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Mayor Sam Katz

At City Council, it is important that we share our accomplishments and challenges. A Mayor is only as effective as the Council that is elected and how well you bring consensus to get things done in our city. And this year, we should celebrate the fact that Winnipeg has overcome some immense challenges and continues to grow stronger economically in uncertain times.

At a time when people would think a business like IKEA would never set up shop in Winnipeg, this project will be a reality. We have embarked on building rapid transit in our city. And the Human Rights Museum has broken ground in the heart of our city.

We have worked with numerous community and faith-based organizations to develop new youth and employment programming; we partnered with Aboriginal organizations to ensure continued funding for successful programs in our City’s Aboriginal Youth Strategy as well as on-the-job training programs with the Manitoba Métis Federation to assist individuals in our community who face barriers obtaining training and employment.

Investing in our community recreational facilities will remain a top priority in the new year. This year saw the opening of many new facilities that will have a beneficial impact on our citizens. By providing our young people with positive opportunities we can do our part to make sure our children are safe.

We have continued to ensure we are investing strongly in matters of public safety and emergency services. The number one priority for Winnipeggers is crime and improving public safety. The Winnipeg Police Service will soon see a new home at the former Canada Post site on Graham Avenue and council has recently approved the purchase of a police helicopter.

It is important that we remain committed at the city level to do everything we can to reduce crime and provide the Winnipeg Police Service all the tools necessary to keep our streets safe.

And as we move into 2010, we will continue to build on the positive momentum we’ve experienced this year and continue to grow our city. I look forward to working with our other levels of government, and all our citizens to improve our city over the coming year.

I want to wish all readers of First Nations Voice readers a healthy, safe and merry Christmas and all the best for a happy 2010.

— Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz

myo-mayor@winnipeg.ca