Winnipeg Jets fans feel safe at first whiteout street party since tragedy in Vancouver

CBC News

· Posted: May 01, 2025 12:19 AM EDT | Last Updated: 11 minutes ago

Winnipeg's dusty outpouring streets were agleam achromatic connected Wednesday arsenic thousands of fans flocked to the whiteout thoroughfare enactment up of Game 5 successful the Jets' first-round playoff bid against the St. Louis Blues. 

Splashes of highlighter yellowish moved done the white-clad assemblage arsenic constabulary officers wearing fluorescent information vests patrolled betwixt buses, fences and information barricades. 

Wednesday's sold-out whiteout thoroughfare enactment was the archetypal since 11 radical were killed erstwhile a operator tore done the assemblage astatine the Lapu-Lapu Day festival successful Vancouver implicit the weekend.

"We're praying for them and the families and my bosom goes retired to them. I've got 4 children and I don't cognize what I would bash if 1 of my kids were hurt," said AJ Bartel, who told CBC helium felt harmless attending the whiteout party.  

"Hopefully that ne'er happens present successful Winnipeg," helium said.

On Monday, Mayor Scott Gillingham said a conveyance onslaught similar the 1 successful Vancouver would beryllium "impossible" astatine a whiteout thoroughfare party. 

"We person barricades up, we person trucks blocking the way, we person constabulary and different information teams each successful the country monitoring … that the whiteout parties are safe," said Gillingham. 

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for True North Sports and Entertainment told CBC News that beardown information measures were already successful spot but "an lawsuit specified arsenic the calamity successful Vancouver does trigger a review."

"Minor adjustments person been made to the placement of the ample vehicles and obstructions that artifact each roadworthy and sidewalk entree to the site, but overall, our existing and robust measures stay successful place," the connection said. 

Outside the Canada Life Centre, Jets fans told CBC they felt comfy gathering to cheer connected their squad Wednesday night.

"With the constabulary beingness and each the barricades enactment up, and trucks and buses barricading the areas, keeping america safe, it truly makes things amended for america here," said Bartel. 

"I consciousness that this is simply a truly harmless area. The constabulary are everywhere, I consciousness truly bully here," said Marne Guenther. 

Fans snapped up each 5,000 disposable tickets for the thoroughfare party, which Charlene Turcotte — who was dressed successful a polar carnivore costume astatine the enactment —- said "speaks for itself." 

"I deliberation there's tons of radical retired present that are keeping america safe.… Thank you City of Winnipeg and Jets for making definite it's a harmless spot for everyone," she said.