Winnipeg, MB – Today, City officials marked the beginning of construction of a new interim modular Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) station in the Waverley West neighbourhood located at 130 Eaglewood Dr.
The WFPS’s Strategic Direction, approved by Council in June 2020, recommended adding a new station in Waverley West to provide coverage to current and future development in the area.
The interim modular station will help meet the needs of the growing Waverley West community until a permanent station can be built. The station will house a fire engine and crew, as well as an ambulance and paramedics. This will ensure crews can get to emergency calls in the area faster, providing better service to the community.
The interim modular station is also an innovative approach to supporting needs of the WFPS in the future, as it can be moved and redeployed to other locations. This will help support station upgrades, as emergency vehicles and first responders that work out of stations that need upgrades and repairs can be housed in the modular station until the work is complete.
“As our city grows, it's crucial we adapt to meet the needs of our new neighbourhoods. This interim modular station in Waverley West demonstrates our commitment to delivering essential services efficiently, ensuring the safety and well-being of all Winnipeggers,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham.
“Continued investment in our emergency services infrastructure to meet our community’s needs is of the upmost importance,” said Evan Duncan, Chairperson of the Standing Policy Committee on Community Services. “This interim temporary modular station will help ensure faster responses to emergencies in the area, addressing an identified need outlined in the WFPS Strategic Direction for this fast-growing neighbourhood, until a new, permanent station is in place.”
“The neighbourhoods of Waverley West grew faster than originally projected. I and many others have been working hard to ensure critical infrastructure projects, like the fire paramedic station are now being put in place. I look forward to the opening of the new permanent station in 2026,” said Janice Lukes, Councillor for Waverley West.
The WFPS is currently working toward the construction of a new permanent station at the corner of Bison Drive and Ruth Crossing, which is anticipated to open in 2026.
“The interim modular station is a great and innovative way to meet the needs of the community until the permanent station is in place,” said Tom Wallace, Deputy Chief of Support Services and 9-1-1 Communications. “The design of the modular building is such that it can be deployed to a site in an interim basis and then be moved and redeployed elsewhere in the city to respond to other future fire and rescue service needs.”
The total capital budget for the interim modular station and site development is approximately $6.8 million, funded from the WFPS Station Capital Maintenance budget, with $1.333 million in support from the Government of Canada through the Canada Community-Building Fund. The Province of Manitoba has committed to provide operating funding for the firefighters and paramedics who will work at the interim station and its eventual permanent replacement.