Maclean's claim that Winnipeg is Canada's most racist city upsets mayor

Winnipeg's mayor choked back tears as he began to address the media today about claims byMaclean'smagazine that his city is the most racist in Canada.

"My wife is Ukrainian. I amMtis.I want my boys to be as proud ofboththosefamilylines to be proud of Winnipeg, to be proud of who you are," Brian Bowman said,surrounded in thecity hall foyer byprominent community leaders.

"We have come together to face this head-on as a community," Bowman added, noting that Winnipeg existson what is traditional Treaty One territory.

"We have to shine a light on it. Without the light, we can't see what we're fighting. We're not going to end racism tomorrow, but we're sure as hell going to try."

Those remarks wererepeatedby all the speakers at the news conference.

Thisis a national problem. But there's a lot of work to be done in Winnipeg. We're ready for that.- Ovide Mercredi

Grand Chief DerekNepinakof theAssembly of Manitoba Chiefssaid we can no longer pretend it doesn't exist or hide from it. Echoing Bowman's comments, he said it's time to talk about it.

"I'm not here to pacify. I want people to continue to stand up and be strong," he said. "Let's have this dialogue now because we're strong enough as a society to overcome it together."

"I dont believe racism is strictly a Winnipeg issue. Its a human condition," said Winnipeg police Chief DevonClunis,adding there is an opportunity arising from the controversial piece.

"We need to have a really difficult conversation respective of race.What will make our city special is this: that we will start this conversation [and] the City of Winnipeg can truly lead the nation and the world in terms of peaceful coexistence."

TheMaclean'smagazine, which hit newsstands Thursday, features a cover story that claims "Canada has a bigger race problem than America. And it's ugliest in Winnipeg."

"The Manitoba capital is deeply divided along ethnic lines.Its native citizens suffer daily indignities and horrific violence," the article states.

"This is a national problem," OvideMercredicountered Thursday.

"But there's a lot of work to be done in Winnipeg. We're ready for that."

Robert-FalconOuellette, who is First Nations andran for mayor in Winnipeg's civic election last October, wasinterviewed for the article and saidhe triedto paint Winnipeg as a complex city with a number of issues that were no worse than any other city.

The cover treatmentMaclean'sgave the story is sensationalist, he said. The cover features a quote from a Winnipeg resident whosays,"They call me a stupid squaw or tell me to go back to therez."

"They used the word 'squaw,'which is very, you know,derogatory type of comment," Ouellettesaid. "But at the same time, I understand they need to be selling magazines and getting people interested to buy the magazine."

• Robert-Falcon Ouellette faces racism during mayoral campaign

Ouellette has experienced racism, including during his campaign, but it's not something he sees on a daily basis. He said he believes the majority of people in the city aren't racist, but that there's always the loudmouth that stands out.