“Once there was a man who lived by the side of the road and sold hot dogs . . . very good hot dogs.”
The parable that Winkler Mayor Henry Siemens opened the ‘State of the City’ address on February 20th with, painted a picture of a businessman that sold a product that was loved, and his business continued to grow and flourish. Without delving too deeply into the story itself, the message resonated with those in attendance—no matter the unknown factors on the horizon, “continue to make and sell your very good hot dogs.”
A call to action for the people of Winkler to remain engaged and proactive in shaping the city’s future.
The Winkler of Today
Mayor Siemens highlighted many significant developments transforming Winkler’s landscape today, starting with something that is at the forefront of many people’s minds: housing.
"Last year 267 dwelling units were started—I believe that’s the single largest number of housing starts in any one year in Winkler’s history. There’s literally something new coming up in every corner of Winkler. And that’s still not enough for what’s needed.”
Another one of the most exciting projects according to Siemens, is the on-demand transit service that has successfully moved 1,234 people since it started last November.
Winkler’s significant infrastructure expansions were also addressed, one of which being the $14.6 million Water Treatment Plant expansion, which is set to be operational by fall 2025.
The Mayor also addressed the expansion of the waste-water treatment facilities which have been undertaken in collaboration with the RM of Stanley and will accommodate a projected population of 25,000. With a $56.5 million investment, the expansion is scheduled to be completed by February 2026, with full operational status by the fall of 2026.
Another major development is the Winkler Centennial Arena Expansion, costing $28.6 million. Though this project faced some delays, Mayor Siemens shared, “We’re told we’ll be playing hockey in this building in January 2026." He also drew attention to the fact that over half of the money for the project came in via the governments of Canada and Manitoba, as well as a substantial sponsorship from Triple E Canada.
The city is also contributing to regional development efforts through participation in the Pembina Valley Water Coop, collaborating with 13 other members to improve water services for the wider region.
The Winkler of Tomorrow
Turning to the future, Mayor Siemens offered a vision for the future Winkler, one that includes less of a reliance on government granting to see that necessary jobs get done.
“We have an opportunity today to make Winkler unique in a truly special way… by making a few more difficult choices now, future generations will not be saddled with aging, crumbling infrastructure that they can’t afford to repair or replace.”
Mayor Siemens continued to speak about the city’s ongoing efforts to establish an adequately funded asset management fund, which would ensure that the city’s infrastructure remains in good repair for years to come. This initiative was discussed at last month’s annual planning meeting, and the focus will be on balancing the needs of today with the demands of the future.
“This is no different than the challenge each of us has at home... How do we live today and still find a way to put something away for the future?”
To help fund these ambitious goals, the city plans to increase taxes above the rate of inflation over the next few years. Mayor Siemens announced that the 2025 tax rate will rise by 4.2% and remain 2% above the Consumer Price Index (CPI) forecasted for 2026 and 2027.
This strategy will also help reduce borrowing timeframes for city projects to a maximum of 10 years, saving an estimated $7.8 million in interest costs. As the Mayor put it, “With a few more years of extremely disciplined preparation, we have an opportunity to set Winkler as a financially sustainable community that provides for some of the wants and the majority of the needs of its citizens.”
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The call to action
The Mayor concluded by sending a heartfelt message to the residents and stakeholders of Winkler.
“We know that council and city staff will not do this without you. To bring this dream to fruition, Winkler needs each of you to continue to make and sell your very good hot dogs.”
To view the progress of the city of Winkler’s ongoing projects, visit the city of Winkler's website.