Does it make sense to reopen Portage and Main to pedestrian traffic?
Imagine Portage and Main, a panel discussion presented by the Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, explored that question this past Thursday at The Fairmont Hotel – just steps away from the iconic corner.
Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance in New York City, was the event’s keynote speaker. He shared his experience on how the Times Square Alliance, through engagement and collaboration, was able to transform Times Square into a vibrant public space.
Our coverage of Imagine Portage and Main is just one of several stories featured in this week’s River City 360 podcast. You can listen to the program in full using the player below:
Or listen to a particular segment by clicking the time link next to its description:
- 4:47 – My co-host Nolan Bicknell and I talk about Imagine Portage and Main, a recent panel discussion about the future of Winnipeg’s most famous intersection.
- 13:26 – I sat down with author David Alexander Robertson to learn more about his novel “The Evolution of Alice”, which is this year’s On the Same Page selection. We also highlighted some of the upcoming events related to the book, including Paper Airplanes, which takes place Thursday, February 11 at 7 p.m. at CMU’s Marpeck Commons (2299 Grant Ave.)
- 23:56 – Although The Winnipeg Foundation‘s Nourishing Potential initiative is reaching its conclusion, its endowment fund will continue to nourish the potential of Winnipeg youth “For Good. Forever.” RC360’s Stacy Cardigan Smith was joined by Otto Lang and Anita Southall, Past Co-Chairs of the Nourishing Potential Committee, to look back on Nourishing Potential’s five year history.

His Majesty King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth visit Portage & Main in 1939; decades later pedestrians would be permanently prohibited from crossing the iconic corner.
What are your thoughts about this week’s program? We’d love to hear your feedback! Email us at rivercity360@wpgfdn.org or leave a message on our listener line at (204) 944-9474 ext. 360.
River City 360 is a weekly radio program hosted by Nolan Bicknell and Robert Zirk that highlights the people and organizations working to make Winnipeg a better place, along with music and community event updates. Tune in Sunday mornings at 8:15 a.m. on 93.7 CJNU-FM or subscribe to the podcast via iTunes. River City 360 is a project of The Winnipeg Foundation, in partnership with Community News Commons and 93.7 CJNU-FM.