WINNIPEG - October 31, 2008 – The Winnipeg Fire Department today launched its 3rd annual Toy Mountain campaign to collect new, unwrapped Christmas toys for children.  The campaign was launched by retired and current firefighters alongside representatives from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Salvation Army and Scotia Bank.

“Our goal is to ensure that every child has a toy to open on Christmas morning,” said retired Battalion Chief George Smith, who is leading the campaign.  “Last year we collected over 15,000 toys and we’re counting on the generosity of Winnipeggers to build an even bigger toy mountain this year.”

From today through December 22, 2008 all fire stations in Winnipeg – as well as the Training Academy on McPhillips Street and the Fire Prevention Branch on St. Mary’s Road – will be collecting toys for children aged newborn to 12 years.

In addition to collection boxes in fire stations, football fans can drop off a new, unwrapped toy at the Blue Bomber’s playoff game on November 8, 2008.

All toys collected will be distributed through the Salvation Army to children in need this Christmas.

WINNIPEG - October 31, 2008 – Winnipeg, MB - Committed to the future of recreation and leisure services in the City of Winnipeg, Mayor Sam Katz and the Honourable Nancy Allan, Minister of Labour and Immigration today celebrated the official ground breaking of the amalgamated Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre located at 26 Molgat Avenue in St. Vital.

“As Mayor of Winnipeg, I am proud that the City is taking a leading role to ensure recreational facilities remain a priority for all members of our community,” said Katz. “And I am especially proud that these two centres – Norberry and Glenlee – have united to serve the community in the best way we can, by working together and amalgamating services and resources to provide the best possible service to our citizens.”

"This is a major accomplishment for the community as they have created a coordinated plan for a locally-driven project to build a new regulation size gymnasium and multi- purpose room," said Allan.  "This facility will provide area residents with more opportunities to take part in health, fitness and recreation activities, all important aspects of a healthy lifestyle.  Congratulations to all the volunteers for their commitment to this project."

"This project truly exemplifies what can be done when a community has a dream and is backed by good people in government whose main goal is to support communities in achieving their goals," said Grant Prairie, President of Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre.  "This project will be the catalyst that will allow our community to offer an increased range of health and recreational opportunities to the youth, seniors and families of the Norberry-Glenlee community."

Both Glenlee and Norberry Community Centres have agreed that their area could be better served by an amalgamated facility at the Norberry site. The $2.395 million project will see a new regulation size gymnasium, multi purpose room and front entrance added at the Norberry location.  Upon completion, the main building at Glenlee will be declared surplus; however, the Walter Jennings fieldhouse, outdoor rinks and playing fields at Glenlee will continue to be programmed and maintained by the united Norberry-Glenlee Community Centre.

Source funding for the $2.395 million project budget is provided by the Building Communities Initiative, the City of Winnipeg, the $43million Manitoba-Winnipeg Recreation and Leisure Infrastructure Program (Community Centre Investment Fund), Community Places, and the Norberry –Glenlee CC.

The expansion project is expected to be completed by June 2009.

WINNIPEG - October 31, 2008 – Winnipeg, MB - Today, Mayor Sam Katz introduced the new Community By-law Enforcement Services Unit.  This unit will enforce the new Neighbourhood Liveability By-law that Council approved earlier this year, and will provide for an enhanced integration of work and consistency of enforcement for those by-laws that affect the day to day lives of Winnipeggers.

“A consolidated by-law enforcement unit will combine officers from a number of departments and streamline the enforcement of a variety of bylaws into one single entity,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “By improving customer service and consolidating our by-laws, we will be using our resources more efficiently to ensure that we are meeting the priorities of Winnipeggers.”

The service will be comprised of By-law Enforcement Officers who are cross-trained to enforce multiple municipal by-laws, as well as Specialists who have technical expertise in specific fields of municipal by-law enforcement such as public health and fire prevention. The new By-law Enforcement Officers will have a uniformed and visible presence in the community as they safeguard neighbourhood and community standards related to the Neighbourhood Liveability By-law, the Doing Business in Winnipeg By-law, Public Health Regulations and other City by-laws.

The By-Law Enforcement Services Unit will not enforce by-laws requiring the specialized attention of the Winnipeg Police Service, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, or the building inspectors in the Planning, Property and Development Department. 

All staff will carry photo identification and uniforms will be marked with the Service’s name for easy visual identification.

Citizens may contact Community By-law Enforcement Services by phone at 311 or in-person at the office located at 18-30 Fort Street.