ManitobaCity of Winnipeg bylaw officers cleared two sites on Monday, the first day that new restrictions on encampments were in effect.Crews cleared camps on Pacific Avenue, near Omand’s Creek on Monday as new rules took effectCBC News · Posted: Nov 18, 2025 7:55 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.This photo shows what the 395 Pacific Ave. site looked like before City of Winnipeg crews cleared an encampment on Monday. (City of Winnipeg)City of Winnipeg bylaw officers cleared two sites on Monday, the first day that new restrictions on encampments were in effect.Crews cleared out a long-standing encampment at Pacific Avenue and Ellen Street, and another behind the Montana’s Restaurant on Empress Street near Omand’s Creek. Both encampments were dismantled after outreach workers helped the residents relocate into housing, city officials told city council’s executive policy committee on Tuesday.The first locations targeted were among those identified as high priority in the city’s new enforcement protocol, which came into effect on Monday.Before cleanup began at Pacific Avenue, the lot was piled with debris, burned material and discarded belongings. Before and after photos shared with councillors showed what Greg MacPherson, the city’s acting manager of community development, described as a dramatic shift.”I’m not easily moved by these things, but to go there before and to see what it looked like and then to go afterwards … yeah, it was quite stark,” MacPherson told reporters at city hall.”There was at least one full load taken to the landfill, and I believe another half load from that same site. So there was a substantial amount of material on site, and that’s after people took their personal belongings with them.”MacPherson said outreach teams connected with every resident at both encampments before any cleanup occurred. About three people had been staying at the Pacific site, while one person was living at the Empress location. All four accepted housing, he said.The city’s new rules prohibit encampments within 50 metres of schools, playgrounds, daycares and skating rinks, and within 30 metres of transit shelters, bridges, docks and similar public facilities. Council directed the public service to begin enforcing the rules even before the full policy returns to council later this month.WATCH | City of Winnipeg clears 2 encampments as new restrictions take effect:City of Winnipeg clears 2 encampments as new restrictions take effectCrews removed two homeless camps on Monday, the first day the City of Winnipeg began enforcing its new encampment rules. MacPherson said the city intends to apply the rules while keeping the safety and dignity of people in mind.”I have a great deal of empathy for folks who are living in encampments,” he said. “These are people who are surviving, but at the same time, we have to balance that with our responsibility to the public to maintain these important public spaces.”Mayor Scott Gillingham said Tuesday that the first day of enforcement unfolded as intended, with crews focused on helping residents transition to safer accommodations, rather than simply forcing the camps to move elsewhere.”The goal is to return those spaces to the public so families have confidence that they can use the playground, but at the same time that people [who] have been living in a tent there can get into housing.”More cleanup locations have already been identified, but the city will not disclose them ahead of time. Officials say advance notice risks prompting interference at sites or encouraging people to relocate before outreach teams can engage them.City crews have begun posting ‘no camping’ signs, like this one seen in Mostyn Place Park on Granite Way on Tuesday, in several parks, green spaces and other locations where the new rules apply. (CBC)City crews have begun posting “no camping” signs in several parks, green spaces and other locations where the new rules apply. Enforcement is expected to continue over the coming weeks as staff work through the list of high-priority areas and outreach workers continue to co-ordinate placements into shelter or housing, the city says.
Winnipeg crews cleared 2 encampments on 1st day of new restrictions
