Plan to build Centre Flavie storage garage to improve security passes first hurdle

A crime wave is hitting a St. Boniface charity hard. Danton Unger explains.

Plans to build a new storage garage at Centre Flavie to help prevent crime have taken a step forward.

Gilbert Vielfaure, the executive director at Centre Flavie, presented plans to the Riel Community Committee to rezone part of the property so a 500-square-foot storage garage could be built.

It comes as the centre has been dealing with a crime wave over the past few years.

“We’ve seen smashed windows, drilled gas tanks, 13 catalytic converters (stolen), cut locks, spray painting,” Vielfaure previously told CTV News Winnipeg.

The project is expected to cost around $600,000.

During the Riel Community Committee, Coun. Matt Allard said Centre Flavie does excellent work in the community.

“They’ve asked for this rezoning to address an unfortunate issue related to theft and vandalism. They’ve indicated that this building will allow that to be mitigated entirely, if not almost entirely,” said Allard.

The committee voted in favour of the rezoning plan, meaning it will now move on to the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development to be heard.

- With files from CTV’s Danton Unger