On Downtown Life

I spend most of my life downtown. Working, going to endless meetings and attending events--and that includes weekends.

Me and my family also spend a lot of time downtown, taking in entertainment and doing our shopping. We do this firstly to support the downtown business community, which in in-turn, supports me and my organization, the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ. But we also do it because downtown offers everything my family needs.

I have three kids, and we're never at a loss for things to do. Whether it's a Disney show or Moose game at the MTS Centre or a Goldeyes game, my boys truly enjoy downtown. We always come early to enjoy one of the 200 restaurants or to just take in some of the incredible landmarks, parks or historical buildings. They especially love seeing where mom and dad lived before the kids arrived! I believe it's important for my kids to learn the importance of downtown and why their dad is always working late promoting and trying to improve it.

On other weekends, I might start off at the downtown YMCA, perhaps one of the best facilities in Winnipeg. Here my boys can swim and climb on the play structure, while I squeeze in my once-a-week workout. Afterwards, it's usually a trip to the IMAX for larger-than-life 3D film or a walk to the Millennium Library, where they can pick out books in a building that is the envy of many. One of the best parts is during the winter, all these attractions are connected by the weather protected walkway. I don't even put on the boys boots or parkas. We park in an heated-indoor parkade and off we go.

While we come downtown to explore and enjoy all it has to offer, I think the most important reason I bring my kids downtown is to teach them about life. There is no better place to expose them the various people that inhabit our city and to teach them about compassion and tolerance.

Downtown there are all walks of life. Rich and poor, old and young. When we are downtown, we come across panhandlers and homeless people, and I remember a day when we were approached by a panhandler. My oldest son was definitely scared, and I remember him grabbing my leg in fear. His eyes we like a deer's caught in the headlights.

But he witnessed how I handled this situation, acknowledging the person, politely saying "no", and wishing him a good day.

Later, I talked to my son about how he had felt. I explained to him that some people are sick and need help, while others have chosen a different path in life, one they probably didn't choose. I explained that some people have a hard time feeding and taking care of themselves for many reasons. I told him that not everyone is fortunate to have a good job and can afford to buy nice things. I told my son that we were very blessed with everything we have, and that includes our health and the parents who guided us. This of course unleashed a flurry of questions, but we were able to discuss it and now he knows something a child who has never been downtown might not.

I think bringing my kids downtown allows them to experience and understand life, while also having a great time enjoying all it has to offer. I think you'd be hard-pressed to duplicate this kind of experience in a suburban mall.

I want to raise my kids to be respectful and compassionate. I want to teach them not to fear people who are different to them in race, colour or income status. I think they will become better citizens, contribute to our community more, learn tolerance and not be quick to judge. These are things that are important.

Perhaps the best thing we can all do for our downtown, and for the next generation, is to take our kids (and grandkids) downtown for a weekend and show them all that is great about life.