As many of you have likely heard, Councillor Jason Schreyer passed away this week. On behalf of Bike Winnipeg, our condolences go out to his friends, family, and colleagues. Councillor Schreyer spent more than a decade advocating for Elmwood-East Kildonan at City Hall.
I also offer my personal condolences. As a resident in his ward and a member of Bike Winnipeg, the Northeast Local Bike Group, and the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association (GeNA), as well as a neighbour, I’ve gotten to know Jason over the last number of years. He cared passionately about food security, construction inflation, and a good karaoke song. His laughter and welcoming smile will be missed at our neighbourhood events.
Jason was a staunch supporter of our community, always on hand at events to chat with folks about their concerns or pick up the microphone and entertain us at the drop of a hat. His ability to turn any event into a karaoke opportunity will never be forgotten.
Jason’s legacy of work with GeNA, the Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (CNRC), and other community groups will live on far into the future. Jason has supported reforestation of street and park trees, the building of a community garden and shade structure in Roxy Park, food programs such as BAG (Better Access to Groceries), FAB (Food Access Bus), and the upcoming Supporting Access to Good Eating (SAGE) Chalmers Community Corner project.
Additionally, his unwavering support of Reimagine Elmwood initiatives (of which the Northeast Local Bike Group, GeNA and CNRC are coalition members) was instrumental to all the work being done to improve the public realm and active transportation in Elmwood. When Reimagine Elmwood realized that the 60km/h speed limit on Henderson Hwy was preventing local business and community groups from improving the streetscape with patios, parklets, and other seating, Jason was quick to make a motion to ask Public Works to look at reducing that speed limit to 50km/h (aligning with the Transportation Association of Canada street design standards). This led to an upcoming city-wide report examining if the 60km/h speed limits on many main thoroughfares met these design standards for urban streets. These, among many other projects Jason supported over his tenure as a councillor, have made meaningful differences in our community and our city, and will continue to do so long into the future.
I’ll admit, as the chair of Bike Winnipeg’s Education and Outreach committee, some of my favourite memories of Jason are on Bike Winnipeg group rides. Jason and his son Jared first came on one of our first Bike for the Future rides through Elmwood, and since then Jason has participated in numerous rides with us. Jason and Councillor Ross Eadie even came out to two rides in one week last year, the second time riding together on a tandem bicycle. We were already planning on getting them back out this year for a ride through Councillor Eadie’s neighbourhood. Our next Elmwood ride won’t be the same without Jason’s curiosity and enthusiasm.
Jason, you will be missed.
Julia Schroeder (she/her)
Past board member, Bike Winnipeg
Education and Outreach Chair, Bike Winnipeg
Secretary, Glenelm Neighbourhood Association