New 24-hour safe space for Winnipeg’s West End reaches fundraising goal

WINNIPEG – A Winnipeg West End campaign for a 24-hour safe space reached its fundraising goal over the weekend.

Residents in the area said they had enough after Tina Fontaine was taken from the West End and murdered one year ago, so they started working on a 24-hour safe space for youth to go at night.

The group put together a GoFundMe page to give Manitobans the chance to support the idea with a goal of reaching $25,000.

Hundreds of donations helped raise more than that goal which will help fund an elder/grandmother position and youth employee for one year at the safe space.

The goal is to make the West End community safer for those who need it most, giving people a place to go when they are vulnerable to gangs, drugs and sexual exploitation.