me, immigrants from another country like me, I think it’s a very safe neighbourhood. Clean. Good facilities. It’s so good in summer. When you come here after 6 p.m. or 7 p.m., you can find hundreds of people taking a walk with their kids biking. We love it.
What are some local needs that you notice?
I don’t think the immigrants and new Canadians are being heard out enough in the area. The city could do more on this. There are many immigrants in the neighbourhood who have opinions on city issues and who want to vote, but I don’t think city hall always hears them out. It would be easy for candidates to come out and hear them out.
What’s your take on the Oct. 28 election?
I think there are many promises from candidates, but no guarantees of delivery. Maybe this is why people don’t come out and vote at election time. But people want to know as they vote what candidates are going to do for them. Like, what are you going to do for me now, especially financially with cost of living? Those seem to big concerns heading into October 28.
Suni Matthews, 80 “plus,” co-chair of Newcomer Education Coalition
How long lived in ward: 27 years
What’s life like in the ward?
I’ve been living here for 27 years, and I’ve come to really love the south end of Winnipeg. It’s a nice place to raise a family. It’s clean. It’s close to the university, which was great for my daughters when they were growing up. It’s become a very diverse neighbourhood over the years as well, which is exciting.
What are some local needs that you notice?
Many people think poverty is just an issue that affects downtown, but it isn’t. We also have issues of poverty here in our neighbourhood. We have a lot of low-income earners, seniors, as well as immigrant communities who are living in manageable housing units or multigenerational housing situations… Acts of vandalism are also quite common and evident in south Winnipeg, whether it’s businesses being targeted, homes that are being targeted, windows being smashed.
What’s your take on the Oct. 28 election?
I don’t know why they [candidates, councillors] wait four years. There has to be stuff done in between. They need to be creating opportunities for the community to be engaged. Educating the electorate and getting to know them is important. It’s hard for people to come and vote when candidates only come around every four years. But also, I think as we go to vote, there needs to be accountability for those who are elected.
For information on how to vote and where, head to the official City of Winnipeg election website.
The staff of Winnipeg Better can be reached by email at jmajorrrc@gmail.com
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