One of the most significant changes in decades to how the City of Winnipeg delivers frontline service began today with the launch of the new Neighbourhood Action Teams.
“Neighbourhood Action Teams are a smarter, faster way to deliver city services,” said Mayor Gillingham. “They’re designed to meet residents where they live and fix the kinds of issues that pile up on a neighbourhood’s to-do list, all in one visit.”
The cross-trained teams — first proposed by Gillingham during the 2022 election — are responsible for addressing multiple issues at once, including potholes, broken signs, sidewalk repairs, tree debris, and boulevard maintenance.
Three six-person teams will rotate through all 15 wards from June through October, spending about four weeks in each area. Work plans are developed in collaboration with city councillors and local stakeholders like Business Improvement Zones (BIZ), ensuring each team’s time is focused on local priorities.
“This program is about giving our crews the tools, training, and flexibility they need to respond quickly and get things done,” said Councillor Janice Lukes, Chair of Public Works. “Neighbourhood Action Teams are a more nimble and innovative way to deliver frontline service.”
Although the program officially launches today, the teams have already been active behind the scenes. Over the winter, they helped clear snow around transit stops to improve accessibility, filled thousands of potholes and completed dozens of sign repairs.
“This is what modern public service looks like: responsive, resident-focused, and results-driven,” said Gillingham. “I’m grateful to our Public Works team and frontline staff for helping bring this vision to life.”
Teams on the Streets Today
From now through July 11, the Neighbourhood Action Teams will be in the Daniel McIntyre, Mynarski, and River Heights – Fort Garry wards. Their task list includes things like:
- Potholes
- Displaced sidewalks
- Leaning and damaged signs
- Debris
- Hazardous tree branches
- Uneven boulevard surfaces
These tasks were selected as the action teams’ focus as they generate the most service requests through 311.
Residents can learn more and view the full seasonal schedule at: winnipeg.ca/actionteam