WINNIPEG – May 28, 2008 – Committed to the future of recreation and leisure services in the City of Winnipeg, Mayor Sam Katz, along with Kerri Irvin-Ross, Manitoba Minister responsible for Healthy Living and members of the community celebrated the official ground breaking of the Skateboard Park at the Fort Garry Community Centre located at 880 Oakenwald Avenue.

“Winnipeg needs more vibrant recreational facilities to make sure our young people have positive recreational alternatives, “said Mayor Sam Katz. “As a community-led project, I believe this skateboard park project is a shining example of what can be accomplished when our neighbourhood youth, parents and passionate community members work together towards building positive alternatives for the future generations of our City.”

“It is great to be a part of the ground-breaking for this exciting project that will increase access to recreational activities,” said Minister Irvin-Ross. “Youth and other community representatives together provided input for what will be a well-designed skateboard park which will also become a place the youth can call their own.”

“This skateboard park will be great for kids of any age and is a testament to the passion and dedication of our community members and our youth to meet the needs of our neighbourhood,” said Todd Buchanan, president of the Fort Garry Community Centre. “Not only does this project provide our youth with another fun and healthy sport facility, but, it allows these young committee members, as leaders in the project, a sense of well-deserved accomplishment for their contributions to the community centre for future generations; we are proud to house the skateboard park here at the Fort Garry Community Centre.”

The nearly 900 sq m. skateboard park will consist of a main multi-level concourse with U-shaped upper levels banking down to a central lower level. The skateboard park can accommodate riders who range in ability and in age from 5 to 35 years old.

The Fort Garry Community Centre Skateboard Park was created in collaboration and consultation with a neighbourhood steering group and youth from the community who shaped process, the consultation with the users and the park design.

The total cost of the skateboard park is $600,000. Funding was provided by the Winnipeg Foundation, the City of Winnipeg and the Manitoba-Winnipeg Recreation and Leisure Infrastructure Program.

For more information contact:
Carmen Barnett, Press Secretary
Mayor’s Office, 510 Main Street
PH: 311

QUEBEC CITY – May 28, 2008 – Committed to addressing the priorities of Winnipeggers to improve public safety, Mayor Sam Katz will attend the Big City Mayors Caucus (BCMC) conference in Quebec City.

“Crime is not exclusive to any one city in Canada,” said Mayor Katz. “By working with other levels of government and municipalities, we can take a united approach to addressing issues of crime and safety that affects all our citizens.”

“The men and women of the Winnipeg Police Service work hard to arrest criminals, but both citizens and front-line officers alike are frustrated by the current ‘catch & release’ justice system, when the application of federal laws results in these offenders being back on the streets within hours and days of their arrest, committing more crimes and impairing public safety,” said Katz.

This ‘catch and release’ justice system has significant impacts, both human and financial, on municipal police services. A recently released report that went to the City of Winnipeg’s Standing Policy Committee on Protection & Community Services this past Friday showed the following impacts:

• re-arresting offenders has cost the Winnipeg Police Service $3,190,905 for 2005, 2006, 2007;
• conducting curfew checks (stolen auto unit, integrated high risk sex offender unit, general patrol) has cost the Winnipeg Police Service $1,133,095 for 2006, 2007;

That is a total of $4,323,190 over the past three years alone.

“I was part of a Manitoba delegation that met with all federal political parties this past September, to request further legislative amendments that would assist in eliminating the perpetuation of the ‘catch and release’ justice system,” said Mayor Katz. “I will continue to represent the priorities of Winnipeggers and ensure all our citizens receive a new deal on crime.”

These proposed amendments include:

• elimination of the two for one remand credit;
• tougher penalties for youth involved in serious crimes (including: (i) recognizing deterrence as a valid sentencing principle for serious and repeat youth motor vehicle thieves; (ii) enhancing bail and sentencing provisions to ensure that serious and repeat youth motor vehicles thieves can be more easily held in custody upon arrest and face jail sentences for their crimes; (iii) implement the Nunn Commission’s YCJA -related recommendations); and
• making auto theft a violent indictable offence.

The BCMC conference will take place May 29th in Quebec City.

For more information contact:
Carmen Barnett, Press Secretary
Mayor’s Office, 510 Main Street
PH: 311