This petition has been edited to better reflect our mission.

There are still many unanswered questions surrounding the cancellation of Fear: Blacksite, but one thing is certain—if the City of Winnipeg’s Permits Office understood the event industry better, their policies would reflect it, and cancellations like this could be avoided.

Our Requests Are Simple:

• The Permits Office must consult with event coordinators to rewrite outdated rules.
• Pre-inspections of event venues should occur well before setup, with clear discussions about layout and compliance.
• Timely communication: Questions must be answered within one week of outreach.
• Event type consideration when reviewing applications (not all events fit the same mold).
• Standardized checklists and full communication of all requirements before setup begins.
• Written confirmation of all deficiencies immediately after inspections.
• Reasonable conditional permits should be issued when appropriate, allowing events to proceed while minor issues are resolved.
• Staff training in due diligence, communication, and documentation must be mandatory.
• False or misleading statements must have real consequences.
• Consistency in enforcement.
• When livelihoods are on the line, “we didn’t know” is not acceptable.

This petition was simplified to focus on the core issues—the lack of understanding, communication, and accountability within Winnipeg’s permitting system.

These requests are reasonable, practical, and necessary to protect local jobs, creativity, and small businesses.

Please sign if you agree.