1. $6.2 million needed for Sherbrook Pool over the next 20 years
In a report released today, the City of Winnipeg says $2.8 million is needed for initial repairs and to reopen the 81-year-old pool while $3.5 million is required to maintain it during the next 20 years. The pool closed six months ago and the city’s administration is now recommending a request for proposals from independent third parties to conduct the community consultations to determine if the pool is worth the investment. [CBC]
2. LBGT flag raised at Alberta military base
For the first time in Canadian military history, an LBGT flag was raised today in a ceremony to be attended by senior officers and civilian members of the LBGT community. The Pride flag will stay up for one week to coincide with Edmonton’s Pride festival. Master Warrant Officer John McDougall, a company sergeant-major in a field medical unit, made the request for the flag-raising several weeks ago at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton and said he was surprised at how quickly the request was granted. [Huffington Post]
3. Winnipeg to create long-term arson reduction strategy
The City of Winnipeg’s civic protection and community services committee will create a long-term arson-reduction strategy, modeled after the strategy police used to reduce auto thefts im 2005, according to city councillor Scott Fielding. The strategy was credited with reducing auto theft by 86 per cent in 2011. Meanwhile, the city’s garbage contractors will eventually do twice-a-week pickups of bulk waste from arson-prone areas of the city as bulk waste accounted for 25 per cent of last year’s arson investigations. [Winnipeg Free Press]
4. Don’t jaywalk on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton
Starting today, Edmonton police will place extra officers on Whyte Avenue to crack down on jaywalking pedestrians. In the past 10 years, two people have died as a result of jaywalking on the popular street and since 2006, 1,500 jaywalking tickets have been issued with a fine of $250. [Edmonton Journal]
5 .Winnipeg housing welfare advocates create contest to showcase poor conditions
The province’s first Worst Home Welfare Funds contest is now underway, with three prizes of $100 each going to the worst family residence, individual residence and rooming house. The contest aims to highlight the difficulties in finding a suitable home on the provincial shelter allowance. The $285 per month shelter allowance for a single person in Manitoba has barely changed in a decade, according to members of the Employment and Income Assistance Advocates Network that are sponsoring the contest. The contest closes June 26 and winners will be announced June 28. [Winnipeg Free Press]