\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"MIKAELA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/4328209_web1_231025-Orlikow-0035.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
MIKAELA MACKENZIE \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
Coun. John Orlikow will not run for re-election in his River Heights-Fort Garry ward.<\/p>\n
The city councillor spent 10 years as a trustee for the Winnipeg School Division before he was elected to represent River Heights-Fort Garry in a 2009 byelection. He has been re-elected in each municipal election since.<\/p>\n
In 2023, Orlikow took a three-month medical leave from city council, following a sudden hike in blood pressure that led to vision issues, severe headaches and exhaustion. After recovering, he returned to city hall but did not resume his previous roles as chairperson of the community services committee and a member of the executive policy committee.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the councillor briefly mentioned some health concerns as one reason for his departure but declined to provide further detail.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt just puts a little bit more in perspective that if I do have that time to do something else, now is the time before it\u2019s too late,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In July 2023, a judge\u2019s ruling blamed the city councillor for directing municipal staff to deliberately delay progress on a proposal to develop the former Parker lands. Orlikow was not a defendant in the case and has told media he was \u201cquite shocked\u201d by that finding and would take steps to clear his name.<\/p>\n
An appeal decision later found in favour of the city and stated Orlikow\u2019s actions did not amount to directing planners to delay the development.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the city councillor said the initial judge\u2019s decision was extremely difficult to address.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat rocked my world, for sure, because I pride myself on being honest and open and to have those accusations where I didn\u2019t have a say, even know they\u2019re coming, that was brutal,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Orlikow said he plans to take a break \u201cat the cabin,\u201d then volunteer with tree preservation and inner-city groups.<\/p>\n
He said his elected role brought ample criticism but also a chance to work with dedicated colleagues. At one point, he briefly stopped speaking to reporters to accept a hug from St. Vital Coun. Brian Mayes.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery councillor here, their heart\u2019s in the right place. They\u2019re trying to do their best,\u201d said Orlikow.<\/p>\n
He lists building the Waverley Underpass, developing the Bill and Helen Norrie Library, securing funds to expand Winnipeg\u2019s tree canopy, adding community centre investments and modernizing bus rapid transit among key accomplishments he worked on with colleagues.<\/p>\n
Mayor Scott Gillingham said Orlikow helped him adjust when he was first elected to city council.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I was first elected to council in 2014, Coun. Orlikow had already been on council for a while, so I learned so much from him. He was always generous with his time and advice. We worked closely together on many files and I\u2019m grateful for the way he served the people of Winnipeg,\u201d said Gillingham.<\/p>\n
Orlikow said he hopes his executive assistant Georgina Sabesky will enter the race to replace him, though she has yet to declare her interest in the role. Sabesky declined comment Friday.<\/p>\n
One candidate has announced plans the race to replace Orlikow.<\/p>\n
Sara MacArthur, a general manager currently overseeing Camp Stephens, said she decided to run for office to address issues she\u2019s experienced first-hand as a lifelong resident of River Heights.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving that ward experience for that long gives you a deep affection for the neighbourhood but also \u2026 it gives you a really good sense of what the issues are that I face and my neighbours face,\u201d said MacArthur. \u201cI also think that this is a really good opportunity and a great alignment of my academic background, being a city planner.\u201d<\/p>\n
MacArthur holds a master\u2019s degree in city planning from the University of Manitoba and worked as a municipal policy analyst for the city from 2004 to 2008.<\/p>\n
She plans to list specific platform pledges later in the campaign, after consulting with the community.<\/p>\n
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n
X: @joyanne_pursaga<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Joyanne Pursaga Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Reporter
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n