St. Vital voters say they're concerned about meth use, public safety and dog-friendly spaces

Colin Lang isn't just aproud voterhe's also a proud dog owner. And that's become an election issue for him during Winnipeg's 2018 civic campaign.

"If a candidate knocks on my door, I always chat with themand ask if they are dog-friendly," said Lang, who lives in Winnipeg'sSt. Vital ward.

What candidates plan to do for dogs was just one of the issuesSt. Vital residents spoke about. Othersincluded health care, public safety, and better city services, such as road maintenance.

Baljeet Sharma is running in the ward against Brian Mayes, who has held the St. Vital seat sincea 2011 byelection.

Lang frequents the Maple Grove off-leash dog park with Pete,his golden retriever. That park used to be part of the St. Vital ward, but under boundary changes to Winnipeg's electoral wards for this year, St. Vital looks a lot different than it did during the last civic election.

The former St. Vitalneighbourhoods of Dakota Crossing and St. Vital Perimeter South have moved into the newly named St. Norbert-Seine River ward, while theRoyalwood, Fraipont and Sage Creek neighbourhoods, previously part of St. Boniface, are now in the St. Vital ward.

Lang has a particular focus on dog-related issues as a member ofthe board of directors for Windog a network for Winnipeg dog owners. The advocacy groupbelieves cities should provide parks and recreational areas for everyone, including pets.

For the last two civic elections, Windoghas compiled resources for Winnipeg voters on whether or not the candidates are dog-friendly.

Meth creates 'a scary situation': voter

What do dogs have to do with civic politics? Off-leash dog parks, of course.

Lang would like to see more of the city's green space allocated to suchparks.

Currently, the city has 12 designated off-leash parks none of which are now in theSt. Vital ward.Those parks are meant to accommodatemore than 50,000licensed dogs in Winnipeg.

Ed Ledowski has lived in St. Vital since the 1980s. A dog owner himself, he agrees that the area could use more accessible dog-friendly spaces. However, Ledowski, who also said he intends to vote on Oct. 24, is more concerned about the citywide methamphetamine crisis.

He wants to know what city council's plans are to tackle the issue and whether there'sa strategy in place.

"The drug is so easily made how do we get rid of it? It's a scary situation," says Ledowski.

More CBC Manitoba election ward profiles:

• Charleswood-Tuxedo
• Daniel McIntyre
• Elmwood-East Kildonan
• Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry
• Mynarski
• North Kildonan
• Old Kildonan
• Point Douglas
• River Heights-Fort Garry
• St. Boniface
• St. James
• St. Norbert-Seine River
• Transcona
• Waverley West

Journalism students from Red River College's creative communications program have prepared profiles of each city of Winnipeg ward ahead of the 2018 civic election for CBC Manitoba.Read all of our election 2018 coverage here.