NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Sept. 22, 2014

Residents march to bring belonging, safety, and peace to West-Central neighbourhoods

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA As Winnipeg continues to grapple with our missing and murdered,
West-Central residents will march to show that peace is within reach for families, victims, and those
at-risk.

"We want to say to people who are victims and people who are scared and who dont feel safe -
there are resources in the community," said Jamil Mahmood, Executive Director of Spence
Neighbourhood Association - one of seven agencies organizing and attending the march and free
BBQ on Tuesday, September 23. The agencies (listed below) will be announcing their services at the
end of the event and want to hear ideas from community members about how to make the
community a better, more peaceful place.

The tragic murder of Tina Fontaine and the plight of other young people preyed upon by gangs
demonstrate the critical need to focus on and expand area resources that provide safety and
empowerment for young people.

"There is an important connection. There are issues where kids are out on the street at night and
kids are forced into the sex trade" Mahmood said, "let those kids see there are other safe places,
resources and understand these places can support them to choose a different path."

"And let them see all those hundreds of residents and community members willing to walk down the
street and say lets keep this place safe, lets build peace.'"

Annual marches build peace by connecting people within the community and creating a sense of
belonging and safety that comes from knowing neighbours and recognizing faces.
The 2 km march will begin at the back of Jacob Penner Park at 6 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, and
proceed south on Victor St. to Ellice Ave., east to Spence St., north to Sargent Ave., and then east to
finish at Central Park. Speeches and a free community BBQ in Central Park will follow the march.

Organizing Partners: Central Neighbourhoods Development Corporation, Daniel McIntyre/St.
Mathews Community Association, The John Howard Society of Manitoba Inc. ,Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata
Centre, Pregnancy & Family Support Services Inc., Spence Neighbourhood Association, and the West
Central Women's Resource Centre are all west-central agencies that offer supports for healing,
safety, and peace.
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For further information, please contact:
Jamil Mahmood, Executive Director, Spence Neighbourhood Association
204-803-7808 email: jamil@spenceneighbourhood.org



Spence Neighbourhood Association