The City of Winnipeg has put a sudden stop to a program that was aimed at preventing homeless people from gathering under bridges after it sparked public outcry this week.

In April, Public Works installed high-frequency noise-making devices to deter people from gathering under bridges. The noisemakers emitted a constant high-pitched sound, making it difficult for people to gather in the area. The noisemakers were a direct response to three fall fires that occurred in Winnipeg, according to Public Works. 

On June 23 a video recording of the noises under the Maryland Bridge posted to Twitter quickly drew backlash from the public. Councillor Sherri Rollins was tagged in the video, and she said at the time she had no idea about it.

City Councillor Scott Gillingham says officials were not made aware of the study adding the noisemakers to the bridges. Berezowsky claims the public was not informed to avoid conflicts with the study. 

"It was a decision that was made by the Public Works Department," Gillingham says. "Council certainly never voted on this initiative. When I found out about it, I reached out to the mayor."

The St. James councillor made note that the City of Winnipeg is working with advocacy groups to find ways to support efforts to aid homeless people in Winnipeg.

"Anything that we are doing has to be done with a mind making sure that people are being treated with grace and dignity," Gillingham says.

"We looked at trying to do this in a way that we would get good information and to create awareness for this," Public Works Jim Berezowsky says about the installation of the noisemakers. "At this time, with the elected officials and their concerns, it is only prudent that we respect that and take a look at this in a different light."

Public Work claims their intention was to avoid the possibility of fires starting underneath bridges, or people becoming swept up in quickly-rising water levels by deterring people from congregating in the area.