Winnipeg city councillor Jason Schreyer has died

Jason Schreyer, the Winnipeg councillor for Elmwood–East Kildonan, has passed away.

“As Jason’s Council colleagues, we want to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. He will be missed by all of us,” Winnipeg city council said in a news release.

Mayor Scott Gillingham, who was notified of Schreyer’s death late Tuesday, did not have any information on a cause of death. “I don’t know the details,” Gillingham said at a press conference.

Wednesday’s city council meeting was adjourned, and flags at all City of Winnipeg buildings will be lowered to half-mast in his honour.

Winnipeg’s mayor says Schreyer’s family was “devastated” by the death. “Anything I can do from my office, we can do as a council to support his family at this time, we want to do that.”

Schreyer, who was first elected in Elmwood–East Kildonan in 2014, was a strong advocate for food security and environmental issues. He had many good friends on council, having held the position for more than a dozen years.

He came from a family of public service; his father was former Premier and Governor General Ed Schreyer, who led Manitoba’s NDP government from 1969 to 1977 and was the governor general from 1979 to 1984.

Gillingham portrayed Schreyer as a man of many talents — from a great singer and dancer, to being able to speak and sing in multiple languages.

“Outside of city hall, he was fun, a lot of fun,” Gillingham said. “He was often the first one to grab a mic at karaoke and sing. And he could sing, he had a great voice.”

The mayor recounted a story from the fall of 2014, after he and Schreyer were first elected, at the United Firefighters Dinner.

“We’re all newly elected, and it’s exciting, and meeting people for the first time and going to one of these big events for us for the first time,” Gillingham said.” And after the end of the night, the Danny Kramer band got up to sing, and I looked up and Jason Schreyer, councillor Jason was at the mic, just belting it out. And it was remarkable. He was so good. I was mortified. I thought, ‘is this even allowed? Can we do this as council members? Are we expected to do this as council members?’ I’ll never forget that moment.”

-With files from the Canadian Press