Global News has projected Coun. Cindy Gilroy’s re-election in the race for the Daniel McIntyre ward.
Incumbent Gilroy, first elected to the ward in 2014, faced off against businessman Sal Infantino and community activist Omar Kinnarath, both of whom have longstanding ties to the community.
Unofficial numbers from the polls by shortly after 11 p.m. Wednesday showed Gilroy bringing in 5,476 votes.
Infantino came in second with 2,484 votes and Kinnarath garnered 2,470 votes, according to the unofficial count.
Gilroy, who unseated iconic West End politician Harvey Smith eight years ago, says she’s focused on infrastructure improvement to area sidewalks, roads and lanes.
The incumbent also says she’s concerned with enhancing safety in the area, as well as accountability at City Hall.
In her time in office, she’s served on and chaired a wide range of council committees, including property and development, heritage and downtown development, safety, and the housing steering committee.
Here’s a look at the candidates who were unsuccessful in their bid for the council seat:
Challenger Sal Infantino is the owner of the popular area cafe X-Cues and a longtime resident of Daniel McIntyre, having lived in the ward for more than 35 years.
His priorities, if elected, included accessible streets and bus stops in winter, garbage pickup reform, public safety, and improved management of the city’s tree canopy.
Community organizer and anti-racist activist Omar Kinnarath has lived in the ward since coming to Canada at six months old as a refugee.
His work as founder of Winnipeg’s Mutual Aid Society during the COVID-19 pandemic has provided help to thousands of community members in need of food hampers, transportation, housing, and more.
Kinnarath’s campaign called for investment in active transportation and transit, a shift of 10 per cent of the city’s police budget to non-violent crisis response, harm reduction, and safe consumption sites. He’s also calling for a moratorium on new road construction until inner-city infrastructure is improved.
The Daniel McIntyre ward covers the city’s West End into downtown, as well as a number of neighbouring communities, including the Spence, St. Matthews, Wolseley, Minto, Sargent Park, Colony, Portage-Ellice, and Central Park.
It’s bordered by Point Douglas to the north, St. James to the west, River Heights-Fort Garry to the south, and Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry to the east.
Prior to Gilroy’s four years in office, the area’s councillor was the late Harvey Smith beginning in 1998. Smith also served as a councillor for the ward, then known as Sargent Park, from 1980-1986.
The ward is named for Daniel McIntyre (1852–1946), a Winnipeg educator who helped develop the city’s school system.
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