Winnipeg Bike Routes Get Speed Reductions

Author

Jas Singh
May 02, 2025

Happy Friday, Winnipeggers!

How about that Jets Game 5 win?! What. A. Game. The whiteout was wild, the energy was electric, and we’re now just one win away from moving on. Fingers crossed the boys can finish the job in St. Louis tonight!

And while the city’s still buzzing from the playoffs, we’ve got something exciting of our own coming up. Let’s just say you’ll want to keep an eye on the events section for a fun way to kick off summer with the whole family.

This one’s going to be special, and we truly hope to see as many of you there as possible. Bring your family, tell your friends, and help us kick off summer the right way, Winnipeg style.

Now, grab your coffee and let’s get into today’s edition!

  • Manitoba Forms New Team to Fix Long ER Waits

  • Winnipeg Bike Routes Getting Speed Reductions

  • Fire Restrictions Coming to Parts of Manitoba

  • Grant Park Drops Grade 6 Test

  • 50+ Weekend Events & Live Music

— Jas Singh

News

Winnipeg Bike Routes Getting Speed Reductions

As soon as the sun comes out and the snow clears, Winnipeg’s bike routes start to fill up. And starting yesterday, May 1st, the city’s making it a little safer for everyone out there by bringing back reduced speed limits on our seasonal routes.

Whether you’re out for a solo ride or helping your kid wobble along with training wheels, these slower speed zones help everyone feel a bit safer.

Here’s what’s changing:

  • 30 km/h speed limits on Lyndale Drive, Wellington Crescent, and Churchill Drive.

  • 40 km/h on parts of Kilkenny and King’s Drive.

  • Speed limits are in effect 24/7 until late October.

  • Weekend-only rules in May, June, September, and October.

  • With daily restrictions through July and August.

The signs go up once spring clean-up is done, so keep an eye out as you ride!

Manitoba Forms New Team to Fix Long ER Waits

If you’ve ever waited hours in the ER with a sick kid or a worried heart, you know how frustrating it can be. It’s something so many of us in Winnipeg have been through and the province is finally doing something about it.

The Manitoba government just launched a Lower Wait Time Team, made up of front-line doctors, nurses, and system experts. They’re working together to find the actual reasons behind ER delays and fix them with the people who understand it best.

Dr. Paul Ratana and Dr. Kendiss Olafson are leading the charge, pulling together experts from across the system.

Here’s what they’re focusing on:

  • Increasing endoscopy procedures, including weekends, so fewer people get stuck waiting.

  • Speeding up the time between triage/examination and seeing a doctor by testing new models.

  • And lastly, even expanding home IV programs, so more folks can safely recover at home instead of in a hospital bed.

It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a real step toward making care faster and more humane.

A message from Canlan Sports!

Keep Your Kids Active This Summer

Finding ways to keep the kids active once school’s out can be tough. Especially when they want to be on the ice, but most hockey rinks shut down for the summer. and that’s why Canlan Sports is such a gem.

They’ve got ice time all summer long, with programs that make it easy for families to stay active, build skills, and just have fun together!

Here’s what’s coming up:

  • Youth Hockey League starting in July
    A fun and competitive way for kids to keep playing through summer

  • Adult Summer Hockey League
    Play with your friends, co-workers, or sign up solo and they’ll match you with a team

  • Learn to Skate & Skills and Drills Programs
    For both kids and adults, build hockey skills in the offseason!

  • Summer Hockey Camps & more!
    Daily ice time, mixed activities, and a great way to burn off energy

There’s even a full-service restaurant inside, so you can grab a bite, relax, and catch the game while the kids are on the ice.

So, if you’re looking to fill the calendar with something active and fun this summer, Canlan Sports is the spot.

Spots are limited, so now’s a good time to lock it in.

Be sure to click the button below to see all of their programs, and share this with any other parents you know trying to keep their kids busy but having fun this summer!

P.S. Looking to advertise in the Winnipeg Digest? Reply to this email or reach out at [email protected]!

City Updates

New Team Launched to Help Indigenous Women in Downtown

If you spend any time downtown, you’ve probably seen how hard it can be for some of our most vulnerable neighbours. And if you’re Indigenous, especially a woman or two-spirit person, it can feel even more unsafe.

That’s why this new support team matters so much.

The Manitoba government is putting over $350,000 into a new Indigenous Women’s Support Team through the Downtown Community Safety Partnership. It’ll be run by Indigenous women, focused on creating culturally safe, quicker support for those who need help downtown.

Here’s what it means:

  • More trained, culturally-aware staff downtown

  • Faster response times for vulnerable Indigenous women

  • Better connection to support services and long-term help

It’s part of a bigger strategy to make our city safer and more compassionate, especially for those who need it most.

Fire Restrictions Coming to Some Parts of Manitoba

If you’ve got weekend plans that involve a fire pit or an ATV ride in cottage country, here’s a heads-up you don’t want to miss.

Due to high fire risk, the Manitoba government is putting Level 1 fire and travel restrictions in place starting Friday, May 2 at 8 a.m., across much of the southeast and Interlake regions. The mix of extreme wind, dry grass, and hot weather is just too risky right now—and they’re trying to prevent wildfires before they start.

Here’s what’s changing:

  • No fires allowed between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., even in fire pits

  • No ATV or off-road travel during those same hours unless you have a permit

  • Burn permits are cancelled until things improve

Whiteshell, Spruce Woods, and large stretches from the U.S. border to Lake Winnipeg are included in the zone.

St. James Civic Centre Getting a $17M Upgrade

If you grew up in St. James, there’s a good chance you’ve spent time at the Civic Centre. Whether it was swimming lessons, hockey games, or just hanging out at a community event. Now, the space is finally getting a long-overdue upgrade.

To make room for the $17 million expansion, the recycling depot at 2055 Ness Ave will close on May 5, and full construction is set to begin later this month. The Civic Centre itself will close from mid-June until fall 2026, though the arena will stay open during hockey season.

Here’s what’s coming:

  • A new multi-purpose room, meeting rooms, and kitchen

  • A better viewing area for the pool

  • Upgrades to the auditorium, main entry, and parking lot

  • Dedicated space for the St. James Assiniboia 55+ Centre

Community Digest

Scheifele Out for Game 6, But Jets One Win Away

It was a big win at home Wednesday night and if you were watching, you felt the momentum shift. But you probably also felt that gut-punch moment when Mark Scheifele didn’t come back after the first period.

He’s out for Game 6 in St. Louis. And yeah, it stings not seeing one of our best on the ice when the playoffs are on the line. But this team’s been stepping up all year, and tonight’s another chance to show it!

Here’s where things stand:

  • Scheifele is day-to-day after taking two big hits in Game 5.

  • Namestnikov filled in and even scored. (huge effort!)

  • Ehlers is still out, but will travel with the team.

  • Jets lead the series 3-2 and can finish it on the road Friday!

  • If we lose, Game 7 is Sunday at Canada Life Centre.

Let’s hope the boys can close it out and get some rest before Round 2. They’ve earned it!

Grant Park Drops Grade 6 Test to Help Kids Stress Less

If you’re a parent in Winnipeg, you’ve probably seen it, kids feeling pressure younger than ever. And for families with kids heading to Grant Park, that pressure used to come early, with a big test in Grade 6 deciding who got into the school’s advanced program.

As reported by the Winnipeg Free Press, that test is officially gone.

Here’s what’s changing:

  • The Grade 6 entrance exam is cancelled

  • Families can now choose the program stream that fits their child

The school says it’s part of a bigger shift to reduce stress and support well-being.

For years, the school sorted kids into three streams: general, flex (for independent, group project-loving students), and advanced (for fast-paced learners). Now, general and flex are being combined, since they’d become so similar in style.

The advanced stream still exists, but the decision around it won’t come from a test. Instead, families will decide together what’s best for their kids, something that’s already the norm in most of the Winnipeg School Division.

REMINDER: We’re officially putting on our first-ever summer market next weekend, and we’d love to see you there!

📍 Outlet Collection Winnipeg – May 10 & 11
✨ 50+ local vendors
🍔 10+ food trucks
🎨 Face painting, bouncy castles, and even visits from Spiderman & Snow White for the kiddos!

It’s our first big community event, and we’re so excited to bring everyone together. So mark your calendars, bring the whole family, and share this with any friends, neighbours, or community groups who love supporting local.

Exciting Events: May 2nd - 4th

Events marked with ($) require a ticket in advance. Please search them up before going.

Sports🏀

  • Blues vs Jets Game 6 Watch Party | 7PM, May 2nd

    • Location: Canada Life Centre

  • Winnipeg Run Club | 8:30AM, May 3rd (FREE)

    • Location: The Forks

  • Blues vs Jets Potential Game 7 | May 4th

    • Location: Canada Life Centre

    • Note: Let’s hope this doesn’t happen!

  • DND Run Club | 8:15AM, May 4th

    • Location: The Forks

    • Note: Dash N’ Dine Run Club!

Family Fun🎆

  • First Friday in The Exchange | 5-9PM, May 2

    • Location: Exchange District

    • Description: Explore the arts and culture of the Exchange District on the first Friday of the month.

  • Grease Lightning Musical | May 2 - June 12 (Tickets)

    • Location: Destination Dinner Stage

    • Description: Greetings, Winnipeg High class of 1959, you are all invited to the biggest Rock and Roll reunion this town has ever seen!

  • ELEVATE: Manaaji'idiwin Play | May 2-17 (Tickets)

    • Location: John Hirsch Mainstage

    • Description: What happens when the elevator gets stuck on your way to an important meeting? As Jonesie and Tallahassee attempt to escape their circumstances, the cramped space becomes a pressure cooker and a bitingly funny conversation about power emerges. Who will come out on top?

  • The Band's Visit Musical | May 2-11 (Tickets)

    • Location: Winnipeg Jewish Theatre

    • Description: An Egyptian Police Band arrives in Israel to play a concert. After a mix-up at the border, they are sent to a remote village in the middle of the desert.

  • Billie and the Moon Play | May 2-4 (Tickets)

    • Location: Manitoba Theatre for Young People

    • Description: Everyone remembers their first time at summer camp. For Billie, it’s been unforgettable – and not in a good way. (Recommended for Ages 6-11)

  • Dogfight: The Musical | May 2-4 (Tickets/Learn more)

    • Location: Prairie Theatre Exchange

    • Description: Based on the 1991 Warner Brothers film, Dogfight takes audiences on a romantic but heartbreaking theatrical journey.

Markets/Fairs🎡🎢🎠

  • Family Fun Spring Fair | May 2-25, Open Fri, Sat & Sun (Tickets)

    • Location: Assiniboia Downs

    • Description: Multiple rides, games and food trucks for you and your friends to enjoy!

  • Grand Opening of Style Encore | May 2-4 (More Info)

    • Location: 1190 St James St

    • Description: Family-owned store selling gently used items accessible to everyone, offering a range of affordable, and high-quality treasures.

  • St. Norbert Farmers' Market | 10AM - 2PM, May 3rd

    • Location: 3514 Pembina Highway

    • Description: Manitoba’s Largest Farmers’ Market!

  • 4th Spring Craft Show | 11AM - 3PM, May 4

    • Location: Holy Cross School Inc.

    • Description: Just in time for Mother's Day, inspiration and gifts!

Comedy❗

  • Winnipeg Comedy Festival 2025 | May 2-4 (More Info/Tickets)

    • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club, Gas Station Arts Centre, Burton Cummings Theatre, and more!

    • Description: Multiple shows, all in one week! With over 2 million viewers tuning in annually, WCF remains CBC Television’s highest-rated comedy festival series—proof that Winnipeg knows how to bring the laughs, both on stage and on screen. (Over 30+ comedy shows!)

  • Jean Paul Comedy | May 2-3 (Tickets)

    • Location: Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club

    • Description: Co-host of Breakfast Television, the Trinidadian-born, Brooklyn-raised and currently a resident of Toronto, comedian Jean Paul has always had an innate sense of humour.

  • Chad Daniels Comedy | May 2-3 (Tickets)

    • Location: Rumor's Restaurant and Comedy Club

    • Description: With over a billion streams across his 8 albums, Chad Daniels is one of the most listened-to comedians of all time.

Special Events 🥂

  • Bolero with Angels in the Architecture & Hikarizatto | May 2-4 ($)

    • Location: Centennial Concert Hall

    • Description: A dynamic triple bill of contemporary ballets highlighting the history and versatile talents of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Three distinct dance styles with one ticket!

  • Winnipeg Tattoo Show 2025 | May 2-4 (Tickets)

    • Location: RBC Convention Centre

    • Description: See 100s of artists throughout the weekend, and explore the type of tattoo you want done.

  • Astronomy Day at Assiniboine Park | 1-4:30PM & 8-11:30PM, May 3 (More Info)

    • Location: Assiniboine Park (grassy space beside Cargo Bar)

    • Description: Join them on Astronomy Day at Assiniboine Park and observe the wonders of the Cosmos!

Music 🎵

Events marked with ($) require prior ticket purchase. Other events may require the purchase of food.

Thanks for reading The Winnipeg Digest! Let’s chat again on Monday!