Winnipeg's most grammable bridges are back for another year.  

In the summer of 2020, more locals took to the outdoors, snapping pictures of the colourful bridges. This year, they are at it again. 

"It is a nice change from sitting in my office all day to being in the sun, socializing, telling everybody about the project and receiving so much thanks and praise," the creator of Cool Streets Winnipeg, Stéphane Dorge says.  

While he is leaving the designs as a surprise, Dorge says people can expect the same bridges along the Seine to get a pop of colour, with a new addition.  

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"We have seven different artists for the eight bridges, so it will be a variety of different styles on all eight of them. We have anywhere from an architect firm collaborating on one of the designs, a hint is that they have called it Play Street, to other various colour themes." 

Funds from the area's three city councillors are used to pay the local artists. New city funding from the local councillor will see Bunn's Creek added to the list of bridges. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's Health Together Now grant is also aiding their ability to create the bridges.  

The painting of the second bridge, location undisclosed, will start Tuesday. Fans can follow along and see where the bridges are on their Instagram account.

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Permits to painting

A city employee by day, Dorge is passionate about transportation accessibility. Since 2017, Stéphane Dorge has dedicated his summer vacations to sprucing up the pedestrian bridges that connect his Seine River neighbours.  

"I wasn't an artist until I started with this kind of bridge advocacy. I would love to do this full-time. It is a totally different realm from my day job." 

While he is not an artist by profession, he has helped artists more than half of the bridges. He says the art has encouraged people to get out and explore the city.  

"It is trying to encourage them to be active. It is trying at the same time to encourage them to appreciate and understand the advantages of those pedestrian bridges. Every year I just talk everybody's ear off telling them how much I appreciate the benefits of pedestrian bridges." 

He says more bridges will change the dynamics of how Winnipeggers get around. Last summer while getting his own hands dirty with paint, passersby often stopped to chat, commenting on the bridges. The creator hopes to see people out again this summer, enjoying nature and using active transportation. 

He says when they are painting "everyone walking by is thanking us. It is so appreciated motivating to keep going." 

He is humbled by the city's passion for the bridges.