Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Red River Métis, Winnipeg, Manitoba –
Today Mayoral Candidate Rick Shone announced his plan to invest $12 million in the revitalization of the Alexander Docks in the Exchange District.
“Alexander Docks is one more example of the City of Winnipeg ignoring our parks and public spaces. It has sat derelict since 2015 and is currently overgrown, unusable, and a blight on our beautiful waterfront. We need to focus on building more space for people and families in the Downtown and Alexander Docks is an important piece of the puzzle,” said Shone.
Shone plans to take the best elements from the submissions to the “On The Docks” design competition to include in the final design. Shone also envisions including spaces for children and public gatherings year-round. The plan will also include benches and access to the river for launching kayaks, canoes and for fishing.
Within any new development on this site, it is important to create a permanent memorial for Tina Fontaine.
“My promise is to work hand-in-hand with Indigenous leaders to also build a space to honour the legacy of Tina Fontaine and other missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,” said Shone. “This important part of the new park would include a memorial and reflection space honouring Ms. Fontaine and all missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.”
Alexander Docks is a priority for Downtown enhancement. It allows for access to the waterfront and connects the existing active transportation trail network along Waterfront Drive. Winnipeggers have limited access to areas where they can enjoy the beautiful rivers of Winnipeg. Inspiration for this project is drawn from successful examples such as the Seine River conversion in Paris or the New York City waterfront walkways.
“We need to build a downtown where families and Winnipeggers of all ages want to live. By providing high-quality parks and public spaces, we can attract more people to the downtown. By spending money on things that make our city more liveable, rather than dumping hundreds of millions into roads, we can build a city that people are proud to call home,” Shone said.
“For hundreds of years Winnipeg has been a place connected to our rivers and I want to ensure that a high-quality public space is built at Alexander Docks so we can continue to enjoy our downtown and our rivers.”
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