The Winnipeg Way: Kindness as Crime Prevention

By: Don Woodstock

Image Credit, Dadion Gomez

There’s a saying: “You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.” In Winnipeg, we might say you prevent more crime with kindness than with surveillance. That’s not to dismiss serious solutions or accountability—but rather to highlight something deeply powerful that doesn’t get enough credit: kindness as a tool of prevention.

When people feel they matter, they act differently. When youth feel noticed, encouraged, and included, they’re far less likely to drift into despair, addiction, or crime. And yet, in the noise of political debates and budget battles, we often overlook the basic truth that kindness works.

Think of the child in the North End who never got invited to a birthday party. The newcomer family struggling with English who avoids social gatherings. The single mom who no longer feels safe letting her kids play in the front yard. These aren’t just sad stories. They’re warning signs. Isolation is one of the most dangerous conditions in a city.

Now flip the script. A local teacher creates a free after-school art program. A barber offers free cuts before job interviews. A neighbor leaves extra produce from their garden on the front steps. These acts of generosity do more than spread joy—they forge relationships. And relationships are the cornerstone of resilience.

We must start seeing acts of kindness not as random, but as strategic. In cities like Winnipeg, where economic disparity and mental health challenges are on the rise, kindness isn’t fluff—it’s policy in action. It’s how we rebuild trust where it’s been broken. How we create eyes on the street without creating fear. How we transform a place from vulnerable to vibrant.

Imagine if every business in Winnipeg committed to helping one family per year. If every resident checked on the person two doors down. If every youth saw themselves not as a problem to be solved, but as a person worth investing in. That’s not idealism—that’s real safety planning.

Crime prevention doesn’t have to start with legislation. Sometimes, it starts with a warm hello. A shared coffee. A moment of dignity. The Winnipeg way should be one where kindness isn’t rare—it’s regular. Because when people feel they belong, they don’t break things. They build things.

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