The perfect hue that shines out of a few special street lights in Winnipeg paint the night in a stunning soft purple. They add character to the grey of the night. Manitoba Hydro has recently proposed that they should be removed and replaced because of a “factory defect”.

Rather than spending valuable time and resources to replace them as Manitoba Hydro has proposed, the lights should be left up so they can bring more beauty to the lucky communities that have them. As Canada slowly transitions to more efficient LED street lights this colour has only be noticed in Winnipeg and could be something that’s special to our nightlife.

The purple manufacturing feature of these lights is likely caused by a deteriorating phosphorous coating. According to the manufacturer it doesn’t alter the efficiency, lifespan or safety of the LED lights. 

Walking or biking home in a chilly night through streets of coloured light is something we could all use to brighten up our winter.

This petition will help Manitoba Hydro reconsider their decision to remove them or at the very least keep the “defective bulbs” for an auction to raise funds for a charity like The Main Street Project.