WINNIPEG - February 9, 2009 – The public is advised that the following City of Winnipeg services have been impacted by a weather system that brought freezing rain overnight and today and that resulted in icy conditions throughout the City.

Salting and Sanding Activities – The Public Works Department is using all spreader trucks to address icy conditions on the roadway. Crews completed salting main routes overnight, which improved conditions and lessened delays on main routes for rush hour traffic this morning. Salting activities are now focused on bus routes and collector streets. Public Works is continuing to monitor conditions for sanding requirements on residential streets. Sanding of sidewalks on main routes is continuing. Icy conditions are expected to persist, and the public is urged to use caution and walk and drive to conditions, and to use caution around trucks and equipment that are working.

Winnipeg Transit - Due to icy road conditions and related traffic congestion, Winnipeg Transit is experiencing delays on most routes throughout the city. All routes are operating, but individual buses may be delayed 20 minutes or more until road conditions improve.

Collection of Garbage and Recycling - Collection operations have been temporarily suspended until the condition of residential streets and back lanes improves. Water and Waste is monitoring conditions to determine when collection will resume.

Brady Road Landfill - The Brady Road Landfill is open, however, customers are advised that conditions inside the landfill are slippery and extreme caution is urged when leaving the Perimeter Highway.

Addressing Standing Water on the Roadway - Approximately 30 front-end loaders are currently working to open blocked curb inlets to minimize standing water on the roadway. Thawing crews will be used to thaw catch basins as required and promote proper drainage.

Pothole Patching Efforts – Due to warmer weather and wet conditions, Public Works is monitoring roadways for the development of potholes. Crews will be dispatched to address locations that may be problematic. Residents are encouraged to report pothole locations to 311.

Assiniboine Park Zoo – Due to extreme icy conditions on Assiniboine Park Zoo’s walkways, the Zoo is closed today. The Zoo will re-open at 10:00 am tomorrow, conditions permitting.

WINNIPEG - February 9, 2009 - Winnipeg has been short listed to bid for the 2015 World Police and Fire Games. Following site inspections by World Police and Fire Games Federation officials, Winnipeg was selected along with Toronto, Fairfax, Virginia and possibly one other international venue to prepare their detailed bids to present at this year’s World Police and Fire Games to be held in Vancouver in July 2009.

Competition to host these games is very high because these games have proven to be successful events which generate substantial sports tourism and economic impacts.

In terms of competing athletes, the World Police and Fire Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics with more sports disciplines than both the Summer and Winter Olympics combined. Barcelona holds the current games attendance record with over 10,500 athletes from 70 countries competing in 63 sports.

The Games are held July/August over 10 days every second year. The Games have been held in the United States five times, Canada three times (Vancouver 1989, Calgary 1997, Quebec City 2005), Australia twice and Europe twice. The upcoming Games are in Vancouver 2009, New York City 2011, and Belfast 2013.

Based on Economic Development Winnipeg Inc.’s preliminary economic impact assessment as well as past World Police and Fire Games results, total economic impacts for Manitoba are conservatively projected near $70 million. The 2015 Games project over 10,000 athletes from around the world, plus another 20,000 family members.

The Winnipeg Police Service, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and RCMP Division D along with the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg and Winnipeg Police Association are fully behind the bid and are represented on the Bid Committee. Many Manitoba police and fire personnel have participated in past World Police and Fire Games.

“The Winnipeg Police Service has actively supported these Games for many years,” said Chief Keith McCaskill. On behalf of the Winnipeg Police Service and our more than 1,600 members, we strongly support bringing the 2015 World Police and Fire Games to our city and province.”

“On behalf of the 1,240 members of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service and over 500 active and involved retirees, I am delighted that a bid is being made to bring the 2015 World Police and Fire Games to Winnipeg,” said Jim Brennan, Chief of the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service.

“The Fire Fighters have mobilized our team behind this bid and are thrilled that Winnipeg is short-listed for this prestigious event. Manitoba will host the most friendly, accessible and affordable games for police and fire athletes from around the world,” said Alex Forrest, President of the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg.

Manitoba Bid Committee members Stuart Duncan, President of Economic Development Winnipeg Inc. Inc., and Hubert Mesman, President of Travel Manitoba, both commented that “the benefits of these major world games are tremendous – showcasing our communities and our sports facilities, providing international and national attention, generating tourism spending in the regional economy from a huge amount of visitors, and leaving a legacy for Manitoba and for police and fire personnel.”

WINNIPEG - February 9, 2009 - Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service advises that because of the slippery conditions, they are experiencing some delays in responding to the large number of call volumes for emergency services. Travel time for emergency response crews is also slower because of the conditions.

Most of the calls are in response to slip and fall injuries caused by the icy conditions created by the freezing rain.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) report that calls are coming in at a rate of about 20 per hour which is double the normal call volume. From 8:00 a.m. this morning until 3:00 p.m., EMS had received 120 calls for service compared to a normal day of approximately 70 during the same time frame. The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service has called in an additional three ambulances to help respond to calls. Fire truck apparatus with paramedics on board are also helping to get to emergency calls and ease the load on ambulances. Though the Service is managing the load, the public may expect a small delay in response times.

Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service urges all drivers and pedestrians to use extreme caution during this icy period and not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary to do so.

WINNIPEG - February 9, 2009 - The public is advised that collection of garbage and recycling is cancelled for today due to icy conditions that affect both driving and walking on residential streets and back lanes.

For customers that haven’t received day 2 collection, please take in your recycling and garbage until the next regularly scheduled collection day, Tuesday February 17, 2009.

Day 3 collection, Tuesday February 10, 2009, will depend on the road conditions.

The Brady Road Landfill is expected to remain open for all customers, however, customers are advised to use caution both in and around the landfill, as the surfaces are slippery.

Garbage and recycling collection customers can check our web site for updates at winnipeg.ca/waterandwaste.