Winnipeg Votes 2026: Orvie Dingwall Says North Kildonan Residents Deserve a Choice
For years, Orvie Dingwall expected her career to remain in academia and community advocacy. Then something unexpected happened.
“I was not planning to run in this election,” Dingwall told host Graham McDonald during an interview on Winnipeg Votes 2026. “Strangers in my community were approaching me. They really wanted to have an option for change in North Kildonan.”
That grassroots encouragement became the foundation of her campaign for Winnipeg City Council.
Dingwall, a University of Manitoba librarian and former Faculty Association president, argues that residents are paying more while seeing fewer municipal services. She points to public libraries, recreation facilities and community spaces as areas that deserve renewed attention.
“It’s time to really focus on having those be available all the time and having them at a high quality,” she said.
One of the discussion’s strongest moments centred on the controversial Kilkona Park redevelopment. Dingwall strongly opposes plans to build a roadway through the off-leash dog park, arguing that environmental concerns, outdated data and community opposition have not been adequately addressed.
“We have not met a single person who uses that space that thinks the road is a good idea,” she said.
Infrastructure remains another major priority. Rather than focusing on headline-grabbing projects, Dingwall believes Winnipeg must tackle the less glamorous work of repairing roads, roofs, buildings and public assets before they become more expensive problems.
On transit, she supports the city’s overall redesign but says the system needs more frequent buses and better neighbourhood connections. She also advocates for continued investments in cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, describing how safer routes have transformed her own daily commute.
Housing, libraries and newcomer services rounded out a conversation focused on practical improvements rather than political slogans. When asked what legacy she hopes to leave after a first term, Dingwall offered a revealing answer: she wants residents, not politicians, to define success.
“I want that idea to have come from members within our community.”
Disclaimer: As part of U Multicultural’s 2026 Winnipeg Municipal Election Coverage, candidates were invited to share messages with our audience. The views expressed in this article are the candidate’s own, and this article does not constitute an endorsement by U Multicultural.
Yuliia Kovalenko, U Multicultural Journalism