More Slurpees, housing highlight mayor’s annual speech

With an election looming this fall, Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham made several big announcements during the State of the City Address. Jeff Keele reports.

With a Slurpee as a prop, Mayor Scott Gillingham took a sip and announced 7-Eleven could be expanding in Manitoba.

“...including several new franchise locations right here in Winnipeg and I’ll drink to that,” said Gillingham.

During the annual State of the City address, Gillingham said 7-Eleven officials have told him they’re opening new stores.

In 2024, two city councillors told CTV News, 10 7-Eleven locations were at risk of closing because of retail theft. Since then, some have shuttered.

“Many Winnipeggers took that as a vote of non-confidence in our community, in our downtown,” said Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce CEO Loren Remillard. “What today signifies is that’s not the case.”

It’s unclear how many stores could be coming or where they will pop up, but the mayor said the city is taking safety seriously.

“I think it’s important,” said Gillingham. “A year ago, two years ago, some 7-Eleven stores closed and a lot of people were, you know, saying the sky is falling. Look, we’re really excited.”

Another major announcement in his speech was that the vacant Marlborough Hotel downtown will be transformed into 307 apartments. CentreVenture CEO Rochelle Squires said city council will be asked for $5 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund, for the $48 million project, which could see retail or restaurants on the ground level.

“Really creating density, housing units, and at least 15 per cent of those will be affordable,” said Squires.

Gillingham also outlined a vision he has for Winnipeg to have a “sky economy.” He said the federal government has a half-trillion-dollar defence industrial strategy. The mayor said this is an opportunity for Winnipeg to grow the city’s aviation, aerospace, and defence sectors, pledging to take a leadership role in pushing this plan.

“We need to be thinking about those sectors all as one sector,” said Gillingham.

This was Gillingham’s last State of the City speech before the fall election, and it appears he is already in campaign mode. He suggested to the crowd that they will hear two stories in the months ahead. One, nothing is working and nothing has improved. He then put forward the second narrative.

“Look at what we have built,” said Gillingham. “Look at the opportunities in front of us and look what happens when we stop kicking the can down the road and control our own future.”

Chris Adams, adjunct professor of political studies at the U of M, said the speech touched on all of the key topics around civic politics.

“It was a very bullish presentation by the mayor, almost like a pre-election speech,” said Adams.