Why I Love Winnipeg
Any big city has problems, and Winnipeg is no exception. We have poverty, homelessness, and addiction. To ignore this would be a disservice to our great city. Do I do enough to make a dent in these issues. Unfortunately, I don't. I wish I could contribute more. I am particularly uncomfortable when I am stopped at a major intersection and there is someone asking for money while standing on a median. It is awkward. I only have plastic in my wallet so I don't even have money to give them and I also have concerns where this money is going. A friend gave me a great idea. Give them a completed coffee card from McDonald's. This way, they can atleast go inside and have a hot cup of coffee. Since I buy McDonald's coffee anyway, this was a great idea. I usually get the same server when I go to McDonald's and she asked me why I was never redeeming my coffee cards. I told her what I was doing. She thought this was a great idea and so gives me a stack of completed coffee cards almost every time I buy coffee. That is another thing I love about Winnipeg. People are willing to help.
So, I hand out these completed coffee cards. Sometimes, they are not well received. Most of the time, people are happy to get anything. I remember one young man who was not happy with my coffee card when I first gave it to him. He called me an unflattering name. The next time I gave him one, he was really happy. I didn't see him for a long time.
I met him officially a couple of weeks ago. He was standing close to a McDonald's drive-thru and he was selling McDonald's coupons. He would sell you the whole book for $20. He would sell you a coupon for "Two can Dine" for $5.00. And, yes, he was selling completed coffee coupons for $1.00.
When I approached him, he said business was slow and he took me for lunch. He thanked me for inspiring him. He told me about his "business". On the day that McDonald's coupons come out, he goes to many buildings recycling bins and get all that he can. It takes him about a day to get all the coupons. And, not just McDonald's coupons, but Burger King, Dairy Queen, Pizza Places, all fast food coupons. He thinks it is funny that people discard them and then are willing to pay for them. \\
He is a great guy and was a wonderful luncheon companion. He grew up on a northern reserve and didn't have many opportunities. He was open and told me that he has spent a total of 18 years incarcerated, not all at one time. Due to this, he has difficulty getting employment or obtaining housing. He is not bitter about this, because he loves Winnipeg. He actually enjoys exploring different parts of Winnipeg and sleeping under the stars. He has lived on the streets for a while and he is used to it, and is part of a community.
He told me how well his coupon business is doing and he is making enough to afford housing. He is living on the streets by choice. His is putting money in his bank account every day. He is no longer using homeless shelters because he doesn't think it is right to take resources from those in need. He buys himself one meal a day and once a week, he gets a room in a cheap hotel to have a hot shower.
When it gets colder, he will enough saved to get a room for the winter in a rooming house and he won't have to work as hard and he can rest and devote more time to his favorite hobby, reading. An extraordinary man. I look forward to spending more time with him as he really knows and loves Winnipeg.
I asked him what he was going to do when McDonald's coupons expires. With a big smile, he tells me "Show and Save".
That is what I love about Winnipeg. There are always forks in the road and you can chose the one less traveled. You can create your own opportunities. When you think you are doing nothing, you could actually be inspiring someone. I love Winnipeg.
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