Archived News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

November 29, 2012

Province Announces After School Leaders Program, to Give Youth Experience, Build Skills

– – –
Province also Launches After School Network to Give Community Organizations Opportunity to Collaborate, Improve Programming: Selinger

The Manitoba government’s new After School Leaders program will provide mentorship and internship opportunities to children from high-needs communities through practical work experience, Premier Greg Selinger announced today.

“Keeping youth out of crime and on a positive path is about creating opportunities and After School Leaders is an exciting new program that will give more young people a chance to succeed,” said Selinger.  “By partnering with organizations in the community, we’re providing valuable after-school training and work experience that is structured, supervised and focused on building young people’s skills.”

With the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation as the flagship partner, After School Leaders works with organizations and businesses to give youth work experience and the chance to develop positive professional relationships with experts working in a number of fields including arts, communications and sports.

“We are proud to be a part of the After School Leaders program and excited for this opportunity to work with Manitoba youth,” said Dwayne Green, executive director of the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation.  “We will be offering youth internship opportunities that focus on game-day operations and communications for Jet games and special events, as well as hands-on experience in the operations of our foundation’s hockey program.”

Created with feedback from crime consultations held earlier this year, the After School Leaders program will start in January with students from five Winnipeg high schools – Argyle, Children of the Earth, St. John’s, Elmwood and Churchill – with plans to expand to other schools and communities in future years.

“This past year, we reached out to community groups, law enforcements agencies and families across the province.  We heard loud and clear that strong after-school programming is working.  It’s giving kids positive opportunities outside the classroom and After School Leaders keeps building on this momentum,” said Children and Youth Opportunities Minister Kevin Chief.

The premier also announced the creation of Manitoba’s After School Network, a network of organizations in the province that offers after-school and summer activities to tens of thousands of Manitoba youth.  The After School Network will give member organizations the opportunity to collaborate on programming, share best practices and increase their exposure, Selinger said, adding the network will officially launch in early 2013.

The province will be accepting request for proposals for the After School Leaders program.  Organizations interested in providing internship and youth learning opportunities can find information at www.merx.com by searching ‘after school leaders’, effective Nov. 30.  The deadline for proposals is Jan. 2.

- 30 -

The Province of Manitoba is distributing this release on behalf of the Government of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Jets True North Foundation.