Initiative helping Winnipeg seniors access grocery stores

The Food Access Bus outside FreshCo on Jefferson Avenue on Jan. 6, 2026. (Jamie Dowsett/CTV News)

A local pilot project is making it easier for Winnipeg seniors to access nutritious and affordable food.

It’s called the Food Access Bus and once a month it picks seniors up from the 55+ apartment complexes in Old Kildonan and brings them to FreshCo to shop for an hour.

The goal of the program, which was first launched in October 2025, is to provide reliable transportation that allows older adults to access healthy food options.

Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma said nearly 100 people have taken part in the program thus far.

“We often hear that seniors feel stuck in the wintertime, in their apartment and eating healthy, nutritious meals daily is important,” she said.

Sharma noted the program is not only breaking down transportation barriers but also provides seniors with a fun outing that helps them create independence.

“There is that sense of independence that grows with folks that maybe rely on someone else to bring them groceries,” she said.

The pilot project is being offered in collaboration with the Seven Oaks Resource Network and Gwen Sector Creative Living Centre.

It is set to run for six months with the goal of expanding beyond that timeframe.

• With files from CTV’s Jamie Dowsett