Ewald Friesen
Manager, Government and Community Relations | CAA Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB, CANADA
Ewald manages CAA's advocacy and community relations efforts in Manitoba.
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Biography
Ewald (pronounced A-vault) is the Manager of Government and Community Relations (GCR) at CAA Manitoba and brings a wide range of knowledge and experience to the role.
He has worked in politics and government for over 20 years, in four provinces and three countries. In his career he’s been a consultant, advisor, speechwriter, and strategic communications specialist in the private sector, within the political parties and on political campaigns at the federal, provincial, and municipal levels of government. His private sector roles include broadcasting, media and several consultancy agencies serving both Canadian and US markets. Ewald was a co-founder and managing partner at MediaStyle Inc. (now Em-dash), a full-service communications and political consulting firm in downtown Ottawa. He was also a speechwriter for Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission closing events. His work abroad included acting as an international elections observer with the Organization of American States (OAS) overseeing elections in Peru and Ecuador.
He joins CAA Manitoba from his most recent role as a freelance speechwriter and marketing strategist for several public affairs clients across Canada including various public sector advocates, Indigenous groups, and in policy areas of health, education, and childcare.
As a lifelong learner, Ewald has a Bachelor’s Degree (Honours, Politics) from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Arts (Political Science) from McGill University.
Ewald is based in Winnipeg and manages CAA Manitoba’s GCR team which includes doing work related to provincial and municipal government and stakeholder relations and ongoing community relations efforts to make roads safer in Manitoba.
Industry Expertise (5)
Automotive
Legislative Office
Government Relations
Public Policy
Safety
Areas of Expertise (6)
Congestion Management
School Zone Safety
Road Safety
Government & Community Relations
Policy Advocacy
Road User Safety
Education (2)
University of Winnipeg: Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Politics 2006
McGill University: Master of Arts, Political Science 2010
Media Appearances (8)
Majority of Manitoba drivers witness close-calls due to distracted driving: CAA poll
Winnipeg Sun online
2024-06-27
A new study by CAA Manitoba reveals that 59 per cent of Manitoba drivers have witnessed a close-call collision or traffic violation caused by distracted driving. “Distracted driving is the leading contributing factor in fatal motor vehicle collisions in Manitoba,” said Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations at CAA Manitoba. “By raising awareness of the risks of distracted driving, we hope to do our part to save lives and increase safety.” Despite Manitoba’s ban on using hand-held devices while driving, enacted since July 2010, the survey highlights persistent issues related to distracted driving, especially due to use of technology while driving.
Brandon’s 18th Street named Manitoba’s worst road for 2024
Global Winnipeg online
2024-05-22
The nominations have been tallied, and Brandon, Manitoba's 18th Street has earned the dubious distinction as “Manitoba’s worst road” for 2024. Ewald Friesen of CAA Manitoba told 680 CJOB’s The Start that 18th Street in Brandon was far-and-away the winner (or, more accurately, loser) for 2024. “It’s a municipal street that’s also a provincial highway — so you have a municipal government and a provincial government sort of looking at each other and trying to get some consensus on what to do, how to fix this road,” Friesen said.
Slow down, move over: CAA Manitoba raises awareness about emergency vehicles, tow trucks
Global Winnipeg online
2024-05-14
According to CAA Manitoba, 85 per cent of Manitobans are aware there’s a traffic law for moving over for emergency vehicles, but only a shocking 41 per cent know what’s required of them. For National Slow Down Move Over Day, CAA Manitoba hopes to raise awareness across the province, with the goal of keeping all road users safe. CAA Manitoba’s Ewald Friesen told The Start on 680 CJOB that there’s a simple way to remember what to do: if you see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road: reduce your speed by half as you pass them.
CAA seeing more calls for drivers impaired by cannabis
CTV Winnipeg online
2024-04-18
A recent survey from CAA Manitoba found that since legalization, 27 per cent of cannabis-impaired drivers in Manitoba have gotten behind the wheel after the consumption of an edible. The survey also found that 61 per cent of cannabis-impaired drivers wait less than three hours before driving. “We’ve got a bit of a situation here where there’s an education gap in cannabis, especially edibles, usage and driving,” said Ewald Friesen, CAA Manitoba’s community and government relations manager. To stay safe, Friesen encourages motorists who’ve consumed cannabis to not get behind the wheel and make alternative travel plans.
What’s the worst road in Manitoba? An online campaign wants you to weigh in
CTV Winnipeg tv
2024-03-19
CAA wants malcontent Manitobans to weigh in on the most pothole-populated, categorically congested and downright downtrodden roads across the province. The company has launched its annual Worst Roads campaign, with voting now open to the public. Citizens can cast their ballot for the roads they give a failing grade based on issues ranging from poor road signs to cycling safety to those pesky potholes. The company says with the rising cost of living, investing in roads and infrastructure is more important than ever. "Either because of affordability or availability, many people are holding on to their cars a little longer these days; the last thing they should worry about is expensive repair bills on the already stretched family budget,” said Ewald Friesen, CAA Manitoba’s manager of government and community relations.
Speeding, traffic congestion top concerns in school zones for parents: CAA
Winnipeg Sun online
2023-09-05
“We want to remind motorists that they need to be extra vigilant as students return to school this week,” said Ewald Friesen, CAA Manitoba manager of government and community relations, in a release Tuesday. “Kids will be excited to see their friends and teachers and may fail to check their surroundings before stepping out onto the street.” The top three concerns are drivers speeding (32%), traffic congestion in and around school (30%), and a lack of street/school parking (26%). Other concerns include illegal parking or stopping, jaywalkers, distracted pedestrians and drivers, and drivers not obeying traffic signs. As a result of those concerns, many parents drive their children to school, further exacerbating traffic congestion, Friesen said. “While there are always parents who must drive their children to school, we do encourage parents and students to try other modes of transportation to get to class,” said Friesen. “Things like walking, biking and skateboarding are great exercise and lots of fun, and fewer cars will help alleviate parents’ concerns.”
CAA reveals Manitoba's worst road
CTV News Winnipeg online
2023-05-25
“We know the campaign works. People vote in the annual CAA Worst Roads Campaign because it gives Manitobans a platform to continue putting pressure on various levels of government to understand what roads they believe are in urgent need of repair,” said Ewald Friesen, manager of government and community relations for CAA Manitoba, in a news release. For the first time, the top three worst roads are all outside of Winnipeg. This includes 18th Street in Brandon in second place and Highway 34 taking the third spot. However, Winnipeg roads still make up half of the top 10 list. “The results aren’t surprising, as we’ve seen more rural roads make the list over the past few years,” Friesen said. "Those who responded to the annual Worst Roads campaign have banded together to make sure rural roads are being prioritized.”
Slow down, move over: Manitobans reminded to keep roadside workers safe
Global News Winnipeg tv
2023-05-09
If you drive with the help of a navigation app, you might see a new set of alerts start to pop up in Manitoba. CAA Manitoba is partnering with the HAAS Alert system on a new initiative, which will tell drivers if a tow truck or vehicle breakdown is up ahead. Ewald Friesen, CAA’s manager of government and community relations, told Global Winnipeg that across North America, almost 100 tow truck drivers are killed each year by passing motorists — with an innumerable number of close calls. Many motorists, he said, still haven’t learned to slow down and move over when they see tow trucks or emergency vehicles on the side of the road, despite laws on the books in the province for over a decade. “It’s particularly troublesome, given that we do have laws in Manitoba regarding ‘slow down and move over,’ and many of them sadly are still not necessarily adhered to,” Friesen said.
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