DAN VANDAL…

As your representative for St. Boniface, I would like to welcome you to my monthly article which I will be writing for the Lance.

I want to begin my first article by discussing St. Boniface. The ward I represent is one of the geographically largest and most populated of the entire city. It begins in Old St. Boniface, bordered to the north by the Red river and the CN mainline. To the south, St. Boniface extends to the new Sage Creek development. In between, there is Southdale, Island lakes, Royal Wood, Southland Park, Windsor Park, Niakwa Park, Archwood, St Boniface East, Norwood Flats and East Norwood as well as Central St. Boniface.

In 2010 there were over 50,000 people in my ward. This is the largest in any ward in the city. When you compare this number to the 31,400 in St. Charles, or , 32,900 in Transcona, you appreciate the dynamism of St. Boniface. With 3000 more homes to be constructed in Sage Creek, and more residential development planned for between Island Lakes and Royal Wood, you realize ward boundaries will have to change in the near future to level out the population between St. Boniface and some of the older wards in Winnipeg.

When people think of St. Boniface, they automatically think of the Old, historical area of St. Boniface… where the history and culture is interpreted through it’s buildings, citizens, rivers, and community organizations. But, from a politician’s perspective, the ward is so much larger than the Old, historic northern area.

But let me be perfectly clear….Old St. Boniface is unique…and something special is happening in Old St. Boniface. As you walk north along elegant Aulneau St., there are, as you read this, millions and millions of dollars being invested in University of St. Boniface, la Villa Aulneau (formally residence des Soeurs Oblats) and a new Caisse Populaire building on Blvd Provencher, bringing new life into all of those institutions! For the first time in 50+ years, you can walk, run or cycle along the Red River unimpeded on public green pathways north of the Provencher bridge all the way to the Seine river and beyond.

As well, in the last six years, there have been over 50 million dollars on residential investment in the Old St. Boniface area. Over 120 units of condominiums called Verve Tache will soon be home to fellow residents where the Rendezvous club once stood. 500 Tache and Place Joseph Royal provide luxurious urban living outside of the downtown. 1010 Sinclair provides much needed housing for Persons with Disabilities on Bertrand St.

Pointe Hebert will soon be an exciting, diverse neighbourhood accommodating existing and new residents. After many years of planning, the school grounds of Ecole Tache will soon be transformed. Change is definitely in the air all over St. Boniface… from the Old to the brand new. I am extremely confident that the change is positive. I am committed to working with residents, business and community organizations to make sure that St. Boniface remains the best area in Winnipeg to live.

Jon Ljungberg asks Dan Vandal about the future of Rapid Transit