Two familiar faces are running for the St. James council seat, plus a new one with union support. The ward is located in west Winnipeg and includes the airport, Centreport, C.F. Polo Park, Grace Hospital, Sturgeon Creek, and Grant’s Old Mill. The incumbent is Shawn Dobson, who says experience matters, with several councillors not running again in other wards. “Having an experienced councillor will make a huge difference,” Dobson said. Dobson says he’s running for re-election to help tackle the city’s major issues. “Homelessness, crime, all that has to happen – we have to find a solution for all of that,” said Dobson. If re-elected, Dobson says he will push to reduce water bills and build single-storey starter homes under 900 square feet. To reach citizens, he will use community centres as ward offices. “I’m going to rotate amongst the community clubs, different days, different hours so I can be all over the ward at some time during the months.” Said Dobson Kelly Ryback finished second in St. James in 2022 and is taking another run. “I still don’t agree with a lot of the decisions that council is making,” said Ryback. The retired IT solutions leader is a community volunteer who often advocates for the ward at city hall on several issues. “I’ve been an advocate over 100 times over five and a half years and had results on some significant items.” Ryback said. “I thought if I can achieve that as a private citizen, what could I do as an elected official?” said Ryback. Ryback says transit, roads, and sidewalks are key issues, with crime, addictions and homelessness topping the list. “We need more policing; there’s got to be community policing at Unicity and Polo Park,” said Ryback, “People don’t want to go there; they can’t go there. We have to reclaim our neighbourhood.” Tyler Crichton is an IT company project manager and president of the Sturgeon Creek Association. “I think that people are ready for it; they’re ready for some change.” Said Crichton Crichton has the firefighter and transit unions backing him. He wants to establish a low-fare family bus pass. “If we’re going to be committing to families that are going to take the bus, and we can help them help their pocket. It’s also good for the city, right, getting cars off the road,” he said. Crichton says crime and safety are big issues in St. James. He is in favour of the fourth emergency service plan to respond to mental health calls being pitched at city hall. He’d also like to see funding for neighbourhood groups. “Help them get their equipment together, get organized, and get out in the community and help people when they’re in need, right, but also have eyes in the community, and we can pick up some trash and make some friends along the way,” Crichton said. Election Day is Oct. 28.
