Candidate for St. James City Councillor
Vote Kelly Ryback
Community minded leadership for St. James, Bourkevale, and the neighbourhoods Kelly has served for decades.
Kelly’s Vision
As your city councillor, Kelly will bring your concerns to City Hall and work to:
Tackle crime, homelessness, and addictions
Tackle crime, homelessness, and addictions through coordinated action, managed encampment solutions, and expanded community policing.
Improve roads and sidewalks
Improve roads and sidewalks by increasing investment and delivering projects faster.
Enhance transit service
Enhance transit service for communities beyond rapid transit routes.
Strengthen city departments
Strengthen city departments through greater accountability, improved performance, and more efficient and effective use of public funds.
About Kelly
Rooted in St. James, ready to serve every day.
Kelly grew up in St. James, attended Crestview, Ness, and John Taylor schools, and has lived in Westwood since 1992. His family connection to St. James runs through generations, and his volunteer work has benefited youth, seniors, charities, community clubs, and residents facing City Hall issues.
Kelly has appeared before City Council and council committees many times advocating for St. James. He has gone door to door around Duffield, Parkview, and Parkdale to inform residents about proposed rezonings, and he remains accessible to residents and businesses who need a steady local advocate.
Read the St. James backgrounder
Community
A record of showing up.
Bourkevale contributions
Kelly advocated alongside Parkview and Riveroaks residents on the 199 Parkview Street rezoning, helping organize a petition, speak at hearings, and support resident submissions. The proposal was reduced from eight units to six, lowered by 11 feet, and moved farther from the adjacent property.
He also championed a Ferry Road sidewalk extension from Colorado Estates to the Bourkevale Community Centre, gathering support from 40 residents and submitting the request to the City.
View the Bourkevale newsletter
Advocated for and achieved numerous transit improvements.
Secured a left-turn signal on Ness Avenue westbound onto Mt. Royal Road.
Supported the spray pad at Bord-Aire Community Centre, planned for construction in 2027/28.
Served on the St. James-Assiniboia Minor Hockey Association board from 2003 to 2008.
Coached St. James-Assiniboia Minor Hockey, Shamrock Lacrosse, and the 2004 City Champion Bourkevale Bruins 8A1 hockey team.
Served on the St. James-Assiniboia Pioneer Association board, helping secure $620K for Grant's Old Mill restoration.
Expanded Cuthbert Grant Days in 2024 and 2025.
Raised and donated thousands through the Rotary Club of Winnipeg West.
Created the annual Intro to Golf Day for St. James area middle school students.
Performed and volunteered at retirement residences and the St. James 55+ Centre.
Roads and local issues
Specific fixes. Specific streets.
Kelly has raised and pursued neighbourhood-level improvements across St. James, including infrastructure, bylaw, transit, and rezoning concerns.
Reference gallery
Community, service, and campaign moments.
Support Kelly
Volunteer, request a sign, donate, or vote.
Volunteer
Help bring community minded leadership to St. James. Join the campaign team and tell us how you would like to help.
Request a sign
Show your support for Kelly in your neighbourhood. Request a campaign sign for your lawn, window, balcony, or business.
Donate
Help print signs, reach voters, host community conversations, and keep residents informed across St. James.
- Campaign donations may qualify for an election contribution rebate.
- Call or text 431-441-2555 for pickup.
- E-transfer and mailing instructions are available on the donation page.
Vote
Vote Kelly Ryback for St. James City Councillor.
Make your plan, bring accepted identification, and encourage neighbours who want community minded leadership to vote.
Help get out the vote
Supporting Kelly
Endorsements
Paul Robson, Retired - Former General Manager - Winnipeg Blue Bombers (also CEO of the Red River Ex and Canad Inns, Publisher of the Winnipeg Sun)
In June of 1984, I was invited to one of the more interesting business meetings of my career, to that point in time, as General Manager of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. A bird dance! Let me explain. A few months prior, we had engaged our ad agency, Palmer Jarvis, to come up with the design and creation of two mascots, and it became time to audition some humans that would wear the costumes. It wasn’t long into the audition for the little bird “Buzz”, when it was apparent that a young man from St. James was the hands-down winner. In real life, his name was Kelly Ryback, and he would go on to give the Buzz character one of the most iconic personalities in all of sports. I’m happy to tell you that the Kelly Ryback of today has not lost that electric personality or abundance of energy. Since retiring six years ago, he has been on a mission – as an independent citizen – to work toward the betterment of his community, including making several presentations to city council on a variety of issues. I strongly endorse KELLY RYBACK for Winnipeg city councillor, to represent St. James.
Jennifer Hanson - Entertainer and Co-Chair with Kelly of the Social For Ukraine (4 events and raised $50,000)
I've had the pleasure of getting to know Kelly Ryback over the last 9 years, both as a friend and as a co chair raising funds for Ukraine. Mr. Rogers once said, "look for the helpers, you will always find people who are helping. Kelly Ryback is a helper. He is a wonderful member of the St James community, from his years with a service club, working in support of many charities, and his ability to find those in need, and help. I can't think of a better person to help the people of St. James on the city council. I am so happy to endorse Kelly on this important venture.
Tracy Stahl, Retired - Former Co-Worker and Union Executive at BellMTS
I would like to let others know my opinion and experience dealing with Kelly Ryback. I worked for and with him at BellMTS before I retired. I say this because I worked for him due to him being my manager but I worked with him because he was not just a boss, he was a leader who worked with and for those he was in charge of. He was always willing to talk and hold discussions on any issues and work to alleviate those issues. At the time I was not only an employee but I was also a union executive, clerical rep and shop steward. This fact never interfered with our interactions and he was always fair and reasonable with any problems that arose. We worked together to mitigate those problems whether or not they were union/company issues or any other. He always took the time to talk and then follow up with research and further discussions. I have remained in contact with him since retiring and have followed his advocacy for the people of St James and the rest of Winnipeg. His common sense and logic is refreshing and as he runs for city council, I wish him the best and hope he gets elected and can bring those qualities to city hall and to serving the citizens of this city.
Kelly's career spanned
Over 35 years and lead over 150 employees
1984-1998
IT professional
Starting out as a computer analyst/programmer (diploma from Red River Community College) then moved to solution sales as a sales representative and a director of government sales. I sold over $20 million during that period.
1998-2000 - Sponsorship sales for the 1999 Pan Am Games ($2 million in sales) and prime liquidator post games.
2000-2001 - Videon Cablesystems - Manager of Retail Development for Manitoba and Alberta - developed the retail channel with multiple dealerships selling and installing the new high-speed Internet and digital television. Videos was sold to Shaw.
2001-2008 - MTS (now BellMTS) - Manager of Retail Development for landline, Internet, and digital TV services - developing and implementing market readiness for retail location and alternate channel sales, and contractor installation.
2008-2020 - BellMTS - lead three different call centres, responsible for serving dealers and installers for order and service fulfillment for landline, high-speed Internet, digital TV, and cellular services. I was also responsible for the operations and business services for a 42,000 square foot office building with 500 employees for a period during these years.
Retired on January 31st, 2020 at 55 years old.