News Releases

February 27, 2026

With more sports opportunities, places to play and after‑school programs, Manitoba youth are on a better path and the province is safer, with violent crime down four per cent provincewide and youth crime in Winnipeg down 3.1 per cent in 2024, Premier Wab Kinew announced today at the Manitoba government’s first youth summit.

“When a young person wants to make a change in their life, our government will be there to offer a hand up,” said Kinew. “Manitoba’s young people are the future of this province and, as a government, we will invest to put more kids on a positive pathway to university, rather than ending up on a pipeline to prison.”

The premier highlighted the success of these programs and the young people who participate in them, as summit builds on Manitoba’s co-ordinated investments to support young people at every stage. Investments through the From the Ground Up program include:

• 58 hockey rinks, arenas and ice surfaces;
• eight pools, aquatic facilities and splash pads;
• 66 playgrounds, play structures, park and green space upgrades;
• 104 recreation programs including:

• after-school programs;
• youth leadership training;
• mentorship initiatives;
• Indigenous youth cultural programming; and
• youth employment and skills programs.

The summit is a key part of the Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Downtowns Public Safety Strategy, which the Manitoba government launched in late 2024 and reaffirmed in the November 2025 throne speech. Through early childhood and after-school education, leadership development, cultural connection, mental health supports and pathways to good-paying jobs, the Manitoba government is reducing youth violent crime in Winnipeg, the premier noted.

By expanding recreation, mentorship and reintegration programs while upgrading safe community spaces, the Manitoba government is tackling the root causes of youth crime and improving graduation, employment and well-being outcomes, the premier noted.

“Safe communities start with supporting young people,” said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe. “When we provide youth with programs and guidance, we reduce the risk of them being drawn into crime. Listening to young Manitobans helps ensure our investments match their needs and realities.”

Other targeted investments include:

• funding for the universal school food program;
• support for inner city community centres in Winnipeg, Brandon and Thompson to hire staff and deliver free evening and weekend programs for at-risk youth ($700,000);
• new scoreboard for Sisler High School in Winnipeg;
• investment into Thompson Regional Aquatic Centre ($10 million);
• funding for The Pas Community Renewal Corporation for free swimming lessons for children grades 1 to 5;
• support for the Selkirk Park Pool and Splash Pad;
• upgrades at the Brandon Park Community Centre;
• new arenas in Dauphin, Powerview and Sprague;
• new Taché Community Centre in Lorette;
• baseball diamonds in Norway House, St. Malo, Seine River and St. Andrews;
• outdoor rinks in La Broquerie;
• tennis and pickleball courts at West Hawk Lake; and
• roof rebuild for the Foxwarren District Recreation Centre Arena ($100,000).

“Our government is listening to young people, their families and educators to learn how we can better support and empower Manitoba students to find pathways to success,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt. “Healthy and safe youth are essential for a better future, and we need to make early connections with youth to help them make good decisions and ensure they have access to all the supports, activities and resources they need.”

Summit sessions focused on safe, healthy and creative pathways for youth, with arts-based workshops led by local youth-serving non-profits. Students from Tec-Voc High School’s multimedia program ran photo and social media booths, while Sisler High School’s videography students captured the event to share key lessons with peers.

To read Manitoba’s Safer Neighbourhoods, Safer Downtowns Public Safety Strategy, visit www.gov.mb.ca/justice/pubs/publicsafety_strategy.pdf.

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