Labour Market News

Want to find out more about local or provincial labour market history? The labour market news archive may be a good place to start.

In this section, you can browse archived news titles, whose links are no longer functional, for up to one year from the current date. The archived news can help you understand the labour market trends in geographic areas and industries that are of interest to you.

• Week of 2024-04-08 to 2024-04-12

  • Office vacancies in downtown Winnipeg increased slightly in first quarter of 2024, up to 18.6% from the previous 18.3%. Wawanesa Insurance established its new headquarters this quarter, vacating three other office buildings to consolidate its employees in one location.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Three new residential complexes are being considered by Winnipeg City Council. These would being 99 new units to the Elmwood neighbourhood, 127 units to St. Boniface, and 102 units to West Broadway. All three apartment buildings would include commercial space on the ground floor.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation is bringing seven pilot projects to the city through its research on chronic homelessness. The primary project is safe house for Indigenous women, offered in partnership with the Manitoba Métis Federation. Other projects include a men’s cultural group, a fire safety initiative, and a program providing free cellphones.

    cbc.ca

  • Mittall Canada recently announced plans for a $120M pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the Birds Hill area, northeast of Winnipeg. The development would create about 1,000 jobs, but still requires funding as well as various zoning approvals. Some residents in the area have expressed opposition due to environmental concerns.

    globalnews.ca

  • StudioLab xR, a virtual production studio, opened in downtown Winnipeg last month. The space is primarily a training station, but can also be booked for commercial use. The provincial and federal governments provided $3.5M last year for its creation, and industry stakeholders contributed an additional $1M.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is adding 50 beds at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre: a mix of surgical, psychiatric, and medicine beds. Additionally, the pediatric ICU will get another eight beds. Some of the beds are already open, while others will open over the course of the next year as new staff are recruited.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba’s 2024 Budget includes a new incentive for electric vehicle purchases within the province. The $5.4M program offers $4,000 for new vehicles and $2,500 for pre-owned.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A new eatery, Commonwealth Kitchen & Bar, is opening this month in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The space will accommodate 149 patrons in the restaurant and 50 on the patio. About 30 staff have been hired so far, including security guards.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is building a temporary fire paramedic station to serve the Waverly West neighbourhood, a fast-growing area with gaps in emergency services. The temporary site will be operational this fall and will be used for two years until a permanent fire hall is completed in 2026.

    chrisd.ca

  • WestJet is adding new daily routes from Winnipeg to Montreal and Ottawa, beginning in June. The company is also introducing a seasonal direct flight to Nashville, running from September to November.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is partnering with the Bruce Oake Memorial Foundation to construct a new women’s addiction treatment facility. The Anne Oake Family Recovery Centre will be located at Winnipeg’s Victoria Hospital and include up to 70 beds for women and their children. A timeline for the project has not yet been set.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has set aside $30M to address chronic homelessness, with $20M in grants soon to be available for non-profits to renovate or build social housing units. The remaining $10M is earmarked for municipalities and Indigenous governments to develop social housing.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba’s 2024 Budget includes plans for the province’s first supervised drug consumption site. The government has allocated $2.5M toward preparatory work for the site, which will begin operating in Winnipeg’s North Main area in 2025.

    ctvnews.ca

  • True North Real Estate Development will partner with The Southern Chiefs’ Organization (SCO) to redevelop the Portage Place Mall in downtown Winnipeg. The project includes a health care centre, a grocery store, retail space, and a 15-storey residential tower, which SCO will have the option to purchase over time.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-04-01 to 2024-04-05

  • Freedhome Developments is planning a six-storey housing complex in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood. The proposal outlines 127 units, including 52 affordable units with rents at or below 70% of the median market rate for the area. The complex would also include ground-floor commerical space.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has allocated $310M toward its goal of hiring 1,000 new health care workers over the next year.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is doubling spending on health care infrastructure in 2024, committing $635M for capital projects. This includes new emergency rooms in Eriksdale and at Winnipeg’s Victoria Hospital, as well as a new headquarters for CancerCare. Construction on the Victoria ER will begin within two years.

    cbc.ca

  • The Canada Infrastructure Bank is loaning up to $140M to five Manitoba communities, to support water and wastewater infrastructure projects. These include upgrades to Brandon’s water treatment facility as well as a new wastewater treatment plant serving the Town of Niverville and the municipalities of Taché, Hanover, and Ritchot.

    constructconnect.com

  • Manitoba’s economy will see slow growth in 2024 but more momentum in 2025, according to a recent report from Deloitte Canada. Investments in the mining and oil and gas sectors are expected to increase 52% this year.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Coffee chain Tim Hortons is opening a location in Altona next week. The restaurant has hired about two dozen people so far and aims to hire another eight to ten in the coming months.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • A new book store opened in Winnipeg’s St. James neighbourhood earlier this year. Raven’s End Books specializes in the horror and suspense genre.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The provincial government is spending $17M to open five new primary care clinics and two minor injury and illness clinics across the province. Brandon will host one of the minor injury and illness clinics, which operate similarly to urgent care centres. An interim clinic will open this fall, with a permanent facility planned at the site of the former Brandon Clinic.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $21.5M to upgrade about 30km of provincial roads in the Norway House region. This includes roads in and around the community of Norway House as well as Norway House Cree Nation.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Paragon Design Build is planning to construct a new apartment complex in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood. The 102-unit building would include 38 units deemed “affordable” by the Canada Mortgage Housing Corp. However, some community groups contend the proposed rents are still too high.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg’s temporary seasonal patio program, which began during the pandemic, has now been made permanent. The program allows businesses to open temporary patio spaces from April 1 to October 31.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Arby’s sandwich franchise is returning to Winnipeg, opening a location on Sterling Lyon Parkway this fall in the parking lot of the Outlet Collection Mall. The last Arby’s location in the city, at Kildonan Place Mall, closed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

    accesswinnipeg.com

  • African Varieties Store Inc., an African grocery store, opened in Winnipeg’s Concordia neighbourhood late in 2023. The owners hope to open a second location in the city within the next year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is expanding veterinary services in rural and remote communities, hiring a veterinarian to lead its new Northern and Remote Veterinary Care Initiative. The project includes $200,000 in funding for mobile spay and neuter clinics offered by the Winnipeg Humane Society and Feed the Furbabies Canada.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • A Winnipeg developer is proposing a large residential project in the Fort Garry neighbourhood. Fulton Grove would include 1,918 rental units in a mix of apartment towers, townhouses, and single-family homes. It has been in the planning phase for 11 years and is currently awaiting approval from the city.

    cbc.ca

  • Winnipeg-based Delta 9 Cannabis slowed production by 40% last year due to market oversupply, but is picking up speed again in 2024 after the closure of some competitors. The company posted a 12% increase in revenue and an operating profit of $3.4 million in 2023.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Longtime Winnipeg ice cream shop, Bridge Drive-In, plans to open a second location this year in the north end of the city. The new site will employ five or six staff and include indoor seating. BDI’s original location, on Jubilee Avenue, employs up to 25 people during the summer months.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Faculty at Brandon University have ratified a new contract, averting a potential strike. The four-year agreement includes wage increases of 2.5%, 2.75%, 3%, and 3%, along with general lump sum payments of $1,800 for full-time staff and $900 for part-time.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government has opened a four-bed epilepsy monitoring unit at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, replacing a smaller unit that closed in 2019. The Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals has expressed concerns about staffing, advising that five out of 12 specialized technologist positions at the hospital are currently unfilled.

    cbc.ca

  • The Province of Manitoba has reversed a change to provincial labour standards made by the previous government, allowing journeypersons in the skilled trades to supervise up to two apprentices. The current government has restored a 1:1 ratio, citing safety concerns.

    cbc.ca

  • More MRI technologists are needed in the province, according to the association representing them. The median wait time for an MRI in Manitoba is currently 20 weeks, and the number of urgent requests for the procedure has increased by more than 25% since the pandemic.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government has approved Manitoba to welcome 9,500 skilled immigrants in 2024. The Province fell short of the same target last year due to its failure to process about 2,000 applications in time, but has said it will increase staffing this year to reach the goal.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-25 to 2024-03-29

  • The federal government is providing over $7.4M to support 17 organizations located in Manitoba and Saskatchewan which seek ro address the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals and the implementation of preventative programing. Nine organizations in Winnipeg, and one in each The Pas and Headingley will receive funding.

    canada.ca

  • Ten-Ten Sinclair Housing health care support workers reached a new collective agreement on March 22 after striking earlier in March. The new agreement between Canadian Union of Public Employees members, Ten-Ten Sinclair, and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority includes a wage increase from $18.06 to $22.54 per hour as the top rate for trained health care workers.

    cbc.ca

  • The Manitoba government’s 2024/2025 fiscal budget will include money to build a new 95-bed personal care home in Lac du Bonnet, where there is a pressing need for additional personal care facilities. The project is estimated to cost $66.4M in total, and complete in 2027.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Manitoba and federal governments are jointly contributing $16.3M to go towards grants for 101 sustainable agriculture projects over the next three years. The funding is aimed at forwarding research and building capacity to accelerate agricultural innovation in the province.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Manitoba Government is working to improve legal services in French across the province. Improvements include expanding French-language training for the provincial court and creating a new bilingual hub in St. Boniface for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The federal government is providing $140M in loans for five Manitoba communities to construct new water and wastewater facilities. The provincial government is providing over $71M to these projects as well. With improved water and wastewater infrastructure, there will be greater capacity for 2,300 new housing units in Brandon and 12,600 in Taché, Hanover, Ritchot and Niverville.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2024-03-18 to 2024-03-22

  • The Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation north of Brandon is completing renovations on Brandon’s former Greyhound bus depot to improve northerner’s transportation to Brandon and thus expand education and economic opportunities. The Wuskwi Sipihk First Nation is a co-owner of Mahihkan Bus Lines which will operate out of the bus depot, providing job opportunities for First Nation members.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg’s 2024-2025 budget includes $600K for the Community Connections space at the Millennium Library until December 31st and no funding afterwards. It is uncertain at this point if future funding will be provided from another source. Meanwhile, the City approved a proposal to increase staff numbers in its permit department. Final approval is needed for the proposal.

    cbc.ca

  • The Province of Manitoba is providing $3.3M to NiCan Ltd. towards development projects. NiCan is conducting nickel mining exploration near Snow Lake, within the Grass River Provincial Park. The Wilderness Committee is concerned about impacting caribou living in the region, creating contentions between development and environmental health.

    cbc.ca

  • The Balmoral Hotel is spending $900K to upgrade the hotel which is often used as short-term housing for out-of-town residents receiving medical care. The upgrades will include adding a walk-in clinic, drop-in support site, and daycare. Renovation work will continue later into 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is adjusting its 2024 budget regarding recreational facilities. In St. Boniface, the Windsor Park pool will be open this and next summer, while the Happyland outdoor pool is expected to close. In Brooklands, the Eldon Ross Pool will close after August while the City seeks a buyer. All three pools need upgrades costing a total of $10M.

    cbc.ca

  • Imperial Oil Ltd. is ceasing operations for three months on its pipeline running between Gretna and Winnipeg terminal to conduct repairs. Gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel provided by Imperial Oil in Winnipeg are currently unavailable. The Manitoba government will provide a table of alternative fuel suppliers in the meantime.

    cbc.ca

  • Video King in Winnipeg is closing on April 6, after cumulative demand decreases due to movie streaming, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the writers’ and actors’ strikes.

    cbc.ca

  • Bell MTS is relocating many of its jobs from Brandon to Winnipeg and laying off almost 30 people in the move. Workers were offered the option to voluntarily retire with a payment package or relocate to Winnipeg on February 21 with 30 days to decide. Positions that end in Brandon will not be replaced.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-11 to 2024-03-15

  • The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association is offering a program to train non-veterinarians to vaccinate and deworm cats and dogs in communities that have historically lacked access to those services. The limited access vaccinator program will send licensed veterinarians to remote and northern communities as well as all First Nations in the province, training people to deworm and administer different vaccines to cats and dogs.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing the minimum wage by 50 cents on October 1 to $15.80 an hour. The new wage is based on a formula which ties annual wage increases to inflation. 

    cbc.ca

  • According to recent data, Manitoba producers plan to increase canola and corn for grain planting in 2024. Canola acreage is expected to rise by 2.4%, while corn for grain may increase by 5.8%. However, Manitoba farmers anticipate planting slightly less wheat, barley, and soybeans.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Winnipeg School Division is restructuring to a model which will move a select number of teachers located in centralized positions permanently into classrooms. The move aims to achieve a 1-to-20 ratio between teachers and students in every classroom while also providing a 1-to-80 ratio of learning support workers and students.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba Pork is providing $75,000 over the next three years to the Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba initiative to showcase the work of pork producers, and introduce students to the fundamentals of hog farming and pork production.

    mysteinbach.ca

  •  Chez Angela Bakery & Café is closing its satellite location in the Green Spot-on Ross Ave in Brandon in order to prioritize their downtown location. The company cites a decline in customer traffic and labour shortages as reasons for the closure.

    brandonsun.com

  • White Bear Films, an Ojibway production company based in Winnipeg, is filming a re-imagining of the 1984 film Once Were Warriors. The project, titled Many Wounds, tells the story of a young indigenous man living in Winnipeg’s North End Neighbourhood, and is slated for completion this spring.

    cbc.ca

  • Sharfe Developments Inc. is progressing work on Osborne Terraces, a six-storey mixed-use project with 90 residential suites and over 7,000 sq ft of commercial space. Construction on the development is expected to wrap up in July.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing almost $1M to the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund for 17 projects across the province. The funding will support fish population and habitat enhancement, research to improve angling opportunities, and improved public access including upgrading docks.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is increasing funding at four emergency shelters. The West End 24-Hour Safe Space, Velma's House, St. Boniface Street Links and N'Dinawemak have received top-up payments ranging from $100,000 to $275,000 to continue providing shelter and emergency services to vulnerable peoples.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Pimicikamak Cree Nation, a northern Manitoba First Nation located approximately 550 km from Winnipeg, declared a state of emergency on March 8 in response to a nursing shortage. Only 4 of 13 nursing positions were staffed. The band has a population of more than 9,000 people, including more than 6,000 living on-reserve.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-03-04 to 2024-03-08

  • The provincial government is working with Manitoba’s three nursing regulators to make it quicker and easier for former nurses to return to work. Changes to licensing requirements will reduce the number of practice hours required for nurses to be reinstated.

    cbc.ca

  • A shared workspace for beauty professionals in Winnipeg’s Exchange District has grown to include 26 different businesses since opening last spring. The Village Salon Studios is at 60% occupancy and expects to be at 80% by the end of April. Tenants include newcomers to Canada and young entrepreneurs.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $3M to create 12 new officer positions in the Winnipeg Police Service as part of an overhaul of the province’s bail system. An additional $500,000 will be allocated to enhancing supervision, mental health services, and substance use supports for those out on bail in the community.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Brandon has made a piece of land available for $1 to organizations willing to build affordable housing. The site could accommodate 55 small units for residents experiencing homelessness. Interested organizations can submit proposals individually or in collaboration.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $288,000 to Manitoba Possible, a non-profit serving people with disabilities. The funds will allow the organization to hire more wheelchair repair technicians.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Insurance company Canada Life is cutting an unspecified number of IT jobs and is outsourcing them HCLTech, a firm based in India. Canada Life has its headquarters in Winnipeg and employed 3,402 Manitobans as of 2022. The company says some staff will be laid off, while others will be offered different roles.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Office vacancy rates in downtown Winnipeg are expected to increase this year, according to the latest forecast by CBRE. Downtown rates are projected to rise to 19% in 2024, from 18.4% last year, while vacancies in the suburbs will fall by 0.9%.

    globalnews.ca

  • Misericordia Terrace, a new 55+ independent living centre, has opened in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood. The complex has 97 units, including 30 affordable seniors housing suites. It employs 20 staff and includes a full-service kitchen.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $3.3M to 15 mineral development projects across the province. The majority of the projects are in northern communities such as Thompson, Flin Flon, and Snow Lake, with one lithium project located in southwestern Manitoba.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Physicians in Manitoba have reduced their clerical duties by more than 10% in the last year, according to a report commissioned by the Province. Last winter, the provincial government partnered with Doctors Manitoba to streamline paperwork and administrative tasks for physicians across the health care system.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Corydon Hardware is permanently closing this spring after 75 years in Winnipeg’s Corydon Village neighbourhood. At one time the locally-owned store employed six full-time staff, but in recent years has not been able to hire workers due to declining revenues.

    cbc.ca

  • Custodians in the Seine River School Division have signed a new contract with their employer, ending a two-week strike. The four-year deal includes wage increases ranging from 16-20% as well as increases in overtime, long-service allowance, and family-related leave.

    mgeu.ca

  • Dwarf no Cachette, a Japanese eatery in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood, will be closing this fall. The owners of the building are demolishing it in order to build an apartment complex on the site.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal government is providing $1.6M to the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce to develop a green assessment program for small and medium-sized businesses. The program will help 60 businesses increase their capacity to produce and export green products and services.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $2M to hire more psychiatrists across the province. Nine new positions will be created in Winnipeg and Selkirk, while the University of Manitoba will increase its number of trainees and expand placements to include rural and northern areas.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Body Shop Canada is closing 33 stores across Canada and ending online sales as it seeks creditor protection. This includes the company's sole Manitoba location, in the Brandon Shoppers Mall.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-02-26 to 2024-03-01

  • The Health Transformation Department at the Southern Chiefs’ Organization is working with partners to enhance healthcare accessibility for Lake Manitoba residents. Currently, community members are undergoing training to provide lab services locally, opening up new career paths and strengthening healthcare capacity. The organization will provide ongoing support to the program graduates as they contribute to the Health Centre.

    scoinc.mb.ca

  • The R.M. of Morris is advancing the second phase of the Prairie Hearth Development in Rosenort, which will see the addition of 37 lots. A request for proposals for the development will be issued soon.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • The Gimli Chamber of Commerce and the Gimli Community Development Corporation have been working together to attract Ukrainian refugees to work in the community. Approximately 200 Ukrainian immigrants have relocated to the community since 2022.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Bee Maid Honey Ltd. is expanding operations with a new, $25M filtration facility and store in St. Boniface. Bee Maid is a cooperative of over 300 beekeepers in Western Canada, and intakes approximately 30 per cent of Canada’s honey. The new hub will be twice the size of Bee Maid’s current facility.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Boundary Trails Health Centre, situated between Winkler and Morden, has faced a severe nursing shortage in recent years. As of early February, the center experienced a 52 percent vacancy rate for in-patient and emergency nursing positions, prompting administrators to contemplate unit consolidation and potential bed closures.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is providing $16M to support the creation of a 214-unit residential high-rise currently under construction in downtown Winnipeg. The complex will be comprised of a mix of affordable and market-rate apartments and is expected to welcome its first tenants by December 2025.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are investing $60 million to upgrade the Hudson Bay Railway and redevelop the Port of Churchill. The Arctic Gateway Group, a partnership of 41 First Nation and Bayline communities, will utilize the funds for capital investments in repairing and maintaining the rail line. This project is anticipated to generate 60 to 70 jobs in Northern Manitoba.

    www.msn.com

  • Thompson Fire and Emergency Services are facing staffing shortages, currently operating with a 21 percent reduction in staff. This has led to a significant increase in overtime work for the existing staff.

    thompsononline.ca

  • According to the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals, lab assistants and technologists from across Manitoba are heading to Thompson to address understaffing at Thompson General Hospital, where only two permanent technologists are currently employed.

    thompsononline.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College's Russ Edwards School is introducing a new two-year advanced diploma, Digital Agriculture Technology, starting in September 2024. The program focuses on modern tech-driven agricultural practices, including precision agriculture. Students will also undergo a work-integrated learning placement between the first and second year.

    assiniboine.net

  • The Country Rising Music Festival, a brand-new live performance event, will take place in Winnipeg on July 26. The all-ages festival will include craft food and retail vendors, outdoor game experiences, and bars with craft whiskey cocktails.

    chrisd.ca
• Week of 2024-02-19 to 2024-02-23

  • The Winnipeg School Division is expanding the scope of R.B. Russell High School to provide vocational training to adults. The new “career hub” will offer library technician training in April, followed by programs for administrative clerks and power engineering later this spring.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A production studio village project in Niverville has been postponed due to financing and environmental concerns. The $30M Jette Studios was to begin construction in 2023, but now won't get underway until sometime this year. Original plans included both a pop-up and traditional soundstage, but the pop-up studio component has been cancelled because of its energy inefficiency.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Sylvan Learning has opened a new location in Brandon’s Shoppers Mall. The company offers tutoring for K-12 students to supplement their in-class education and to help address pandemic-related learning loss.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The Government of Canada is contributing $1.3M toward accessibility and environmental upgrades at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, located in Winnipeg. Renovations include washroom modifications, lighting and HVAC updates, and replacing the roof and windows.

    canada.ca

  • Valleyview Co-op has opened a new gas bar and convenience store in Virden, near the Trans-Canada Highway.

    empireadvance.ca

  • The federal government is providing $2.9M to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation for upgrades to its Dakota Oyate Elder Care Lodge. The installation of solar panels and a new heating system will improve the facility’s energy efficiency. Some renovations are also geared toward making the nursing station more accessible.

    constructconnect.com

  • The provincial government will not issue an environmental license for Sio Silica's proposed sand extraction project in southeastern Manitoba. The Calgary-based company had planned to drill up to 7,700 wells in the area over a period of 24 years, but the Province rejected the proposal due to environmental risks.

    cbc.ca

  • A new restaurant, Pizza & Chicken by Kanwal, will be opening in downtown Brandon in early March. The restaurant will be hiring 10-15 staff.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is hosting three hiring halls in March to interviewing for summer positions. The city is recruiting labourers, student labourers, and gardeners.

    accesswinnipeg.com

  • Shared Health is working with recruitment company Canadian Health Labs to bring 15 new French-speaking doctors to Manitoba. This is part of a deal announced last year that set a target of recruiting 150 physicians. Ten percent of these must be bilingual in French and English.

    cbc.ca

  • The owners of Winnipeg’s Yafa Café have announced their retirement and placed the business for sale. The Palestinian eatery, located on Portage Avenue, first opened in 2018.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has granted approval to Canadian Premium Sand’s mining project and solar glass production facility. The silica sand mine will create 30 permanent jobs near Hollow Water First Nation, while the production facility in Selkirk will generate about 250. Construction will begin this summer and could result in 600 to 700 temporary jobs.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is committing $633M to health care in Manitoba, enabling the province to hire 400 more physicians, 300 nurses, 200 paramedics, and 100 home care workers. Plans also include improvements to home care and long-term care over the next five years.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2024-02-12 to 2024-02-16

  • Three western Manitoba First Nations have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a new casino just west of Brandon. The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation, and Dakota Plains First Nation plan to seek a gaming license from the Province and begin a feasibility study to get the project underway.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is providing $99,000 to Festival du Voyageur, Winnipeg’s annual winter celebration of Francophone, First Nations, and Métis arts and culture. The funding will be used to expand the festival's Indigenous programming.

    canada.ca

  • The Studio on Sask, an indoor cycling gym, has opened in Portage la Prairie.

    portageonline.com

  • The City of Winnipeg hopes to be selling gas produced at its Brady Landfill by 2026. Capturing gas at the site could reduce the landfill’s emissions by 40%, as well as generating about $10M over 20 years. Construction can begin on a new facility once the project is approved by the Province.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The world’s largest snow maze has opened for the season near St. Adolphe. A Maze in Corn’s opening was delayed this year due to unseasonably warm weather, and some of its associated attractions remain closed, such as its snow bar, sleigh rides, and luge.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Government of Canada and Pulse Canada are jointly contributing $21M to research projects in pulse production. This includes a collaborative effort between the University of Manitoba and the University of Saskatchewan, examining how genetic, environmental, and economic factors influence yellow pea crops.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Entertainment retailer HMV is re-establishing a presence in Manitoba after closing all of its Canadian stores seven years ago. Winnipeg’s three Toys “R” Us stores will host in-store spaces dedicated to HMV products. The additions could be complete by the end of February, according to store staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Canola yields in Manitoba may have broken records in 2023. While official figures are yet to be publicized, Manitoba Agriculture is estimating yields well above the 10-year average of 40 bushels per acre.

    producer.com

  • Manitoba’s aviation industry has been facing a shortage of workers for several years. The cost of flight training and an increase in retirements during the pandemic are among the contributing factors. The Manitoba Aviation Council is hosting its annual career fair in Winnipeg later this month and hopes to recruit more staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is allocating $300,000 annually to a new program designed to address physician burnout and improve retention. The New to Practice Program is a partnership with Doctors Manitoba that will offer support and mentorship to doctors in their first five years of practice.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba has announced plans to develop a new accreditation stream specifically for foreign-trained health care workers. Health care licensing bodies in Manitoba have received criticism in recent years from workers who say the accreditation process is difficult and costly.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg intends to spend $20M over six years to close three of its pools and 20 of its wading pools, replacing them with 10 new splash pads. An ongoing labour shortage factored into the decision, as splash pads don’t require attendants to operate.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is allocating $600,000 in its 2024 preliminary budget to CentreVenture, an arms-length downtown development corporation. Council will soon begin debating changes to CentreVenture’s mandate, and its new focus is expected to revolve around shoring up housing in the core area of the city.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The EmpowHer Women in Trades training program has graduated its first class of 43 students, many of whom are newcomer and Indigenous women. The 12-week program is a partnership between three industry groups meant to address labour shortages in Manitoba’s manufacturing, film, and construction sectors.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2024-02-05 to 2024-02-09

  • The Sherbrook Inn has closed its bar and beer vendor after nearly 60 years in business in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Thompson is seeking a company to construct its new aquatic centre, with $15M raised for the project so far. A request for proposals was issued in November 2023 and closed in late January.

    thompsoncitizen.net

  • Winnipeg’s airport recorded more than four million passengers in 2023, bringing it within 91.3% of pre-pandemic numbers. Net income also increased year-over-year, by $21.7M, according to the Winnipeg Airports Authority.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Brandon-based Giiwe Media and Winnipeg-based JW Consults are partnering to create a tourism program for Indigenous communities. The 31-week Community Tourism Officer Training Program has four spots open to tourism officers looking to create community tourism plans.

    brandonsun.com

  • Manitoba Hydro may need to develop new ways to generate power within the next few years, according to its CEO. Demand for electricity in the province is expected to double or triple in the next 20 years, but Manitoba Hydro is not planning any new hydro generating stations. It may instead focus on wind farms.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • New Media Manitoba is offering a digital internship program for youth in Northern Manitoba. The program connects participants with employers in social media marketing, IT support, research, and other digital fields. It is open to anyone between ages 15 and 29 living north of the 53rd parallel.

    flinflononline.com

  • A new convenience store, Quikstop, is opening near Brandon's university.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Coffee shop chain Second Cup has opened a new location in Brandon. The shop is located on Currie Boulevard and will be Second Cup’s fifth location in Manitoba.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is inviting applications for its Urban/Hometown Green Team program, which awards funding to organizations looking to hire youth for summer jobs across the province. The grants cover 100% of wages for non-profit groups and 50% for municipal governments.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Winnipeg’s birthing centre, Ode’imin, is significantly under-capacity due to a shortage of midwives and birthing assistants. The centre opened in 2011 with a goal of 500 births per year, but has yet to achieve even half of its target.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $30M to introduce a universally accessible school meal program in 2024-2025. Currently schools across the province establish their own meal programs through school divisions or through the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba, which has about 70 schools on a wait list.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association will soon begin certifying non-veterinarians to perform some animal care duties in the province’s North. The program begins in June and includes training in vaccination and administering medications. It is intended to help alleviate Manitoba’s vet shortage, particularly in rural and remote communities.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2024-01-29 to 2024-02-02

  • United Airlines will resume direct flights from Winnipeg to Denver and Chicago this spring, restarting routes that were cancelled at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Daily, year-round service begins again in May.

    cbc.ca

  • Montreal-based Groupe Touchette is expanding its business in Manitoba, building a new distribution centre next to its current facility in the Brookside Industrial Park, near Winnipeg. The tire distribution company will begin construction on the addition this spring and complete it later this year or early next.

    constructconnect.com

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering an 18-month Early Childhood Education diploma program in Elkhorn this spring. It includes a work placement component and is intended to address staff shortages in rural Manitoba child care centres.

    empireadvance.ca

  • Rest Haven, a personal care home in Steinbach, has been open nearly two years but is still under capacity due to staff shortages. Currently there are about 100 residents in the 143-bed facility. To reach full capacity, Rest Haven needs about 16 certified health care aides and 8-10 licensed practical nurses.

    steinbachonline.com

  • The Province of Manitoba is scheduled to begin construction next month on a bridge near New Bothwell, on Provincial Road 311. The $16M project is a rebuild after the previous bridge burned last spring. It is expected to be complete in summer of 2025.

    steinbachonline.com

  • Sales of single-family homes in Brandon reached a 10-year low in 2023, declining slightly from 2022 and significantly from a record-high in 2021. Brandon Area Realtors states that low interest rates and the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased sales in 2021, while climbing interest rates and low housing inventory factored into last year’s low sales.

    brandonsun.com

  • Civil servants with the Province of Manitoba have ratified a new collective agreement that includes wage increases of about 14% over four years. The agreement includes signing bonuses and the establishment of a fund to offer additional wage increases for hard-to-recruit positions.

    cbc.ca

  • Two feature films are shooting in Winnipeg this spring, providing a boost to an industry that suffered during the Hollywood actors and writers strikes last year. Studio 87North is filming “With Love” in April and May, while director Nick Cassavetes’ “Bruno Penguin and the Staten Island Princess” shoots from February to April.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The provincial government is providing a total $800,000 to three youth mental health programs. These include the Indigenous Youth Mentorship and Sources of Strength programs offered in communities across the province, as well as the suicide prevention resources coordinated by Manitoba’s five regional health authorities.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Manitoba’s provincial court system is facing a shortage of clerks, causing delays in court proceedings. There are currently 14 vacancies at the King’s Bench courts in Winnipeg, where a full complement is 46 full-time and three part-time staff. Seven clerks are being hired currently, but still require months of training before they can begin work.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing $1.5M over five years to the farm industry group Keystone Agricultural Producers, for its FarmSafe Manitoba program. The program provides safety assessments, training, and other resources to Manitoba farmers.

    canada.ca

  • The Brandon Global Market has permanently closed after 12 years in business. The Community Health and Housing Association Westman says it has faced financial difficulty trying to maintain an outdoor space for the market.

    brandonsun.com

  • Health care workers hired during the provincial government’s recruitment trip to the Philippines last year are now arriving in the province. The February 2023 trip yielded over 300 job offers, and as of today, 35 of those workers are in Manitoba, with eight more arriving later this month and arrangements in progress for a further 49.

    globalnews.ca

  • Winnipeg restaurant chain Mr. Calzone plans to open seven new locations this year, including some outside of the province. Currently the franchise has four restaurants in Winnipeg, and is aiming for 40 locations across Canada by 2026.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A Winnipeg physician is spending $700,000 of her own funds to recruit 10 doctors from the United Kingdom to practice at the Trucare and Rivergrove medical clinics. In addition to recruitment agency fees, the money covers airfare, a signing bonus, and one initial month’s living expenses.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is adding nine new inpatient beds at the Dauphin Regional Health Centre, part of a $7.8M renovation that will also increase endoscopy capacity and space for cancer patients. Construction is expected to be complete this summer.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • University College of the North is launching a new pre-law program in partnership with the University of Manitoba and a collection of legal organizations. The program begins this fall in Thompson and The Pas, and is meant to address the shortage of law professionals in Northern Manitoba.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2024-01-22 to 2024-01-26

  • The Government of Manitoba plans to increase staffing in its provincial nominee program office to speed up the processing of applications. Last year, the federal government approved up to 9,500 families to come to Manitoba through the program, but due to staff shortages, only 6,333 applications were approved.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is inviting applications for the Manitoba Accessibility Fund, which offers grants up to $50,000 for projects that remove barriers for Manitobans with disabilities. Applicants may include businesses, schools, non-profit organizations, and municipalities.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing $450,000 over three years toward the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, which offers counselling services to agricultural producers.

    canada.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing $1.3M over 5 years to enhance horticultural research at Assiniboine Community College in Brandon. There are two projects currently underway at the college, one focusing on high tunnel crop production and one on passive greenhouse production.

    assiniboine.net

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation and RRC Polytech have partnered with Winnipeg restaurant the Bistro to create a culinary education program for Métis youth. The 12-week program, called Me-yaw-sin Micowin, includes a mentorship component and work experience as well as hands-on training in Métis cooking styles.

    winnipegsun.com

  • The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority has recruited about 400 new uncertified home care attendants since introducing a free four-week training course in March 2023. The health authority also recently held a job fair to recruit additional staff, as worker shortages persist and demand for home care is increasing.

    globalnews.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is providing a total of $836,739 to 13 community centres for renovation projects. These include repairs, retrofits, upgrades, and safety improvements.

    winnipeg.ca

  • Mainly Manitoba, a gift store specializing in locally made products, will not operate its seasonal location in Wasagaming this summer. The company also permanently closed its location in the Brandon Shoppers Mall last year, citing pandemic challenges and a decline in foot traffic.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Government of Canada is contributing $6.2M toward the development of an aviation fuel production facility in Portage la Prairie. Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp will use the funds to conduct engineering and design studies for the plant, which would convert canola and soybean oils to fuel. The money is in addition to $2.9M announced by the federal and provincial governments in December.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg-based Perimeter Airlines is cancelling service to three northwestern Ontario communities beginning in May 2024. The company’s Bearskin Airlines subsidiary will no longer fly to Dryden, Kenora, and Fort Frances, due to low demand.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Town of Neepawa is partnering with Assiniboine Community College to train skilled workers in rural Manitoba. The Neepawa Training Centre opened this week, offering a 20-seat practical nursing program and with plans to deliver other types of training. Health care training in particular is needed in the community with a new hospital scheduled to open in 2026.

    cbc.ca

  • Young’s Market is adding a new location in Winnipeg. The ethnic food market will open its third location in early February, on McPhillips Street.

    accesswinnipeg.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing physician hours in the minor treatment clinic at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, part of a four-week pilot project aimed at addressing emergency department congestion. On a trail basis, one more physician will join the clinic for six hours each day, providing care for patients referred from the emergency department with non-urgent issues.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • A shortage of certified arena operators recently led to the temporary closure of one rink in southwest Winnipeg. Many qualified rink attendants are nearing retirement age, and fewer people are training in the field. At present the City of Winnipeg has 21 rink operators and needs at least 25.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Paragon Living is building an 84-unit apartment complex in Winnipeg’s St. James neighbourhood, slated for completion this September. The City of Winnipeg recently relaxed its restrictions on construction near the airport, and more large multi-family projects are now expected in the area.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2024-01-15 to 2024-01-19

  • Winnipeg’s Technical Vocational high school has completed the construction of a $4.3M training facility, increasing capacity in its welding, machining, and aerospace programs. The new space will allow the school to accommodate 272 students in grades 9-12 and 43 adult learners.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Manitoba Teachers’ Society is hosting a conference for educators who are Black, Indigenous, or people of colour (BIPOC). The focus is on encouraging BIPOC teachers to apply for leadership roles in the education system, where they are currently underrepresented.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Prairie Mountain Health Region is increasing incentives in order to attract doctors to the region, which is currently short about 90 physicians. Signing bonuses of $75,000 are available to doctors willing to relocate to southwestern Manitoba from other provinces.

    730ckdm.com

  • The Government of Manitoba will award $1.6M in grants to heritage projects across the province in 2024. This includes funding for museums, military memorials, and heritage buildings or programs.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • On Screen Manitoba and Manitoba Film and Music have launched a new program that pairs local screenwriters with international industry mentors. Five individuals will be chosen for the mentorships, which begin in March.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Mining Association of Manitoba has launched a multimedia marketing campaign to promote careers in the minerals industry and raise public awareness about its growing significance in the province. The Government of Manitoba has contributed $1.3M to the campaign.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is making changes to its provincial nominee program, which matches foreign workers to high-demand jobs in the province. Applicants with close family connections in Manitoba will be given priority in an effort to retain workers in the province longer term.

    cbc.ca

  • A Ukrainian eatery recently opened in the food court of Winnipeg shopping mall CF Polo Park. Taste of Ukraine primarily employs those who have immigrated to Manitoba after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. New locations are planned for Kildonan Place and St. Vital Centre malls if the Polo Park restaurant is successful.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Winnipeg-based Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry is launching an $8.3M pilot program focused on training foreign-educated dentists to practice in Canada. Support for the project comes from a federal fund aimed at recruiting 6,600 foreign-trained professionals into health care occupations across the country.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has opened a temporary overnight drop-in centre, offering shelter to people experiencing homelessness. The organization obtained provincial funding for the project in spring 2023, but three locations fell through before it was able to secure its current space at the Indigenous non-profit Life’s Journey.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba businesses are feeling the effects of inflation, according to a recent survey by the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce. Almost half of businesses surveyed have raised prices due to inflation over the past year, and 48% have reduced profit margins. One third of small businesses reported they haven’t hired anyone in the past two years.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A Winnipeg gourmet candy company has opened its first storefront after a year operating as a home-based business. The Marshmallow Factory is now located on Selkirk Avenue, in the city’s North End.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Office vacancies in downtown Winnipeg reached a record high of 18.3% at the end of 2023, up from 16.3% at the beginning of the year. Remote work and corporate downsizing may play a role. Meanwhile, the city’s suburban areas have seen a decrease in office vacancies as companies seek cheaper parking and short commutes for staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is adding 36 acute care beds at the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, an effort to reduce wait times and emergency room overcrowding. The first ten beds will open in March and the remainder should be operational within a year.

    cbc.ca

  • Heartland Fertility recently opened a new clinic in Winnipeg’s Tuxedo neighbourhood, doubling the size of its former space on Portage Avenue. The clinic has hired new fertility specialists, allowing it to reduce wait times from one year to just a few weeks.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2024-01-08 to 2024-01-12

  • St. Boniface Street Links has opened a pop-up warming shelter on Winnipeg’s St. Mary’s Road, offering beds and support services to 25 people. The shelter opened January 8 and will remain operational for as long as cold winter temperatures continue.

    globalnews.ca

  • Toronto-based music store Long & McQuade is expanding its Winnipeg operations, closing its retail location in the West End, and opening a larger store and regional distribution centre in the Polo Park area. The new location will allow the company to begin offering music lessons, and is slated to open before the end of 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba Education has hired two senior staff to help boost education outcomes for Indigenous and Francophone students. One position is tasked with assisting teacher recruitment in the province’s north and improving Indigenous graduation rates. The other will restart the department’s French-language office, Bureau de l’éducation française.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • New residential developments are coming to Winnipeg’s Pembina Highway strip. The Point, an 82-unit apartment, began accepting tenants in December, while a 12-storey, 226-unit mixed-use development started construction in July at the site of the former Pembina Hotel. The nearby Cambridge Hotel is also expected to be a residential build, with a proposal for an 87-unit complex submitted in 2021.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba’s publicly-run float nursing pool program has more than doubled in size since last spring, increasing to 113 nurses from 55 in May 2023. The program, which assigns nurses temporarily to understaffed facilities, was established in 2022 to address labour shortages and reduce reliance on private agencies.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Green Carrot Juice Co, a Winnipeg beverage business, is closing its Osborne Village location. It is the second business to move out of the neighbourhood in recent months. However, its retail space has already been leased by a quick-service restaurant, according to the Osborne Village BIZ.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $12M toward safety improvements at the intersection of Provincial Trunk Highways 1 and 5, the site of a fatal collision last year. A functional design study will be conducted to recommend improvements to the intersection, while a permanent road safety unit will regularly review Manitoba’s highways.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Manitoba will see a small GDP increase of 0.4% this year, on track with the Canadian average, according to the latest forecast from Deloitte. The manufacturing industry in the province is expected to slow down, but steady construction activity will help to compensate for it.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Tesla is opening its first Manitoba location, in the Waverly Automall. The automaker has begun hiring for various positions, including service and parts advisers, but has not yet announced when the store will open.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Rural and northern emergency departments are contending with staffing issues, affecting services. The Roblin District Health Centre recently announced that it would be reducing its hours and closing altogether on Mondays over the next month. In Thompson, there are 56 vacant nursing positions at the local hospital, currently staffed by agency or travel nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • A Japanese company is reportedly considering Manitoba as the site for a $1.5B lithium ion battery separator plant. The unnamed company has scouted a location near Winnipeg’s perimeter highway for the project, which would initially employ about 700 people.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-12-18 to 2024-01-05

  • Fast food chain KFC recently opened a new location in Brandon. The restaurant offers a 24-hour drive-thru in addition to a dining room.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Economic Development Brandon has recorded $200M in investment in the city’s heavy-industry and food-processing sectors in 2023, and expects that trend to continue into 2024. Upcoming projects in the New Year include those by Brandon Fresh Farms, Cascadia Metals, Enns Brothers, Nissan, and Dingu Technologies.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is moving forward with plans to create a universal school meal program, an election promise estimated to cost about $30M annually. The Province is spending $1.5M to fund 51 programs for the remainder of this school year, with the full program to begin in September 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba has the second-lowest percentage of female entrepreneurs in Canada, according a recent report by the Diversity Institute. Just 12.8% of small and medium-sized businesses in the province are majority-owned by women, compared with 19.1% nationally.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Most rural Manitoba school support staff earn less than their Winnipeg counterparts, according to a report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Rural education workers, including educational assistants, custodians, and bus drivers, are paid $4.01-$6.48 per hour less than their urban colleagues.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Royal Bank of Canada has acquired HSBC Bank Canada, and is planning to grow its Canadian workforce. This includes 100 new jobs in Winnipeg on its client operations and advice centre teams.

    newswire.ca

  • Winnipeg’s Osborne Village has weathered business closures and declining pedestrian traffic since the onset of the pandemic, but is now seeing new revitalization projects. These include a new 90-suite apartment development, protected bike lanes, and a lane closure and pedestrian plaza pilot project.

    globalnews.ca

  • Winnipeg-based tractor manufacturer Buhler Industries has been acquired by Turkish agricultural company Basak Tractors in a $60.5M deal. Buhler officials have not yet said how the deal will affect the company’s 800 staff in Winnipeg and Morden.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Rural emergency rooms throughout the province are closed over the Christmas holidays due to staff shortages. In the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority, only two of ten hospitals are open on Christmas day. Nine of Prairie Mountain Health’s 21 hospitals are closed and two others open for limited hours only.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A new 12-bed unit has opened at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre, offering rehabilitation treatment to patients who have suffered a stroke. The unit will expand to 28 beds as more staff are hired over the next 3-4 months, and will eventually support about 40 jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing $2.9M to Azure Sustainable Fuels Corp to help advance the company’s plans for an aviation fuel plant in Portage la Prairie. The company will use the funds to conduct an engineering and efficiency study before beginning construction in 2024 or 2025.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Food and beverage workers at Winnipeg’s three casinos have ratified a new four-year collective agreement with Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, avoiding a strike scheduled to begin December 22. The contract covers 750 workers and includes wage increases of 11% s well as shift premiums and signing bonuses.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government recently announced plans to ban the practice of hiring replacement workers during strikes and lockouts. Manitoba currently prohibits the permanent use of replacement workers, but this change to the Labour Relations Act would extend that to temporary workers as well.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg and the federal government have signed a deal to fast-track the construction of 3,166 new homes over three years and 15,000 in the next decade. More than $122M is available through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund to facilitate rapid zoning changes, support incentive programs, and establish a land enhancement office.

    winnipeg.ca

  • The provincial government is spending $5.7M to provide housing to Manitobans facing homelessness. The first phase of the plan will make 250 rental units available in Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, and Swan River. The second phase, to begin in 2024, will provide housing programs for women and the LGBTQ community.

    cbc.ca

  • Unionized employees at the Winnipeg Free Press have voted to accept a new contract, which includes an 8.75% wage increase over three years.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • International travel to Manitoba has increased in 2023 but has yet to reach pre-pandemic levels, according to the Canada Border Services Agency. More than 1.3M people entered Manitoba from outside of Canada the first 10 months of 2023, up from 1.03M the previous year, but still short of 1.9M in 2019.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Brandon YMCA has completed a $10M expansion, adding capacity to its childcare and fitness centres. Childcare spaces have increased to 96 from 44, and the fitness facilities can now serve 200-300 people per hour. The YMCA has partnered with Assiniboine Community College to train new staff.

    brandonsun.com

  • Owners of The White Top Drive-In in Winnipeg’s North End are planning to open a second location in 2024. The new location, in the Fort Garry neighbourhood, will employ 10 people and be open year round.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal government is providing $3.25M to Red River College Polytechnic’s new Digital Technology Transformation Initiative. The project builds partnerships with industry and creates learning opportunities for students, focusing on research in advanced digital manufacturing and clean technology.

    www.rrc.ca

  • Arctic Gateway Group (AGG) will receive its first shipment of ore next year, through an agreement with HudBay Minerals. AGG, an Indigenous-owned company, acquired the Port of Churchill and Hudson Bay Railway in 2018, and is working to expand supply chain opportunities for the port.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Emergency room wait times at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre are currently more than 30 hours, according to the Manitoba Nurses Union. A nursing shortage, resulting in over 2,800 unfilled positions, is contributing to the issue.

    globalnews.ca

  • The federal government, through PrairiesCan, is providing a $10M interest-free loan to Winnipeg bus manufacturer NFI Group. The money is earmarked for building zero-emission buses and motor coaches and upgrading the company’s production facilities. NFI Group currently employs 2,800 people in Winnipeg.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is providing up to $19.4M to increase cargo capacity at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport. The construction of a new storage facility will improve export opportunities as well as making it easier to ship goods to remote communities within Manitoba.

    canada.ca

  • Elkhorn Resort is opening a Nordic spa on its property near Riding Mountain National Park. Klar So Nordic Spa, which cost more than $10M to build, is set to open before Christmas.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The first Indigenous-led Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine clinic recently opened in Winnipeg, offering assessment, counselling, and medication in addition to harm reduction supplies such as Naloxone. The Government of Manitoba is providing $1M annually in operating funds.

    globalnews.ca

  • Winnipeg home prices are projected to rise 3% over the next year, according to a report by Royal LePage. The number of homes for sale in the city has increased since the lows seen during the pandemic, but supply is still about 25% short of normal, driving up prices.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg-based candy manufacturer Scott-Bathgate is permanently shutting down, ending its Nutty Club brand. The closure affects 55 employees across the four Western provinces, with operations concentrated in Winnipeg.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is directing Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries to open more publicly-run liquor stores, including Liquor Mart Express outlets located in grocery stores. The province also plans to lift the 2018 suspension on new gambling facilities in Manitoba.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-12-11 to 2023-12-15

  • People’s Place Café and Lounge recently opened in downtown Brandon. The café offers hookah experiences in addition to coffee, desserts, and juices from around the world, with an emphasis on Middle Eastern and East African fare.

    brandonsun.com

  • Some employers in Thompson are relying on temporary foreign workers or post-secondary apprenticeships amid a worker shortage. The City of Thompson has a vacancy rate of over 10% in its workforce, and restaurants and hotels also report being understaffed.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba is facing a shortage of home care staff, resulting in the use of contracted agency staff by all five regional health authorities. About 1,500 Manitobans, as of October 1, chose to recruit and hire their own attendants through self-managed home care.

    cbc.ca

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation has created a new business association and economic development corporation intended to support Métis entrepreneurs across Canada. The new organizations will host networking events, advocate for the Métis business community, and provide financial support and other services.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Home sales in Winnipeg are declining, according to a recent report by the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. In November, condominiums were down 13% and detached homes 6% compared to the same period last year.

    globalnews.ca

  • Twenty new businesses have opened in downtown Winnipeg so far this year, while 28 have closed or left the area. The Downtown Business Improvement Zone has formed a business attraction committee to try recruit new businesses to the area and retain existing ones.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg Transit workers have voted to ratify a new collective agreement, averting a strike that was set to begin December 11. The four-year contract includes general wage increases of 12.6% and a signing bonus of $1,800.

    cbc.ca

  • Beginning in September 2024, Assiniboine Community College is offering a Comprehensive Health Care Aide program in Beausejour. The program is part of the college’s efforts to address health care staffing shortages in rural Manitoba.

    assiniboine.net

  • Toronto-based Porter Airlines is expanding its business in Winnipeg by adding a daily flight to Ottawa, just a few months after first establishing itself at Winnipeg’s airport.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg printing business Kromar Printing Ltd. has permanently closed, leaving its large building vacant near the city’s downtown. The company employed 23 people at the time of its closure.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Misericordia Provincial Eye Care Centre of Excellence has opened two specialized eye care clinics in Winnipeg. The new clinics, one of which is specifically for children, will allow the centre to treat about 7,000 more patients per year.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2023-12-04 to 2023-12-08

  • The provincial government is spending nearly $800,000 on supports for Manitobans with HIV. This includes the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre’s new mobile care service, as well as the Manitoba HIV Program’s various treatment and care services.

    cbc.ca

  • Winnipeg beauty chain Unique Bunny is closing its location in Osborne Village, citing decreased business and safety concerns in the neighbourhood. Unique Bunny has two other locations in Winnipeg, and another is opening soon in Northgate Shopping Centre.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Arctic Gateway Group spent about $40M on repairs to the Hudson Bay Railway this year, expediting train travel between Thompson and Churchill. Work is now completed for the season, but similar spending is planned for next year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg added six more full-time staff to its 311 call centre in 2023, reducing wait times for callers. However, it was unable to fill two more call operator positions, and still struggles with recruitment and retention in the call centre.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Canadian toy and games retailer Mastermind Toys is closing 18 locations across the country. This includes one Manitoba store, located on Regent Avenue in Winnipeg.

    globalnews.ca

  • Habitat for Humanity is planning a new development in Brandon that will accommodate 60 families. The project, currently in the design phase, will be built in the city’s Assiniboine Gardens neighbourhood.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Thompson Humane Society recently opened a veterinary clinic in the northern city. The Animal Health and Wellness Centre intends to offer space for visiting veterinarians, since there is a shortage of vets in the community.

    cbc.ca

  • Fashion retailer Zara has opened its first Manitoba location, in Winnipeg’s CF Polo Park shopping centre. Knix, a company that sells bras, underwear, and loungewear, will also have a permanent store in the mall in spring of 2024.

    newswire.ca

  • Construction is about to begin on Market Lands, a mixed-use project in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The $55M project includes a 95-unit residential building, an open market, and 20,000 square feet of commercial space. It is expected to be complete by 2026.

    cbc.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering an Early Childhood Education program in Elkhorn, beginning in February 2024. The 18-month accelerated program allows students to train and work at the same time.

    empireadvance.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $2M on safety improvements to Provincial Trunk Highway 59, near Brokenhead Ojibway Nation. The projects, which include new traffic lights, are in addition to a new bridge that is in the planning and design stage.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • University College of the North is introducing a heavy-duty mechanic program at its Thompson campus next year, with the goal of enabling northern and Indigenous students to become journeypersons. The program is set to begin September 2024.

    thompsononline.ca

  • Mainly Manitoba, a Brandon gift shop selling locally-made products, is closing permanently on December 31. The store opened in 2019 but sales were hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent decline in foot traffic, according to the owner.

    brandonsun.com

  • Drive Products, an Ontario-based truck equipment supplier, recently opened a manufacturing plant in Morden. The company employs 22 people at the new facility and hopes to scale up staffing as production increases.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is adding 31 acute care beds at Winnipeg’s Grace Hospital in an effort to reduce emergency wait times. The hospital will also get 11 new surgical beds and 10 new medicine beds by April 2024, and a further 10 medicine beds by April 2025.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-27 to 2023-12-01

  • Vision Studios, an upscale barbershop, recently opened in a retail space in Winnipeg’s Exchange District.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal government is providing $348,161 to housing and transit projects in western Manitoba. This includes repairs to affordable housing and emergency shelter units in Brandon as well as upgrades to handi-transit programs in two nearby rural communities.

    newswire.ca

  • Canadian coffeehouse chain Tim Hortons is opening a new location in Altona in January.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $2.75M to increase hospital staffing in Winnipeg, Brandon, and Selkirk, allowing patients with complex needs to be discharged on weekends. The funds will support the hiring of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, case co-ordinators, and health care aides.

    cbc.ca

  • Sinomine Rare Metal Resources Group plans to expand production at the Tanco Mine, near Lac du Bonnet. The company has applied for an environmental license to increase the lithium mine’s capacity sixfold, at a cost of $300M.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Educational assistants in southeastern Manitoba have voted to accept a new contract, ending a weeks-long strike in the Hanover School Division. The new collective agreement includes a wage increase of 6.3% and education premium increases of 42% over four years.

    cbc.ca

  • The Good Will Social Club, a bar and music venue near Winnipeg’s downtown, will be closing permanently in February 2024. The owners say rising operating costs and the effects of the pandemic contributed to the decision to close the business.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal and provincial governments and the City of Winnipeg are spending a total $2.7M to create 10 new crisis detox beds in downtown Winnipeg. The non-profit Lighthouse Mission will establish the new spaces and hire at least four new staff to operate them.

    cbc.ca

  • The Thompson Regional Airport Authority has secured funding for a new terminal building, following a $52M loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The $135M project is expected to be complete by spring of 2025.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering a part-time Childcare Assistant course in Birtle, beginning in January 2024. The course is a requirement for child care assistants and licensed home-based child care providers in Manitoba.

    assiniboine.net

  • The Province of Manitoba is temporarily reducing rents for farmers who use Crown land for grazing, haying, and annual cropping. In 2024, the rent reduction will increase to 55% from the current 33%.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2023-11-20 to 2023-11-24

  • The Government of Canada is providing $14M to 14 projects in Manitoba and Saskatchewan aimed at preventing sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. Nine Circles Community Health Centre, in Winnipeg, will receive $1M for testing, prevention, and treatment programs.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The federal government and the Canola Council of Canada are providing a combined $17M to canola research across Canada, supporting 17 projects over the next five years.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Exchange District Business Improvement Zone has developed a 20-year plan for economic development in the central Winnipeg neighbourhood. The strategy proposes thousands of new housing units, aiming to increase the area population by up to 15,000 over the next two decades.

    cbc.ca

  • North Forge, a non-profit that supports Manitoba entrepreneurs, recently opened a design studio and storefront in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The new space offers access to a variety of fabrication equipment, as well as a retail store selling locally made products.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal government, through PrairiesCan, is providing $4.6M to five clean technology and emissions reduction projects across Manitoba. The funding is expected to support more than 350 small and medium-sized businesses and create over 400 new jobs.

    canada.ca

  • Workers at Manitoba’s land titles offices have ratified a new collective agreement with their employer, following a 60-day strike and arbitration. The four-year agreement includes wage increases from 12-14%.

    mgeu.ca

  • A new City of Winnipeg report found that 100 bus drivers have retired, left their jobs, or been terminated so far in 2023, contributing to an ongoing staff shortage. More than a quarter of drivers are eligible to retire now, and nearly half are eligible in five years.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The Government of Canada is providing $132M in repayable low-interest loans for the construction of 440 new rental suites in Winnipeg. This includes projects in the Charleswood and Transcona neighbourhoods.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is providing a total of $3M to 19 active transportation projects in Manitoba. These include new trails in the Rural Municipality of La Broquerie, protected bike lanes in Winnipeg, and research into developing a cargo bikeshare program in Winnipeg.

    canada.ca

  • Anishinaabe Girl, an Indigenous-owned clothing and accessories shop, recently opened in Winnipeg. The store is located in the Crescentwood neighbourhood and features products from Indigenous crafters and artisans.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Economic Development Winnipeg is leading a delegation of employers to France and Morocco, seeking candidates for hard-to-fill positions in Manitoba. Participating companies include NFI, SkipTheDishes, Big Freight, and Assiniboine Park Conservancy.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg and End Homelessness Winnipeg are spending $265,000 to expand emergency shelter capacity in the city this winter. A “pop-up” shelter will open at Siloam Mission as needed throughout the season, with staffing provided by four social services agencies.

    winnipeg.ca

  • The Manitoba Association of Watersheds recently opened a new living lab, receiving $9.2M in federal funding over five years. Headquartered at the University of Manitoba, the lab’s climate change research will take place on farms across the province.

    canada.ca

  • The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has postponed its plans to open a 24-hour warming space for vulnerable residents in downtown Brandon. The proposed shelter location was rejected by the City of Brandon due to concerns from business owners in the area.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-13 to 2023-11-17

  • Ashdown Market, a grocery store in Winnipeg’s Exchange District, is expanding its offerings through a new partnership with Federated Co-operatives Ltd. The owner plans to nearly double the store’s square footage by early next year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing $475.6M to two Manitoba Hydro clean electricity projects. The $314M Pointe du Bois Renewable Energy Project will replace eight aging hydroelectric generating units, while $161.6M will go toward building a new transmission network in the Portage la Prairie area.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Manitoba Public Insurance is scaling up services to resolve the backlog created by its 10-week strike. All cancelled Class 2-5 road tests have been rescheduled and estimating and adjusting appointments for new claims have resumed.

    cbc.ca

  • Printing company Dingu Inc. has purchased the former Brandon Sun building in downtown Brandon and is taking steps to expand the gross floor area for manufacturing purposes.

    brandonsun.com

  • Artis Real Estate Investment Trust has completed its 40-storey downtown Winnipeg rental tower, which is now the tallest residential building in the city. The complex includes 395 luxury apartments and is located near the Portage and Main intersection considered to be the centre of the city.

    westerninvestor.com

  • Manitoba filmmakers expect production to increase with the end of the Hollywood actors’ strike, which caused the cancellation or postponement of some projects in the province. One source estimates the industry was operating at 65-75% capacity during the strike.

    globalnews.ca

  • Off-price department store Winners is opening a location in Winkler in 2025. The store will be located in the Southland Mall, which is undergoing extensive renovations over the next year.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • The City of Winnipeg recently launched a grant program to mark the 150th anniversary of its incorporation. The Winnipeg 150 Community Celebration Grant will award up to $5,000 to organizations with arts or cultural projects that highlight the city’s history or future.

    winnipeg.ca

  • Seasonal holiday jobs in Canada are down 30% compared to this time last year, according to a recent survey by Indeed. The Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce cites inflation, debt, and the rising cost of wages as contributing factors.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Treaty 1 First Nations leaders broke ground this week on Naawi-Oodena, a $1B urban economic development zone located on the site of the former Kapyong Barracks in Winnipeg. The first construction project is a gas bar expected to open in summer 2024.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-11-06 to 2023-11-10

  • The provincial government is providing $1.46M, through the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund, to seven mineral development projects. These are located in Flin Flon, Thompson, Snow Lake, Lynn Lake, and Lac Du Bonnet.

    empireadvance.ca

  • The federal government is providing $36M to the Winnipeg-based Canadian Foodgrains Bank to support its programming in four African countries. The funding will be spread over four years and is earmarked for work on improving food systems in rural areas affected by climate change.

    cbc.ca

  • The University of Manitoba and the Health Sciences Centre Foundation have established a $3M research lab in Winnipeg. The research focuses on technological supports for people with disabilities, patients in recovery, and older adults living independently.

    cbc.ca

  • Rivergrove Medical Centre, in north Winnipeg, is closing permanently following the retirement of its family physician. It’s part of a larger pattern of closures, as recent data shows Manitoba has the fewest doctors per capita of any province or territory in Canada.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Brandon’s first Montessori school opens this month, offering spaces for children ages two to six. The private facility will employ three early childhood educators, with plans to expand and include spaces for children in Grades 1 to 4 by fall of 2024.

    brandonsun.com

  • Atmophere, an outdoor gear retailer, is permanently closing one of its two Winnipeg locations. The Polo Park shop will close on December 10, 2023.

    accesswinnipeg.com

  • An A&W outlet in Winnipeg’s CF Polo Park shopping centre has undergone an ownership change and conducted a mass layoff of its staff. The jobs have been reposted and staff are invited to reapply for them, but it’s unknown how many employees have been affected or if wages will change.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation has begun construction on Michif Manor, a residence for Métis families travelling to Winnipeg for medical care. The 12-unit facility is located near the Health Sciences Centre and is expected to open in fall 2024.

    www.mmf.mb.ca

  • Boeing is planning a $20M expansion to its Winnipeg facility, adding 12,000 sq.-ft. to its composite airplane parts manufacturing plant. About 1,400 people work at the plant and while the expansion itself won’t prompt new hiring; the company projects increased demand will lead to a need for new workers in the coming years.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Winnipeg Richardson International Airport recorded its busiest day ever last quarter, with 15,400 people travelling through the site on August 14. The airport is on track to reach pre-pandemic levels, hitting 99% of 2019’s traffic between July and September this year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Pimicikamak Cree Nation has purchased the Balmoral Hotel in central Winnipeg and is converting it into a wellness centre. The Pimicikamak Wellness Centre will include a medical clinic, pharmacy, daycare, bus depot, and programming space. The Indigenous-focused facility is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Post-pandemic recovery in the downtowns of Prairie cities has been slow, according to International Downtown Association Canada. Nearly one-third of downtown Winnipeg storefronts are empty, compared to vacancy rates of 14% and 13% in Toronto and Halifax.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Three hundred educational assistants in southeastern Manitoba began striking this week after reaching a bargaining impasse with the Hanover School Division. Wages have been the central issue in negotiations.

    cbc.ca

  • Unionized workers at Manitoba Public Insurance have returned to work, ending a strike that lasted more than two months. Workers voted to accept a new four-year contract, which includes wage increases and an $1,800 one-time signing bonus.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-30 to 2023-11-03

  • The Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation has received provincial funding to operate a 24-hour drop-in centre for the winter months. The organization has secured the former Red Cross building in downtown Brandon to provide services to people seeking shelter.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Forks North Portage Partnership is planning a mixed-use development at The Forks, a well-known Winnipeg gathering place. The project, Railside at the Forks, is projected for 2026 and will include 1,300 rental and condo units as well as commercial and retail space.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba has the fewest family doctors of any province and the second-lowest number of doctors per capita, according to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. The province would need to recruit 445 more doctors to reach the Canadian average.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Steinbach’s new affordable housing complex, The Bridge, is nearly complete and will be ready for occupancy December 1. The project contains 24 units intended for low-income and vulnerable tenants.

    steinbachonline.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is considering increases to library staffing and funding in order to expand operating hours. A new public service report proposes a dozen new positions across the city’s 20 libraries, which if approved could be implemented in the 2024-2027 budget process.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal government is providing $2M to four Manitoba social enterprise projects. This includes a demonstration project by BUILD and Purpose Construction, which will create training and employment opportunities for previously incarcerated and other vulnerable people.

    canada.ca

  • Four new businesses are slated to open in Winnipeg’s Seasons shopping centre in the coming months. They include two restaurant chains, a stretching studio, and a mental wellness spa.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Treaty One First Nations leaders expect to begin construction before the end of the year on Naawi-Oodena, the urban reserve slated to be built on the former Kapyong Barracks site in Winnipeg. The five-year first phase of the project will include 100 residential units and 300,000 square feet of commercial space.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Construction continues on the Kiddie Sunshine Daycare in Altona, with a projected opening date of September 2024. The facility will add 98 childcare spaces in the community.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • Winnipeg has a new indoor skatepark, a partnership of the Manitoba Skateboarding Coalition, Spence Neighbourhood Association, and The Forks North Portage Partnership. Pitikwé Skatepark is located in the downtown Portage Place shopping centre.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-10-23 to 2023-10-27

  • Tourism spending in Manitoba reached $1.8B last year, setting a new record. However, the actual number of visitors to the province continues to lag behind pre-pandemic levels: 8.7M in 2022 compared to 10.5M in 2019.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Shared Health is allocating $2.2M to improve ambulance coverage in Brandon. The funds will be used to add a third ambulance in the city by early 2024, as well as to hire 15 new paramedics.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government is providing $10M to Brandon’s Municipal Airport through its Airports Capital Assistance Program. The funding is for safety upgrades, including the repaving of the main runway.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Salvation Army has added 60 new beds at its Winnipeg Centre of Hope, an emergency shelter in downtown Winnipeg. The expansion increases the building’s capacity to 370 people, including spaces for families.

    chrisd.ca

  • Grocery workers at Manitoba Superstore locations have signed a new collective agreement with Loblaw, resulting in the highest wage increases in 25 years. The workers had voted to strike in September, but negotiations continued and an agreement was able to be reached.

    chrisd.ca

  • The Government of Canada is providing $1.1M to five active transportation projects in Manitoba’s Interlake region. These include the construction of bike lanes, pathways, and pedestrian bridges in three communities.

    canada.ca

  • Manitoba leads the Prairies in construction job growth, reporting a 10% increase in September compared with the same period last year. Saskatchewan had no change, while Alberta posted a 2% decrease.

    westerninvestor.com

  • The Town of Virden is spending $1.2M to renovate and expand its fire hall, and a further $700,000 on upgrades to its airport.

    empireadvance.ca

  • Edison Properties recently opened its first assisted living site, in Winnipeg’s North Kildonan neighbourhood. Bergen Gardens is a $65-70M, 149-suite facility that includes specialized housing and care for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Fast food chain Popeyes Chicken is opening a location in northwest Winnipeg. An opening date has not yet been set, but construction is underway on the building.

    accesswinnipeg.com

  • A new Mexican restaurant, Los Brothers Street Food, recently opened in Brandon.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Bus ridership in Winnipeg is approaching pre-pandemic levels, at about 91% of what it was in 2019. At the same time, Winnipeg Transit is facing a driver shortage and increased absenteeism, leading to some service disruptions.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Knix, a women’s apparel and underwear retailer, is opening its first Manitoba location in Winnipeg’s CF Polo Park mall. The store opens in late October and will employ 10-20 staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-10-16 to 2023-10-20

  • The Government of Manitoba has increased its use of limited teaching permits in recent years, allowing more people without an education degree to work as teachers. An average of 425 permits were granted annually from 2015-2020, compared to 800 last year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Brandon University recently opened a new research lab with a focus on early breast cancer detection. The Breast Cancer Cell and Molecular Research Laboratory will offer research opportunities for 20 students.

    cbc.ca

  • The average autobody shop in the province requires three additional workers, according to a survey by the Automotive Trades Association of Manitoba. The industry group is hosting a recruitment and education event for high school students this month.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Skating rinks in Winnipeg are facing a shortage of skilled staff, forcing some to limit hours. The City of Winnipeg hopes to add five new full-time arena attendants to its complement of 20, and is looking into simplifying the training and certification requirements.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The annual provincial funding to Winnipeg’s community paramedic program has ended, and 10 of its staff have been redeployed. The money was time-limited and earmarked for COVID-19 response, but the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service hopes to find a way to continue the program long-term.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Providence University College has a permanent space in downtown Winnipeg after spending $9.5M to purchase the former Booth University College building. The Christian college plans to expand enrolment in Winnipeg from 400 to 700 students by fall 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Northland Properties expects to complete construction on its Sandman Signature hotel in 2025. The project is located near Winnipeg’s airport and includes 425 rooms, a banquet hall, and meeting spaces.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • An Indian eatery, My Village Indian Cuisine and Hakka Cuisine Restaurant, opened in Winnipeg’s Garden City neighbourhood this summer. The business employs 15 staff and is planning a second location next year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Howard Halcrow Health Centre opened in Pimicikamak Cree Nation. The northern community was previously served by a nursing station, but now has a larger facility that employs nearly 200 people and includes an emergency department, dental services, and diagnostic testing.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2023-10-09 to 2023-10-13

  • The federal government is providing $12.4M to FortWhyte Alive, to construct a multi-purpose facility on its urban green space in Winnipeg. The 18,000 sq.-ft. Buffalo Crossing facility will be dedicated to recreation and education for visitors to FortWhyte Alive.

    canada.ca

  • The federal government is providing $788,237 over five years to Healthy Muslim Families, a Winnipeg non-profit serving Manitoba’s Muslim communities. The organization is launching a new program offering legal information and advice to low-income individuals.

    newswire.ca

  • Niverville Town Council has approved Prairie Sky Properties and Sunset Estates to design and build a new residential development located on the west side of town.

    steinbachonline.com

  • Mila’s Closet, a pet clothing and accessories store, is opening this month in the Brandon Shoppers Mall.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Winnipeg specialty food company Piccola Cucina recently acquired Judy G Foods, a gluten-free pizza and vegan dessert business. The acquisition will allow the company to expand its product offerings and connect it to national distribution options.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Brandon Fresh Farms is spending $30M to convert the former McKenzie Seeds building in Brandon into a controlled environmental agricultural farm with a market garden for direct sales. The project could create 20 to 37 full-time jobs and 25 to 80 part-time positions. Production is expected to begin by the end of 2024.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation has begun construction on a new transitional housing project for youth aging out of care. Located in Winnipeg, Mazoun Infinitii Pakoshayimoohk will include 14 long-term and two emergency suites. The project is expected to be complete by summer 2024.

    www.mmf.mb.ca

  • Alston Properties is converting a downtown Winnipeg office building into 35 new rental units. Construction on the $4.5M project began last summer and is expected to be done in February 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-10-02 to 2023-10-06

  • Staffing levels for eye surgeons are at a historic low in the province, according to the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba. Currently only 19 ophthalmologists are serving Manitoba, as well as parts of Nunavut and northern Ontario.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Egg Farmers of Manitoba is providing $75,000 over three years to Agriculture in the Classroom-Manitoba, an organization that promotes agricultural literacy to students. The funding will help the group to expand its educational programming and create learning resources for K-12 educators.

    aitc.mb.ca

  • The Potato Store, which sells locally grown produce in Winkler, recently moved to a new and expanded location. Kroeker Farms, which owns the store, says the new building is four times larger and will allow them to add inventory and potentially establish a bakery.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • Winnipeg’s JCA Technologies has doubled its workforce to 200 people since it was acquired by Agco Corp last year. The business, which develops autonomous technologies for agricultural machines, expects further growth following Agco Corp's acquisition of Trimble, a U.S.-based technology company.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service has graduated 14 students from its Diversity and Equity Fire Training program. The program began in 2021, offering Winnipeg residents from equity groups an opportunity to obtain their firefighting credentials through part-time training.

    winnipeg.ca

  • A Winnipeg bakery, Flour & Flower, is opening a storefront in the River Heights neighbourhood. The business has operated out of a shared commercial kitchen since its inception in 2019, selling products online.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A high-end Italian eatery, Vida Cucina Italia, recently opened in downtown Winnipeg’s Fort Garry Hotel.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) is spending $21M to purchase the former Wawanesa Insurance building in downtown Winnipeg. The new space will house MMF offices and programs, employing about 250 people. Plans include an onsite day care centre for the children of staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-09-25 to 2023-09-29

  • The City of Winnipeg has hired a long-time former police officer to lead its new transit security force. The team will consist of 24 officers trained in self-defence, security, and de-escalation, and will prioritize bus routes that have had higher rates of violent incidents.

    cbc.ca

  • Brandon City Council has voted to replace the ice plant at its Sportsplex arena and is spending $300,000 to commission a design. The City expects to have the project completed by the end of 2024.

    brandonsun.com

  • The ISO Polar Airship Association is proposing a cold-weather testing site in Thompson. The city has long been home to cold weather testing for cars, trucks, snowmobiles, helicopters, and jet engines, and the organization has received many requests from companies hoping to test airships in Northern Manitoba.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • True North has selected three new craft beer partners for its 2023-2024 season at the Canada Life Centre in downtown Winnipeg. Trans Canada Brewing Company, Kilter Brewing Co., and Little Brown Jug have been chosen to stock the arena, which hosts NHL games, concerts, and other events.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is accepting applications for its 2024 Home Grown tree-planting grant. Community groups and organizations can apply for up to $20,000 toward tree-planting projects, with priority given to underserved or lower-income areas of the city.

    winnipeg.ca

  • A new cocktail bar, Passerby, recently opened at The Forks Market in Winnipeg.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Lake Life Powersports, a new recreational products retailer, will open in Lac du Bonnet early next year. The shop will begin selling snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles in February and expand into marine supplies in 2025.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Whiteland Real Estate is developing a mixed-use commercial and residential project in north Winnipeg, near the Perimeter Highway. Polaris Place will include 760 new apartment units and 74,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Staffing issues are preventing the Winnipeg Police Service from expanding its crisis intervention program. The program requires more mental health professionals to expand to seven days per week, but a shortage of clinicians is limiting hiring.

    cbc.ca

  • The founder of Winnipeg’s Bruce Oake Recovery Centre is planning a second facility for women seeking addictions treatment. The Anne Oake Recovery Centre will include approximately 50 beds and offer long-term residential treatment and child care services to accommodate women with children.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • At 9.7%, Winnipeg has one of the lowest suburban office vacancy rates in the country, according to recent data from CBRE. The downtown vacancy rate, on the other hand, is at 17.0%, possibly due to parking availability, public safety issues, and proximity to residential neighbourhoods.

    westerninvestor.com

  • UM Properties has begun construction on Southwood Circle, the largest infill development in Winnipeg’s history. The $5B project is an extension of the University of Manitoba campus and will house 20,000 new residents when complete, along with the future National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

    newswire.ca

  • Stella’s Café and Bakery is re-establishing its location in Winnipeg’s airport after a three-year absence. The company closed the restaurant amid 2020's decline in air passenger traffic but plans to reopen next year and hire up to 70 employees.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Sapphire Springs Inc. is building a $140M aquaculture facility near Rockwood, expected to produce 6,000 Arctic char per week. The plant is currently under construction and is scheduled to be operational by early 2027.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Lowe’s is closing its Rona Home & Garden location on Winnipeg’s Kenaston Boulevard, and states it will try to transfer the approximately 125 employees to other stores. The company will keep its nearby Lowe’s location open, rebranding it to Rona+.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba Public Insurance has hired 35 road test examiners to replace those who are currently on strike. Some of these are contractors for the Province’s high school driver education program.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-09-11 to 2023-09-15

  • Celebrations Dinner Theatre in Winnipeg has permanently closed following a strike by its unionized staff. Act Three Entertainment, which owns the business, says the venue is no longer profitable. Thirty-three unionized staff are affected, as well as kitchen workers and performers.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • NorthStar Insurance & Real Estate has opened a new insurance office in Brandon, its fifth in the province. The company has locations in Roblin, Rossburn, Birtle and Erickson.

    bdnmb.ca

  • A shortage of bus drivers has delayed Winnipeg Transit’s plans to introduce new routes in four suburban neighbourhoods. The change would require 16.75 new full-time equivalent staff, including bus operators, maintenance workers and supervisors. The service was already short 50 drivers as of this spring.

    cbc.ca

  • The Portage District General Hospital is facing a staffing shortage and has closed its obstetrics unit on the weekends. Patients are asked to proceed to Winnipeg when the unit is not open, or to the hospital’s emergency department if necessary.

    portageonline.com

  • Pork producer HyLife recently marked the grand opening of its new headquarters in Steinbach, allowing it to consolidate several small satellite offices into one. There are about 175 employees working in the new building.

    manitobacooperator.ca

  • Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has begun construction on a $12M water treatment plant, funded through the federal Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund. The plant is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Manitoba Tourism Education Council has created a series of free safety training courses and other resources for hospitality and tourism workers. This is in response to workers reporting an increase in violent and threatening situations in the industry.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Driving schools in Winnipeg are reporting a decline in business as a strike by Manitoba Public Insurance employees continues. The Crown corporation is limiting road tests during the strike, leading to a drop in registration for driving lessons.

    cbc.ca

  • Oakberry, a smoothie and acai bowl chain, is opening its first Winnipeg location. The new shop will open at 201 Portage, a busy downtown office tower, in the next few months.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • JP Shearer and partners recently announced plans to build a Ramada by Wyndham hotel in Flin Flon, at the site of the former Flin Flon Hotel. The $20M project will include a conference centre, pool, restaurant, and 80-100 rooms. It is expected to open in 2025.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-09-04 to 2023-09-08

  • The Carberry Health Centre has suspended emergency services indefinitely due to a staff shortage. Physicians are needed in order to reopen the emergency department, which serves about 6,000 people in Carberry and surrounding area.

    cbc.ca

  • Spenst Bros. Premium Meats in Winkler recently finished building its 2,000-sq.-ft meat processing plant. The expansion nearly doubles the business’s current size and allows it to produce federally inspected meats.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • The Frontier School Division in northern Manitoba is offering new financial incentives in an effort to fill 34 vacant teaching positions. Eligible teachers will receive a $10,000 signing bonus each year for up to three years.

    cbc.ca

  • The Happy Hive Childcare Centre in Kleefeld has received funding for 104 child care spaces, 30 more spaces than what they originally announced earlier this year. The new facility is slated to open next spring and employ up to 20 people.

    steinbachonline.com

  • Academics at St. Boniface University have ratified a new collective agreement, averting a strike. The contract includes an average wage increase of 12% over four years.

    mgeu.ca

  • Porter Airlines added a new route from Winnipeg to Toronto that began on September 7.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • New Age Metals is launching a $7M lithium exploration program spanning northern and southeastern Manitoba, the largest program of its kind in the province’s history. The company is partnering on this project with Australian firm Mineral Resources Ltd., one of the top five lithium producers in the world.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg daycare Huron Child Care Inc is planning a $1.8M expansion that will add 120 new child care spots. This will double the centre’s current capacity and allow it to address high demand created by the introduction of $10-a-day child care.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Southport Aerospace Centre is constructing a new administration building to accommodate an increased number of employees. It is expected to be completed in 2024.

    thegraphicleader.com

  • Towers Realty Group is planning a residential development in Winnipeg’s Polo Park neighbourhood. The project will include 101 suites and a 9,300-sq.-ft. main-floor commercial space.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • New Age Metals is launching a $7M lithium exploration program spanning northern and southeastern Manitoba, the largest program of its kind in the province’s history. The company is partnering on this project with Australian firm Mineral Resources Ltd., one of the top five lithium producers in the world.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Torrid, a women's plus-size clothing retailer, will open a location in the Brandon Shoppers Mall this fall.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Saskatoon-based WBM Technologies has acquired Winnipeg computer services shop Carlyle Printers, increasing its presence in Manitoba. All 35 employees will stay on as the business expands to include IT services along with printing and printer support services.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Coffee and dessert franchises Chocolato and Second Cup Coffee Co are each opening a location in Brandon. Both businesses are expected to open in October and together will employ 16-20 people.

    bdnmb.ca
• Week of 2023-08-28 to 2023-09-01

  • The Conference Board of Canada is forecasting 2.5% GDP growth in Manitoba in 2023, compared to 1.3% nationwide. A strong year is expected for agriculture, manufacturing, and mining.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Unionized workers at Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries returned to work this week after more than a month of strike action that closed liquor marts across the province. Workers voted to ratify a four-year contract, including wage increases of about 12% over four years.

    cbc.ca

  • About 1,700 workers at Manitoba Public Insurance are now on strike, resulting in the cancellation of all driver testing, estimating, adjusting, and driver fitness appointments in the province. Insurance brokers will continue to handle license renewals and insurance payments.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • A non-profit that recruits teachers for First Nations schools hopes to form partnerships with Winnipeg school boards. Teach For Canada – Gakinaamage facilitates secondments for teachers that allow them to work in First Nations schools without losing their permanent jobs, seniority, or benefits.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Cinnamon bun franchise Cinnzeo Baker Café plans to open its first two locations in Manitoba before the end of the year. A Winnipeg shop is slated to open in September, and a Brandon location in November.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Via Rail is spending $80M to renovate four of its train stations across Canada, including $25M dedicated to Winnipeg’s Union Station. Upgrades to the heritage building will include improvements to elevators, escalators, and passenger platforms.

    cbc.ca

  • Staffing challenges persist in Manitoba’s long-term care and home care sectors, according to a report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Nearly three-quarters of respondents said staffing levels have worsened since the pandemic, and 50% are planning to quit within five years.

    globalnews.ca

  • Farmers north of Winnipeg suffered crop damage as a result of a severe late-August hail storm, just as the harvest season is getting underway. Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation has received 1,900 hail claims so far this year, which is higher than the two previous years combined.

    globalnews.ca

  • Manitoba continues to face a nursing shortage with over 2,800 vacancies across the province, according to the Manitoba Nurses’ Union. As a result, nurses are working significant amounts of overtime, which the union says could contribute to burnout.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-08-21 to 2023-08-25

  • Winnipeg-based bus manufacturer NFI Inc. plans to scale up production to pre-pandemic levels over the next two years, and has been hiring back workers who were laid off during the pandemic. The company anticipates hiring an additional 100 staff before the end of the year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Quarry Ridge Park, a residential development in Stonewall, is more than halfway complete. Ventura Developments began the $350-500M project in 2014 and will complete it over the next decade, building more than 700 homes in total. Thirteen apartment blocks are slated for construction in the next four years.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Manitoba First Fund, a provincially funded venture capital organization, is providing $15M to private equity firm PFM Capital Inc. for investment in Manitoba businesses. PFM is based in Regina, but is in the process of establishing an office in Winnipeg.

    newswire.ca

  • Mennonite Central Committee is closing its Mennonitische Post bookstores in Steinbach and Winkler, resulting in job cuts for five staff.

    steinbachonline.com

  • Headwear and accessories shop, The Haberdashery is relocating from Winnipeg’s Exchange District to the South Osborne neighbourhood after 15 years in the area. The owner states that foot traffic in the Exchange hasn't fully recovered since the pandemic, forcing the closure of several neighbourhood stores.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • True North Sports and Entertainment is issuing a request for proposals to craft breweries interested in selling their products in its downtown Winnipeg venues: the Canada Life Centre and Burton Cummings Theatre. Applications are open until August 28.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Assiniboine Community College is projecting an enrolment increase of up to 12% this year, after graduating a record number of students in 2022-2023. The college has expanded a number of programs, including Practical Nursing, Early Childhood Education, and Construction Electrician.

    assiniboine.net

  • Manitoba leads the Western provinces in building investment growth over the first six months of 2023. The province posted 7% growth year-over-year, compared with 4% in B.C. and decreases in both Alberta and Saskatchewan.

    westerninvestor.com

  • Fast food chain KFC is opening a new location in Brandon. It will be one of only a few restaurants in the city to feature a 24-hour drive-thru.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The Government of Canada has authorized Livestock Tax Deferral for regions across B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The program allows producers who have sold breeding stock due to drought to defer the income to the following year, when it may be offset by the purchase of new animals.

    canada.ca

  • The first phase of the City of Brandon’s new outdoor sports complex is underway and most underground infrastructure and flood protection has been completed. The 10-year project includes soccer fields, a clubhouse, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. It has received $16.6M in funding so far from the federal, provincial, and city governments.

    brandonsun.com

  • Amazon has closed its northwest Winnipeg delivery station, which created about 300 jobs when it opened in 2021. The company states that all employees have been offered jobs at its other Winnipeg location on Regent Avenue West.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Organizers of the Winnipeg Wine Festival have postponed this year’s event due to the ongoing Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries strike. The festival was originally scheduled for September 16-23 and a new date has not yet been set.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-08-14 to 2023-08-18

  • Toronto-based cannabis company Cronos Group Inc. is closing its fermentation facility in Winnipeg at the end of the year. The plant employs about 60 people, according to industry sources.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre will undergo an $850,000 renovation this fall, including the addition of a public gallery showcasing Chinatown’s culture. The Chinatown Night Market will also return for the second year this September, part of an effort to rejuvenate the neighbourhood.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Turtle Village, an Indigenous-owned off-grid accommodation, has opened in Riding Mountain National Park. Visitors stay in all-season cabins located in the Wasagaming Campground.

    ctvnews.ca

  • MRH Properties has completed the $20M first phase of a new apartment complex in Winnipeg’s West Exchange neighbourhood. Paulin Street Lofts includes 107 units, with a further 150 planned for the second phase scheduled to begin construction in 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Nearly 1,900 staff at Red River College Polytechnic and Assiniboine Community College have ratified a new contract, which includes pay increases totalling 11.43% over four years. Staff at the Winnipeg and Brandon-based colleges voted to strike earlier this spring, but job action was delayed as negotiations continued.

    cbc.ca

  • Winnipeg-based collision repair company Boyd Group is expanding its operations, having acquired or opened 57 locations across Canada and the U.S. in 2023. The company continues to face challenges attracting sufficient labour during a shortage of auto repair technicians.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba company Delta 9 is now approved to supply recreational cannabis products for sale in the Northwest Territories. The company currently supplies seven other provinces or territories, and continues to seek agreements with other jurisdictions.

    globenewswire.com

  • A coalition of northern First Nations has formed to work toward a multi-billion dollar infrastructure corridor linking Manitoba to Alberta. Plans for Wáwátéwák Corridor include an electric power transmission line, fibre-optic network, all-weather road, and a pipeline to transport Alberta hydrogen to tidewater in Churchill.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Revera, one of Canada’s largest care-home operators, is exiting the business and transferring more than 80 residences to other companies. This includes four Manitoba retirement residences, which will now be owned by Cogir, a Quebec-based firm.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-08-07 to 2023-08-11

  • The provincial government is introducing incentives to help recruit and retain more health care community and facility support workers. These include weekend shift premiums, reimbursement of licensing fees, and increases to health spending accounts.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing a total of $1.7M to nine organizations delivering employment readiness programming. The funding is meant to help Manitobans receiving Employment and Income Assistance enter the workforce.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The former Cousin’s Deli in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood recently reopened as Yen’s Kitchen + Bar. The owner closed the restaurant in 2020 due to the pandemic, but has now rebranded and returned to business.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $6.7M to study the feasibility of an Indigenous-owned interprovincial trade corridor. The NeeStaNan Utility Corridor would link Fort McMurray, AB, to the Hudson Bay coast, transporting potash, natural gas, bitumen, wheat, and critical minerals.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing $2.85M over five years to research projects that promote the profitability and environmental sustainability of Manitoba’s beef industry. The funding will create new positions on two research farms in western Manitoba.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing more than $11M to housing projects in Brandon. These include a 48-unit affordable housing project, a sobering centre with capacity for 15-17 people, and a 24-suite transitional housing facility.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Alamos Gold Inc. recently concluded an updated feasibility study on its Lynn Lake Gold Project. The company anticipates a mine life of 17 years, up 10 years from an earlier study, and 23% higher production than was calculated in 2017.

    globenewswire.com

  • A new café, Lavanda, is opening in downtown Winnipeg in September.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal government is providing more than $1M to promote tourism projects in Francophone and Métis communities. This will include creating new attractions as well as promoting existing ones.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $84M to support infrastructure projects outside the City of Winnipeg. This includes one-time funding of almost $40M distributed to all municipalities on a per capita basis, as well as $44.5M through an application-based program. Priorities include roads, airports, and waste management projects.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Hotel occupancies in Winnipeg have returned to pre-pandemic levels on a month-to-month basis, according to Economic Development Winnipeg. The organization states that tourism in Winnipeg, and Manitoba in general, seems to be recovering faster than in other parts of the country.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is distributing the last of its pandemic long-term recovery funding, awarding $400,000 to four groups. About half is earmarked for an Indigenous business directory designed by the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $3.3M on a home care pilot project aimed at keeping rural seniors in their homes as they age. The pilot will target 200 seniors who need more support than home care normally provides. It begins next spring in Brandon, Selkirk, Beausejour, Steinbach, and Portage la Prairie.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is providing over $520,000 to Fort Garry Brewing Company through PrairiesCan. The Winnipeg-based microbrewery will use the funds to scale up production and marketing, creating six new jobs.

    canada.ca

  • Canadian Premium Sand is moving ahead with its silica sand extraction and processing facility in Wanipigow, after obtaining an Environmental Act License. The sand will be used to supply the company’s planned solar glass manufacturing facility in Selkirk.

    globenewswire.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $1.5B over six years to redevelop the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. The project includes 240 new private rooms as well as expansions to the adult emergency department and University of Manitoba’s medical school campus. It will be the largest health care capital investment in the province’s history.

    cbc.ca

  • Flair Airlines is adding three new routes from Winnipeg to warmer destinations. Twice-weekly flights to Cancun, Orlando, and Las Vegas will begin in November, January, and February, respectively.

    cbc.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering two new programs, beginning next fall. A three-year mechatronics program will accept 24 students at the Brandon campus. The college is also expanding its existing Brandon horticultural program to include its Dauphin campus, welcoming 14 new students.

    assiniboine.net

  • FastFrate Group is the first tenant to sign on to CentrePort Canada’s new rail park, a 665-acre project within the RM of Rosser just outside Winnipeg. The transportation and supply chain company's $55M facility is expected to be operational by 2024 and create 150 jobs in its first year.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Passenger volumes at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport are approaching pre-pandemic levels, with over 1M travellers recorded in the second quarter of 2023. This marks the busiest quarter since the pandemic began.

    winnipegsun.com

  • California-based Newlight Technologies Inc. is planning to build an AirCarbon manufacturing facility in Manitoba, creating 1,100 construction jobs and 80 permanent ones. AirCarbon is a biomaterial produced from greenhouse gas that can be used in place of plastic.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2023-07-31 to 2023-08-04

  • Vermillion Growers has completed the $32M first phase of a project in the Dauphin area. The 10-acre greenhouse will produce tomatoes for distribution within Canada and will employ 34 full-time staff. Phase two will add 60 acres by 2025 and grow the workforce to about 210 full-time employees.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Hudbay Minerals Inc. may be able to extend the mine life of its Snow Lake operations beyond 2038, following positive results from its 2023 winter drill program. The company has increased its holdings in the region and discovered new mineralized zones near the Lalor mine.

    globenewswire.com

  • The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $1.9M to 54 sustainable farming initiatives across the province. These include projects related to carbon sequestration, grassland management, and wetland restoration.

    canada.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are making funding available to projects that support Indigenous participation in the agricultural sector. These include initiatives that increase food security, enhance traditional food systems, and develop training or resource materials.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $6M to upgrade a roadway in the Rural Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton. Resurfacing work will allow the route to accommodate heavy weight vehicles upon its completion in late 2026.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Sustainable Equities has begun construction on a 12-storey mixed use development on Winnipeg’s Pembina Highway, at the site of the former Pembina Hotel. The project will include 226 apartments and 7,050 sq. ft. of commercial space.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Collision repair chain Boyd Group Services Inc. is opening a new location in Winnipeg. The company has signed a lease on a Portage Avenue building, where it will establish a repair shop to service the western part of the city.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The provincial government is allocating an additional $200M to its Health Care Human Resource Action Plan, a strategy announced last November to hire 2,000 health care workers. New initiatives include advanced training for rural and northern paramedics and supports for internationally educated doctors and nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba Hydro has released its long-term energy plan, outlining a need to double or triple its capacity in the next 20 years. The Crown corporation will shift to wind power and other forms of green energy rather than building costly new hydroelectric dams.

    cbc.ca

  • Construction is underway on a new K-8 school in Winnipeg’s Sage Creek neighbourhood. The French-immersion school will have capacity for 450 students and include 104 child care spaces.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The provincial government is spending $21.2M to upgrade two bridges over the Souris River in southwestern Manitoba. A bridge near Melita will be fully replaced, while another near Wawanesa will be repaired. Both projects should be complete by summer 2025.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $176,000 to green energy non-profit Eco-West Canada to build electric vehicle chargers at three Winnipeg fast food restaurants. The organization also received a $150,000 grant from the Province earlier this year, to fund eight chargers in rural areas.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $50M to arts, cultural, and sport organizations across the province. Forty-two groups will share $34.6M for major facility upgrades, while 344 smaller projects and 159 events will receive a total $15.4M.

    cbc.ca

  • The University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0 is building a 21-storey, $70.5M residential tower on Colony Street. The development will include 214 apartment suites as well as office or commercial space on the main floor. It is expected to create 200 construction and 10 permanent jobs.

    cbc.ca

  • The Kothari Group is converting the former Canada Revenue Agency building in downtown Winnipeg into Western Canada's first Hyatt Centric hotel. The $38.6M project is expected to create 200 construction jobs and 70 permanent hotel jobs.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, based in Morden, recently opened a new field and research station. The $400,000 facility is located in the Manitoba escarpment and will be the base of operations for fossil excavation, research, and educational tours.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • Assiniboine Community College has selected Beausejour as the fifth site for its rotating rural Practical Nursing program. The site will accept 25 students beginning in January 2025, with priority given to those living within 100km of Beausejour.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $2M to Assiniboine Community College, allowing the school to add 70 seats to its Practical Nursing program. Beginning in January 2024, the program will accept an additional 35 students in both Winnipeg and Brandon.

    discoverwestman.com

  • Royal Fork, an Indian street food restaurant, recently opened in downtown Brandon.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Inferno Shawarma recently opened in Flin Flon and is now hiring delivery drivers and kitchen help.

    flinflononline.com

  • Westman Communications Group is expanding its services to the Wasagaming area. The company has received over $2M from the federal Universal Broadband Fund to install fibre-optic cable within Wasagaming, bringing Internet, TV, and home phone services to the community within Riding Mountain National Park

    bdnmb.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are spending $4M to create 98 child care spaces in Altona. The Kiddie Sunshine Centre will construct a new building, expected to open in fall of 2024.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Construction will begin next spring on the University of Manitoba’s $20.7M Prairie Crops and Soils Research Facility, to be located at the Fort Garry Campus. The federal and provincial governments are contributing $6.4M to the new agricultural research centre, which is scheduled to open in 2026.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Southern Chiefs’ Organization has begun its redevelopment of the former Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Winnipeg. The project, Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn, will include affordable housing, cultural spaces, and various business. PCL Construction has been awarded the main contract, and the non-profit BUILD Inc is doing the preliminary work.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • RCT Solutions, a German solar company, has selected Manitoba as the potential site for a $3B manufacturing facility that could create 8,000 permanent jobs. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with the provincial government to work together on the plan.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2023-07-24 to 2023-07-28

  • The federal and provincial governments are spending a combined $180M to expand child-care spaces in Manitoba’s public schools and post-secondary institutions. The funding will create more than 3,000 new spaces and support over 680 child-care expansion projects.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada has signed a bilateral agreement with the Province of Manitoba to implement its National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. The federal government is providing $22.3M over four years toward local projects and initiatives.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $5.2M to establish a crime-gun lab in Winnipeg. The facility, located at Winnipeg Police Service Headquarters, will trace illegal guns and provide ballistic evidence. An additional $3.1M in annual funding will allow the lab to employ about 20 people.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $25M to initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness. These include expanding shelter hours, increasing supports to tenants of social housing, and developing over 600 social housing units through construction, renovation, and rent-supplement agreements with property owners.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $67M to 89 Manitoba Housing projects across the province. These include structural upgrades, retrofits, and interior renovations, as well as the new construction of a six-family complex in Winnipeg’s Lavallee neighbourhood.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba has released its Critical Minerals Strategy, a long-term plan toward growing the critical mineral industry in the province. It includes initiatives to build partnerships with Indigenous communities, create incentives for new processing and manufacturing projects, and support research by Manitoba's post-secondary institutions.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Two companies recently announced mineral exploration findings that could lead to new mining projects in Manitoba. Callinex Mines Inc. located a copper, zinc, and gold resource near Flin Flon, and Grid Metal Corp. announced a lithium resource north of Lac du Bonnet.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation is building a youth camp in the Duck Mountains area, with plans to host its first session in August. The organization is hiring 5-10 counsellors to staff the camp, which will offer land-based and cultural education and activities to Métis youth ages 14-29.

    730ckdm.com

  • Winkler Meats is partnering with U.S.-based Johnsonville Group to increase capacity at its southern Manitoba meat-processing facility. The federal and provincial governments are providing $2.4M toward the $52.8M expansion, which will more than double the number of jobs at the plant to 155 full-time positions.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $3M to hire 17 clinical psychologists in an effort to address shortages in the public health system. Manitoba has fewer psychologists per capita than any other province in the country.

    cbc.ca

  • The ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes in the U.S. are beginning to affect the film industry in Manitoba. The Manitoba International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), the union that represents Manitoba workers, has no film work scheduled in the near future now that American projects are on hold.

    globalnews.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $100,000 to bring high speed Starlink Internet access to eight remote First Nations. This is a public safety initiative intended to connect residents to crisis responders, courts, victim services, and healing lodge services.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government has contracted Canada Health Labs to recruit 150 new family doctors, including 50 for the Winnipeg region, 50 for rural areas, and 50 for the province’s north. The government is also making changes to streamline the registration process for internationally educated physicians.

    ctvnews.ca

  • WestJet is adding a weekly direct route from Winnipeg to Huatulco, Mexico this winter. The company is also upgrading its Winnipeg to Atlanta route from seasonal to year-round, five days per week.

    chrisd.ca

  • The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology is downsizing its adult learning centres, closing a location in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood this fall. Students may access other locations and the total number of seats available will not change.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is seeking a contractor to assess nine of its arenas and recommend upgrades and repairs. The $450,000 contract will be awarded by November, with a facility renewal plan expected by next spring or summer.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg will host the 2023 World Police and Fire Games later this month. Organizers expect about 8,500 participants, which would make the event the largest athletic tournament ever held in Winnipeg.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba has reached a tentative services agreement with Doctors Manitoba, which includes a funding increase of $268M over four years. The additional funds are aimed at addressing physician shortages, particularly in rural and remote areas.

    cbc.ca

  • The Sobr Market recently opened a permanent store on Winnipeg’s Academy Road after testing a pop-up version in the Exchange District. The shop sells non-alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College has set a construction schedule for its $118M Prairie Innovation Centre, which will expand the institution’s agriculture programs from 300 seats to more than 800. Design work on the project is underway and construction should begin in 2024.

    discoverwestman.com

  • Sheepdog Brew Co., a Winnipeg coffee brewery, is opening a storefront and taproom in Oak Bluff.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-07-17 to 2023-07-21

  • The Government of Manitoba, Community Economic Development Fund, and Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Ltd. are jointly funding research into greener technologies at Kraft Paper’s mill in The Pas. A total of $295,000 will be spent to explore options for biomass-based fuel alternatives at the mill.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $8M to the City of Winnipeg for wastewater infrastructure projects. The upgrades are concentrated in the south end of the city and are intended to help reduce pollution in Lake Winnipeg and the Red River.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing a total of $456,000 to six organizations offering employment supports to Ukrainian newcomers. These include groups in Winnipeg, Brandon, Winkler, Dauphin, and Steinbach.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $35.3M to replace the bridge over the Assiniboine River at Provincial Trunk Highway 34, in the Rural Municipality of Victoria. Construction will begin this fall and is expected to be complete in summer 2025.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Hudbay Minerals Inc. has hired Australian mining company Cobalt Blue Holdings to analyze material at its Flin Flon tailings facility. Hudbay's Flin Flon operations are mostly closed, but if valuable minerals can be extracted from tailings, this could spur future work in the area.

    thereminder.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is spending $1M to increase staffing at the downtown Millennium Library, in an effort to improve safety. Up to 10 community hosts from the non-profit Fearless R2W will now be onsite, and data will be collected on security incidents.

    winnipegsun.com

  • The City of Winnipeg has approved a new collective agreement with Winnipeg police officers. The contract includes annual wage increases of 3.1% from 2022 to 2025.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $200M on highway improvements in Western Manitoba this summer. Major projects include surface reconstruction or rehabilitation on Provincial Trunk Highways 2, 3, 10, and 23.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Members of the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals have voted to accept a new contract. The six-year agreement will apply to more than 6,500 workers and include a total 8.35% in general wage increases from 2018 to 2023.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is allocating $221,000 to festivals and celebrations in 38 rural and northern communities. The focus is on events related to heritage, culture, and identity.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Rental prices are rising in Winnipeg, according to a recent market report by Rentals.ca. In June the average rent in the city rose 12.2% compared to the previous year. Studio apartments are renting for an average of $1,013/month, and three-bedrooms for $2,184/month.

    globalnews.ca

  • Red River College Polytechnic has graduated the first cohort of students from its Shelter Support Worker Microcredential Program. The Government of Manitoba spent $450,000 to create the program, intended to address recruitment challenges in shelters throughout the province.

    www.rrc.ca

  • The northern community of Churchill recently welcomed its first cruise ship in over a decade. The Silver Endeavour cruise ship brought approximately 200 passengers and crew to Churchill in mid-July. Another 130 guests are expected for the ship’s next voyage.

    cbc.ca

  • The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing up to $1M to local agricultural organizations. Eligible groups can receive up to $25,000 to offer training or develop resources that will build the capacity and competitiveness of the agriculture and food sector in the province.

    canada.ca

  • Manitoba hotel developers have several projects planned in rural parts of the province this year, totaling about $23M. The Stowaway Inn opened in Clear Lake in July, and new or renovated hotels are planned for Arborg and Niverville later in the year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Shindico Realty and Olexa Developments have begun construction on The Water Tower District, a 165-acre mixed-use development in Winnipeg’s St. Boniface neighbourhood. The project includes industrial, commercial, and residential components and is expected to create more than 700 jobs and cost up to $1B. It is scheduled to be complete by 2033.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Downtown Winnipeg’s largest street festival, ManyFest, will not take place this year. Organizers cited operational factors in the decision to cancel the event, which began over 10 years ago and returned in 2022 after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

    winnipegsun.com
• Week of 2023-07-10 to 2023-07-14

  • The Government of Manitoba has released its water management strategy, allocating $990M over five years toward managing water systems and watersheds across the province. Over three quarters of this funding will go towards capital investment in provincially owned water-related infrastructure.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Canada is providing $20M to 42 drug awareness, treatment and rehabilitation programs across the Western provinces. Over $3.2M is earmarked for Manitoba to support rapid access to addictions medicine in Brandon, Swan River, Russell, and Virden.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba has released a new strategy for recruiting French language teachers amid increasing enrolment in French immersion programs and the Francophone school division. Promoting French language teaching as a career among high school students is a key part of the plan.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal and provincial governments are jointly spending $13.5M to create 450 new child-care spaces. Licensed, non-profit child-care centres are eligible for up to $30,000 per space to a maximum of $2M, to increase their existing capacity.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Portage la Prairie has obtained an $8.35M loan from the Toronto Dominion Bank, allowing it to proceed with the Saskatchewan Avenue Rejuvenation Project. The work includes upgrades to asphalt, sidewalks, bike lanes, and drainage systems, and should conclude in 2024.

    portageonline.com

  • Office vacancies are on the rise in Downtown Winnipeg, according to a recent report by CBRE. Vacancy rates increased to 17.0% in the second quarter, still below the national average of 18.9%. Suburban office vacancy rates are much better, at just 9.7% and among the lowest in the country.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is seeking an Indigenous liaison to guide consultations on its north end sewage plant upgrade. The City will spend about $150,000 to consult with Indigenous communities on the land and water impacts of the project’s $912M second phase.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Construction is underway on Place of Pride, a $20M affordable housing project for LGBTTQ+ residents in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood. The Rainbow Resource Centre and Westminster Housing Society are partners on the development, which has received $3M from the Province and $5M from the federal and municipal governments.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Homes for Heroes Foundation is planning to build 20 tiny homes in Winnipeg’s Transcona neighbourhood, providing temporary housing for veterans facing homelessness. Construction on the Winnipeg Kinsmen Veterans Village will begin within two months and wrap up in 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $15M on the planning and design of six new personal care homes in Winnipeg and the Interlake region, totalling approximately 670 beds. Its Community Supportive Living program will also add 288 new spaces across three health regions.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Gateway restaurant has reopened in Flon Flon after a 12-year hiatus.

    flinflononline.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $10M over two years on safety measures for Winnipeg’s downtown. These include hiring 24 new police officers, purchasing new security cameras and all-purpose vehicles, and establishing a centralized community safety office.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Manitoba’s five regional health authorities spent a total $60M on private agency nurses in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, up 47% from 2021-2022. Prairie Mountain Health, in the province’s Southwest, reported an 80% increase in spending on agency nurses year-over-year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Canada is spending over $300,000 to create a new space for crafters and artisans at The Forks in Winnipeg. The community hub will provide space for artists to create and display their work and connect with potential buyers at The Forks Market.

    canada.ca

  • Winnipeg non-profit North Forge Technology Exchange is now offering workshops and hands-on training to youth at its Thompson facility. The goal is to address labour shortages in the north by helping young people to develop skills in robotics, fabrication, woodworking, and 3D printing.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba has signed on to the Government of Canada’s 2 Billion Trees program, pledging to plant one million trees annually for nine years. The provincial and federal governments are each contributing $8.85M to plant trees in rural, urban, and Indigenous communities.

    canada.ca

  • The federal government is providing $380,000 to the Winnipeg Folk Festival, for staffing and capital improvements. The outdoor music festival takes place at Bird’s Hill Park each July and drew about 74,000 attendees in 2022.

    canada.ca

  • Hudbay Minerals Inc. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Marubeni Corporation, agreeing to explore new deposits in the Flin Flon area. The exploration partnership could potentially allow HudBay to restart its Flin Flon processing facilities.

    globenewswire.com
• Week of 2023-07-03 to 2023-07-07

  • A recent Canadian real estate survey found that nearly 25% of Winnipeg homes for sale were priced under $200,000, compared to just 10% nationally.

    westerninvestor.com

  • More than 300 internationally educated health care workers have now accepted jobs in Manitoba following a recruitment mission to the Philippines in February. The new hires include health care aides, registered nurses, and licensed practical nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • Two Toronto-based restaurant chains are opening their first Winnipeg locations in the next few weeks. St. Louis Bar & Grill and D Spot Desserts will open near the Seasons of Tuxedo outlet mall in July.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $34.7M on programs for families, with an emphasis on supports for children and youth in foster care. Funding will improve wages for Child and Family Services staff and expand resources for youth transitioning from care.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $16M on improvements to Provincial Road 433 in the Lac du Bonnet area, upgrading the road's gravel surface to asphalt. Initial design work is scheduled for 2023-2024. Construction will begin once the design phase is complete.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Hudbay Minerals Inc. has reached a deal to buy Rockcliff Metals, a mining company with operations in the Snow Lake area. The $13M agreement will allow Hudbay to extend the life of its Snow Lake mine, which makes up the majority of its workforce.

    thereminder.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing its Intensive Newcomer Support Grant by $2.4M in 2023-2024, to accommodate the growing number of newcomers entering the province’s education system. The war in Ukraine has resulted in high demand for newcomer resources.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Canada Life is committing $500,000 toward the creation of a new Indigenous-led student mentorship program at Red River College Polytechnic. Mentors will support students throughout their education, connecting them to campus resources and industry professionals.

    www.rrc.ca

  • Construction is underway on a $3.6M expansion at Mitchell Middle School in the Hanover School Division. The addition will accommodate 100 more students after its completion in September 2024.

    globalnews.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is distributing $1.26M to 19 community centres, allowing them to undertake repairs, upgrades, and safety improvements.

    winnipeg.ca

  • Two long-time Winnipeg restaurants are closing their doors. Santorini Restaurant, a Greek eatery near Assiniboine Park, closed at the end of June after 24 years in business while Mitzi’s Chicken Finger Restaurant listed its downtown building for sale shortly after its 45th anniversary.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Máquè, an Asian-inspired restaurant on Winnipeg’s Dorchester Avenue, is closing permanently in July. Staff will be transferred to Passero, an eatery run by the same owner that is relocating from The Forks to a larger space on Corydon Avenue.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • For a second year, the City of Winnipeg is offering free training to lifeguards and swimming instructors in an effort to address staff shortages created by the pandemic. The City hopes to hire 40 new lifeguards this year and maintain a complement of 315 going into 2024.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is granting over $1M from its Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS). The money will be used to purchase new equipment and facilitate trauma-informed training for 200 WPS members.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The federal government is providing over $14.5M to the Manitoba Métis Federation, for four projects related to food security, agricultural sustainability, heritage preservation, and economic development.

    www.mmf.mb.ca

  • Bong Bong Chef, a Chinese buffet restaurant, recently opened in Brandon in the former Chicken Delight building on Rosser Avenue.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Three Indigenous-owned companies have relocated to a space in Winnipeg’s East Kildonan neighbourhood, creating a new “Indigenous business ecosystem.” IndigPro, 1st Peoples Print Shop, and Mino Dawaa were all formed over the past three years.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Gerry Price and the Price Family Foundation are providing $10M toward the new Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics at Red River College Polytechnic. The institute will open this fall, training new graduates for the manufacturing sector and upskilling existing workers.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The forensic nurse examiner program at Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre continues to face staffing shortages, limiting services for sexual assault survivors. The program recently lost two more permanent staff, in addition to seven casual nurses who quit earlier this year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is looking for community organizations to deliver a new support program for people with disabilities. “Community navigator” organizations will advocate for clients and help them access the services they are eligible for.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-06-26 to 2023-06-30

  • BMO is providing $300,000 to Red River College Polytechnic’s Language Training Centre, allowing it to expand its settlement services for newcomers to Canada.

    www.rrc.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are offering new funding for Manitoba agricultural producers and processors to improve sustainability and food safety. Eligible projects include facility upgrades, waste reduction initiatives, and food safety training and equipment.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $2.3M to improve virtual mental health supports in rural and remote areas of the province. Its new program provides psychiatric assessment, treatment, and crisis stabilization services virtually, through secure videoconferencing.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing its Career Development Initiative Grant from $2M to $4M, hiring a High School Apprenticeship Program educator in each school division. Educators will help to connect youth with apprenticeship opportunities in the skilled trades.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Thompson has signed an agreement with the Keewatin Tribal Council, allowing the council’s economic development agency to acquire land for a new subdivision. The 89-acre subdivision will be the largest housing development in Thompson in 50 years.

    thompsononline.ca

  • The Manitoba Chambers of Commerce is disbursing $1.2M to businesses who want to pay for professional guidance on technology use. The Digital Services Program offers cybersecurity audits, digital legal services, and business technology assessments.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Fisher Ambulance Service, which serves First Nations in the Interlake Region, is at risk of shutting down due to lack of funding. The service employs about 80 paramedics and is paid for primarily by Peguis First Nation, which says it cannot continue after June 30.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has signed forestry revenue sharing agreements with seven First Nations, agreeing to share 45% of timber dues collected between January 2022 and June 2024. The Province shared $3.5M through similar agreements in 2022-2023.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Manitoba Skateboard Coalition is planning to build Winnipeg’s second indoor skatepark in the former Staples location at Portage Place Mall. The project is a collaboration with the Spence Neighbourhood Association and the Forks North Portage Partnership.

    globalnews.ca

  • Two Indigenous-owned restaurants have opened in Thompson over the last year. The Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre opened a café this spring, and Lil’ Bannocks opened a small dining room a few months earlier.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is spending $3.4M to add 25 staff to the Manitoba Prosecution Service, including 19 Crown attorneys and six legal staff. Another six Crown attorneys will be hired in the Legal Services Branch, which is currently contracting with outside firms due to inadequate staffing.

    cbc.ca

  • The Brandon Clinic is closing its walk-in services on July 4, due to a shortage of physicians. A representative states the clinic is unable to accommodate the volume of patients coming from rural communities.

    cbc.ca

  • Whiteland Developers has sold out the final phase of BrookPort Business Park, an industrial area within the CentrePort transportation hub. Since 2018 more than 50 companies have purchased lots within the park, located in the Rural Municipality of Rosser north of Winnipeg.

    trucknews.com

  • ZARA, a clothing and accessories retailer, is opening its first Winnipeg location in CF Polo Park mall.

    accesswinnipeg.com

  • Porter Airlines will begin service out of Winnipeg Richardson International Airport this September, offering direct flights from Winnipeg to Toronto twice daily.

    chrisd.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are spending $2M to expand veterinary services in rural Manitoba. Each rural veterinary services district can now receive up to $75,000 to buy new equipment for the treatment of large animals.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $2.9M to open 513 new addictions treatment spaces in Winnipeg. This is in addition to 1,135 spaces previously announced for rural and Northern Manitoba.

    cbc.ca

  • Azure Sustainable Fuels Corporation is planning an aviation fuel processing facility near Portage la Prairie. The federal and provincial governments have committed $2.9M to a two-year engineering study for the project, which would convert canola and soybeans to fuel using renewable hydroelectric energy.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-19 to 2023-06-23

  • The provincial and federal governments are providing a total $7.5M to help Manitoba beekeepers rebuild their colonies following severe losses during the winter of 2021-2022. Commercial beekeepers can apply to purchase replacement colonies to restore their operations.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $5M to 50 education projects through the Teachers’ Idea Fund. Project proposals are developed by educators across the province and include mental health initiatives, peer supports, and cultural programming.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation is partnering with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Manitoba to secure employment for Ukrainian refugees. The two organizations will work together to train 25 individuals for work in MMF’s childcare centres.

    www.mmf.mb.ca

  • Winnipeg-based Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. has secured a purchase order from a cultivation facility in British Columbia for eight of its modular Grow Pods. The contract also includes development of operating procedures, marketing, and other services, and has a total value of about $750,000.

    globenewswire.com

  • Pronuts WPG, a new high-protein donut shop, is opening in Winnipeg’s River Heights neighbourhood in June.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Costco is opening a new grocery store in Winnipeg, its fourth in the city. The nearly 167,000-sq-ft. location is planned for the Westport Festival development, near Assiniboia Downs.

    ctvnews.ca

  • There are 2,300 fewer provincial civil servants working today than in 2015, according to the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union. Its recent report states that lower staffing levels are leading to burnout and worker retention issues.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba has signed a $1.2M contract with the Brandon public safety communication centre to provide 24/7 dispatch for its conservation officers. The Province will also re-establish a Conservation Officer Service district office in Brandon.

    cbc.ca

  • Marcel Colomb First Nation has signed an impact benefit agreement with Alamos Gold Inc. regarding the Lynn Lake gold project. The First Nation will share revenues from the mine, benefit from job opportunities, and give input on environmental stewardship.

    cbc.ca

  • BCE Inc. (Bell Canada) is eliminating 1,300 positions and closing or selling nine radio stations across Canada. While it is not known how many of the affected jobs are in Manitoba, Winnipeg radio station Funny 1290 is confirmed to be among the closures.

    cbc.ca

  • The governments of Canada and Manitoba are providing $24M to expand training opportunities for early childhood educators, adding 998 seats over three years at five post-secondary institutions. A further $6M is earmarked for tuition reimbursements over the same period.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Frontier School Division is offering bonuses to new teachers in an effort to curb staffing shortages. The northern Manitoba division will award $10,000 annually for up to three years to recruits who graduated in 2021 or later.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Winnipeg’s Concordia Hospital recently opened its new operating room, increasing its capacity for knee and hip replacement surgeries. The hospital has also added four inpatient beds and hired additional staff, including nurses, health care aides, and an orthopedic surgeon.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-12 to 2023-06-16

  • Thompson Fire & Emergency Services is facing a shortage of fire medics, compromising response times and putting strain on existing staff as call volumes increase. A fully staffed team includes 24 medics, but four positions are currently vacant.

    cbc.ca

  • Tinkertown, an amusement park just east of Winnipeg, may need to reduce its hours this season due to a staff shortage. While the park normally receives more than 250 applications annually, only 50 to 60 people have applied so far this year.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering a tuition-free Horticultural Production certificate program at its Parkland campus in Dauphin, beginning in July. The nine-month program is open to Indigenous students living off-reserve and includes a three-week paid work practicum.

    assiniboine.net

  • Pork producer HyLife Ltd. is laying off 87 staff amid rising costs and uncertainty in the global market. This includes 29 positions at its processing facility in Neepawa. The job cuts are mainly in administration and are not expected to significantly affect production.

    mywestman.ca

  • Pork producer HyLife Ltd. is laying off 87 staff amid rising costs and uncertainty in the global market. This includes about 50 positions at its offices in Steinbach. The job cuts are mainly in administration and are not expected to significantly affect production.

    steinbachonline.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has formed a council to improve working conditions for the province’s nurses, as well as to discuss recruitment, retention, and patient care. The council includes representatives from health care employers and the Manitoba Nurses Union.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • About 90 fishers and their employees in Misipawastik Cree Nation are struggling after a fire destroyed the community’s fish plant in early June. The Grand Rapids Fisherman’s Co-op, which operates the plant, has applied for federal funding to construct a temporary facility.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The provincial government is providing $4.7M to addictions treatment services in rural and northern Manitoba. This includes 835 new treatment spaces across the province.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $700,000 to a study on the feasibility of extending Chief Peguis Trail, a high-traffic route between east and west Winnipeg. This funding is in addition to $700,000 announced last week for a feasibility study on widening Route 90.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Providence University College and Canadian North are working together to train and hire more Inuit pilots amid a national labour shortage. Canadian North will guarantee job offers to graduates of the college’s new Inuit aviation program, set to launch this fall at its Otterburne campus.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The owner of the former Canada Revenue Agency building in downtown Winnipeg hopes to convert the space into a hotel. If funding is secured, the $38.6M redevelopment is scheduled to be complete in spring 2025 and would create about 50 permanent jobs.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Manitoba's first potash mine has begun production near Russell. The Potash and Agri Development Corporation owns and operates the mine, which is scheduled to extract 250,000 tonnes of potash per year. Gambler First Nation is a 20% equity partner in the project.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Canada and the Rural Municipality of De Salaberry are spending more than $4M to upgrade the St. Malo Arena. The renovation will expand the building’s size and increase its energy efficiency.

    canada.ca

  • The Manitoba Mineral Development fund is providing $300,000 to New Age Metals to support the company’s lithium exploration activities on the northwest shore of Bernic Lake, near Tanco Mine.

    canadianminingjournal.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has begun construction on a new health care centre in Portage la Prairie, replacing the community’s current facility. The $455M project will increase surgical, emergency, and acute care capacity, and is expected to be complete in fall 2025.

    winnipegsun.com

  • The provincial government is increasing the availability of at-home sleep study kits through a two-year, $1.8M deal with Cerebra Medical and Winnipeg's Misericordia Health Centre. Up to 10 new staff will be hired in the next few years, including physician assistants, filing clerks, and respiratory therapists.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is allocating $15.1M to four rapid housing projects for women and youth at risk of homelessness. A total of 57 units will be created through projects by the Manitoba Métis Federation, Wahbung Abinoonjiag, Spence Neighbourhood Association, and the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-06-05 to 2023-06-09

  • The Ross Ellen Housing Complex, a 47-unit supportive housing development, recently opened in Winnipeg’s Centennial neighbourhood. Home First Winnipeg will operate the complex, providing 24/7 supports for residents with mental health and addictions issues.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $414,000 to the Alternative Response to Citizens in Crisis program, transitioning it from pilot to permanent status. The partnership between Shared Health and the Winnipeg Police Service pairs police with mental health professionals to help people in crisis.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Town of Morris is spending $600,000 towards the upgrade its pool facilities this year, including the addition of a beach-style entry to improve accessibility. Construction will begin in August.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • Alston Properties will complete the final phase of the James Avenue Pumphouse this summer, adding 65 apartment units at the decommissioned pumping station in Winnipeg's East Exchange District.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Seine River School Division is planning a new vocational school in Ste. Anne, serving students from Grade 9-12. The school, which will also include a day care centre, should be completed in 2027.

    steinbachonline.com

  • McMunn & Yates Building Supplies Ltd. has acquired Canadian Lumber’s locations in Winkler, Morden, and Altona. Founded in Dauphin, McMunn & Yates now operates 22 locations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • A 7-Eleven franchise in Winnipeg’s Sturgeon Creek neighbourhood has applied for a liquor license that would allow it to serve alcohol in a furnished dining area. 7-Eleven is licensed to serve alcohol in most of its Ontario locations, but this would be the first in Manitoba.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $145M to improve health care services in the province’s North. Of this, $39M is for the construction of a new clinic in The Pas, which will replace two smaller sites. Construction will begin in the 2024-2025 fiscal year.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Winnipeg-based manufacturer NFI Group Inc. has signed a deal with the Toronto Transit Commission to build up to 621 battery-electric buses. The contract includes 186 40-foot buses, with an option to add up to 435 more over five years.

    winnipegsun.com

  • Prairie Mountain Health Region recently hired three new nurse practitioners, serving the communities of Carberry, Swan River, and Virden. There are now 26 nurse practitioners working in the region, which is facing a shortage of physicians.

    discoverwestman.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending nearly $1M to improve the province's trails network, supporting 34 projects. These include trail construction, maintenance, or enhancement in Winnipeg, Falcon Lake, Winkler, Dauphin, and Oak River.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Brandon Clinic recently laid off seven staff, including six nurses and one transcriptionist. The clinic has stated that funding constraints prompted the layoffs, and that a shortage of doctors has led to a drop in revenue for the clinic.

    cbc.ca

  • The Downtown Winnipeg BIZ has launched its summer programming, offering concerts, markets, and tours in an effort to attract people to the city centre. Average weekly downtown visits were up by 29% in May when compared with the same time last year.

    downtownwinnipegbiz.com

  • The provincial government is allocating $700,000 to a design study of Winnipeg’s Kenaston Boulevard expansion. The widening of Kenaston is projected to cost about $550M and will help accommodate the development of Naawi-Oodena, an urban reserve being built in the area.

    cbc.ca

  • The Winnipeg Foundation is granting $225,000 annually over four years to Amoowigamig, the City of Winnipeg’s downtown public washroom. The funds will allow the facility to increase its hours and expand its harm reduction and peer supports, provided by Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing funding for its sector council program by 40%, to a total $10.1M annually for four years. The program provides financial support for industry groups, allowing them to offer skills training and recruit workers to sectors facing shortages.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is seeking a contractor to design a new dam in Wawanesa, replacing the current, 84-year-old structure. Construction is slated to begin in 2025.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Paul Albrechtsen Foundation is providing $27M to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation to upgrade its facilities and equipment. The bulk of the donation will fund the rebuild of a research lab in Winnipeg, while $3.5M will go toward a previously announced resource centre in Brandon.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government is providing $5M to the John Howard Society of Brandon and Westman Youth for Christ to build a transitional housing complex for people facing homelessness. The City of Brandon is providing the land for the 24-unit residence.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-29 to 2023-06-02

  • The Government of Canada, through its Rapid Housing Initiative, is providing $13.3M to fund 78 new homes for Indigenous people in Manitoba. The projects are in Lynn Lake, Nelson House 170, Opaskwayak Cree Nation 21E, Oxford House, and Wasagamack.

    cmhc-schl.gc.ca

  • Office vacancy rates in Winnipeg surpassed 13% in the first quarter of 2023, with more than 2 million square feet of space sitting unused. Landlords are offering increased inducement allowances to tenants and brokers in an effort to fill space.

    westerninvestor.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $1.55M to the Mining Association of Manitoba and the Communities Economic Development Fund to support mineral exploration projects. These include employment readiness programs, education and advocacy campaigns, and foreign worker recruitment.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Construction has begun on a $2.5M expansion to the Cancer Care Manitoba site at the Russell Health Centre. A committee of southwestern Manitoba communities is contributing $1.8M to the project, with the provincial government providing the remaining $700,000.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • In a $5.5M deal, Kamloops-based Pattison Media has acquired two Brandon radio stations from Westman Communications Group. The company says it intends to increase staffing at the two stations: 94.7 STAR FM and Q Country 91.5 FM.

    brandonsun.com

  • The Tallest Poppy, an eatery in Winnipeg’s West Broadway neighbourhood, is shuttering its dining room. The restaurant will continue to offer takeout and catering options.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The provincial government is in the planning stage of a project that would begin to convert Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway to a freeway. The six-lane interchange at St. Anne’s Road and the Perimeter will cost $150-200M and is expected to begin construction in 2026 or 2027.

    cbc.ca

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation will begin construction this summer on Michif Manor, a residence for Métis families whose loved ones are being treated at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. The $11M facility should be complete in July 2024 and open by September 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Sharecuterie, an Indigenous-owned charceuterie café, recently held its grand opening in Winnipeg's River Heights neighbourhood. The eatery first transitioned from online to in-person sales last spring.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Cannabis retailer Ashdown Market has opened a new grocery store in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The neighbourhood’s population has grown rapidly in recent years, but there remain few grocery options.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Paramedic job vacancies in rural Manitoba have tripled in the last two years, according to the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals. Nearly one in three rural paramedic positions are vacant, with just 499 of 717 positions currently filled.

    winnipegsun.com

  • The City of Winnipeg has signed a $54M funding agreement with the Government of Manitoba for the provision of emergency services. The funding will allow the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service to add two ambulances to its fleet, along with 20 new staff.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are jointly providing $38.2M to two clean energy programs. The Efficient Trucking program offers rebates to transportation companies that employ fuel-saving technologies. The Merit-based program funds green job creation and other climate action projects.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Canadian Premium Sands Inc. has received an Environmental Act Licence for its proposed solar glass production facility in Selkirk. The company has hired engineering and construction teams for the $880M project, which will employ about 300 people when complete.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal and provincial governments are providing up to $65M to support the growth of Manitoba’s agriculture sector. Funding is available to producers, agri-processors, industry groups, and Indigenous organizations for research and development or capacity-building projects.

    canada.ca
• Week of 2023-05-22 to 2023-05-26

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $220M over 10 years to improve infrastructure in its provincial parks. Projects include campsite and trail upgrades, yurt expansions, and roadway renewal.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Canada is providing $21.6M to the Native Addictions Council of Manitoba, for the redevelopment of their building in Winnipeg’s North End. The project includes accessibility upgrades and the installation of solar panels and a geothermal heating and cooling system.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Canada is providing $12M to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation for the construction of a new water treatment plant. The design for the plant is nearly complete and building is expected to take 52-68 weeks.

    canada.ca

  • Construction has begun on a short stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway just west of the Manitoba-Ontario border. The Province is twinning this 700m section immediately, and has hired Tetra Tech Canada to complete a conceptual design study for a larger, 16km project.

    cbc.ca

  • The governments of Canada and Manitoba are spending a combined $13.1M to upgrade ventilation systems in 32 schools and health care facilities across the province.

    canada.ca

  • The provincial government is suspending the Social Responsibility Fee currently collected from cannabis retailers, and has begun the process of issuing refunds retroactive to January 2022. Revenue from the 6% fee has totalled approximately $18M.

    stratcann.com

  • The City of Winnipeg and the Government of Canada are spending a total $5.4M to plant more than 70 new trees over two years along the city’s Broadway corridor. The funding will also cover improvements to roadways and sidewalks.

    winnipeg.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is opening 19 of its 23 spray pads in time for the May Long Weekend. The City’s outdoor pools will begin opening in mid-June, and its wading pools on July 1.

    cbc.ca

  • The Manitoba Government’s $45.7M expansion of the Selkirk Regional Health Centre is currently under construction. It includes 30 new acute care inpatient beds and three emergency department treatment spaces, and is expected to be complete in summer 2024.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba provided $370,000 to the Manito Ahbee Festival. The six-day celebration of Indigenous culture and sport took place from May 18 to 23 at the Red River Exhibition Park in Winnipeg.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Construction is underway on a new aquatic centre in Boissevain, slated to open in July. The new facility will have nearly twice the capacity of the community’s old pool, and includes water slides, swimming lanes, and a gradual entry for improved accessibility.

    discoverwestman.com

  • The provincial government is donating six homes to non-profit or Indigenous organizations to create affordable housing. The homes, located in Winnipeg's Point Douglas neighbourhood, were obtained by the Criminal Property Forfeiture unit.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Obsolete Brewing is opening a taproom and brewery this June in Dauphin.

    730ckdm.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing nearly $350,000 to the Brandon Police Service and Brandon Bear Clan community organization for crime prevention projects. The funding is offered through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Construction of new homes in Manitoba slowed during April, down 47% from the previous month and 37% when compared with April 2022.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Assiniboine Community College will offer its rural rotating Comprehensive Health Care Aide program at three community sites in September 2023. These are Reston, Birtle, and Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School in Brandon. Each site has seats for 22 students.

    assiniboine.net
• Week of 2023-05-15 to 2023-05-19

  • The Government of Manitoba has recruited nearly 900 new health care staff since setting a target of 2,000 new hires in November 2022. These include doctors, nurses, health care aides, physician and clinical assistants, and allied-health providers.

    thegraphicleader.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is allocating $1.3M to northern food security projects through its Northern Healthy Foods Initiative. Programming is delivered by community organizations such as Food Matters Manitoba and Four Arrows Regional Health Authority.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Winnipeg-based Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. has secured a purchase order from a cultivation facility in British Columbia for up to 12 of its modular Grow Pods. The contract also includes development of operating procedures and sanitation programs, marketing and other services, and has a total value of about $1.2M.

    globenewswire.com

  • The provincial government is providing a total $4M to 24 newcomer support organizations across Manitoba, for projects relating to social and economic integration. Twelve of these will be covered by three-year funding agreements.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is spending $13M to reimburse physicians' licensing fees for the next two years, part of an effort to retain more doctors in Manitoba. A 2022 survey by Doctors Manitoba found that more than half of physicians are considering retiring, reducing hours, or leaving the province.

    cbc.ca

  • Brandon University has formed a partnership with Bioenterprise Canada, an Ontario-based agri-technology business accelerator. The deal will connect the university with mentorship and funding opportunities that could help grow the agri-food sector in Western Manitoba.

    manitobacooperator.ca

  • The Canadian Cancer Society is providing $300,000 to the Manitoba Métis Federation to conduct research on inequities in cancer care services. The focus is on Métis citizens’ access to cancer screening and treatment in rural and remote areas.

    winnipegsun.com

  • The federal government, through PrairiesCan, is spending $3.75M to increase Indigenous communities’ involvement in critical minerals projects. A new partnership with Indigenous Services Canada will fund a variety of projects, creating jobs in northern Manitoba.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $25M to 428 community development projects across the province. These include upgrades to community and recreation centres as well as the development of new programs and services.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $1.2M to grow its youth workforce through the First Jobs Fund. The fund is open to non-profit or non-government organizations and includes a wage subsidy program as well as a job readiness program for youth facing employment barriers.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Winnipeg’s three downtown Business Improvement Zones are hosting the Back Downtown Spirit Week this month. The series of events and activities is part of a campaign launched last fall encouraging Winnipeggers to spend more time in the city centre.

    winnipegsun.com

  • WestJet is adding a new direct route from Winnipeg to Atlanta in September, connecting the city to the busiest airport in the world. The Government of Manitoba is spending up to $5M over two years to help create the route.

    cbc.ca

  • NurseX, a private Manitoba nursing agency, was established in August 2022 and has since recruited 100 nurses and 40 health care aides. The company was founded by a Winnipeg couple, who intend to eventually expand across Canada.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Canadian Mennonite University is launching a social work program at its Winnipeg campus in 2023-2024. The program will graduate 30-35 students each year.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is inviting public feedback on a new plan to revitalize its downtown core. CentrePlan 2050 sets a target of 350 new housing units per year until 2030, and then 500 per year until 2050. It also outlines the redevelopment of the Graham Avenue bus corridor.

    cbc.ca

  • True North Real Estate Development is proposing a $550M redevelopment of the Portage Place mall in downtown Winnipeg. The company's three-year plan begins with the construction of a 15-storey health care facility, followed by a 16-storey residential tower that will include a grocery store and community services space.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-05-08 to 2023-05-12

  • The Red Seine Rat Wastewater Cooperative is planning to issue contracts in 2024 for a $110M wastewater treatment system for the town of Niverville and rural municipalities of Hanover, Ritchot and Tache. The facility is currently in the preliminary design stage with completion projected in 2027.

    constructconnect.com

  • Five municipalities in Manitoba have received funding from the federal government and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to help them develop better asset management plans.

    constructconnect.com

  • The Real Brokerage Inc., an international publicly traded real estate brokerage, has expanded into Manitoba with an initial complement of 22 agents.

    businesswire.com

  • Winnipeg Transit has been operating at six per cent below pre-pandemic (2019) levels and efforts to ramp up service have been hampered by a lack of bus drivers. Transit hired 108 drivers last year and more than 60 drivers this year, but retirements and resignations have prevented the service from increasing its staff levels.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Thompson is soliciting bids for a new Aquatic Centre that will house an indoor pool. The former Norplex pool closed permanently in 2019.

    cbc.ca

  • Google Canada is partnering with ComIT, a Winnipeg charity that provides tech skills training to newcomers and marginalized communities, to provide free tech training to individuals facing barriers to employment.

    iheartradio.ca

  • Gateway Resources is planning two new building projects in Winkler in 2023. One building will house a seniors activity centre and accommodations for Supported Independent Living participants. The second building project is a pair of new accessible homes that will each accommodate three individuals.

    pembinavalleyonline.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing funding to Research Manitoba to $13.6M in 2023-24, a $1.55M increase from the previous year. Part of the funding will allow Research Manitoba to co-create an Indigenous research and innovation framework that will include new grant programs to advance research and innovation opportunities for Indigenous students.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2023-05-01 to 2023-05-05

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing nearly $33.5M for infrastructure upgrades to the Trans-Canada Highway through the Rural Municipality (RM) of Headingley over the next two years.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is allocating approximately $3M in new and ongoing funding in mental health service improvements for children and youth across the province. The funding supports new staff, increased training, and expanded facilities that improve the access to mental health services.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. has entered into an agreement with Yukon Liquor Corporation (“YLC”) to supply recreational use cannabis products to YLC for sale in Yukon Territory. The first shipment of cannabis for retail sale in the Yukon is expected in Q2 2023.

    globenewswire.com

  • BuildForce Canada, in its recent 2023-2032 forecast, expects that the non-residential construction sector should see moderate, but sustained employment growth between 2025 and 2030 as a series of projects cycle up and down. Demand for several Manitoba trades may exceed the supply of new journeypersons required by 2032. Trades within this group include Bricklayer, Carpenter, Mobile Crane Operator, Roofer, and Welder.

    globenewswire.com

  • Winnipeg-based Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. has secured a purchase order from a United States based customer for up to 8 of its modular Grow Pods for an integrated pre-licensed cannabis cultivation and processing facility in Alabama. The contract includes development of the cannabis production facility, training, and other services and has a total value estimated at $600,000.

    globenewswire.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending almost $30M to add up to 20 more beds to the existing 10-bed intensive care unit at the Grace Hospital in Winnipeg. Design work will begin soon, with construction expected to begin in the summer of 2024.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal government and the Little Saskatchewan First Nation, are jointly spending more than $4.9M to build the MINO-AYA-WIN Centre in Little Saskatchewan First Nation, located in the Interlake region. The new multi-purpose space will include a geothermal ice rink and training facility.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is adding almost $10M to a summer jobs for youth grant program. The funding is directed towards non-profit organizations, education authorities, municipal governments and northern community councils for hiring summer workers between the ages of 15 and 29.

    globalnews.ca
• Week of 2023-04-24 to 2023-04-28

  • Two-thirds of Manitoba health care workers are experiencing burnout and more than half have considered quitting, according to a recently-released report by Deloitte. The firm recommends revisiting staff ratios and developing new strategies for employee well-being.

    cbc.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are increasing the funding available to Manitoba food processors. Businesses can apply for up to $2.5M toward capital investments and capacity building, and $30,000 for market development.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Winnipeg Transit is planning to build a hydrogen production facility, part of its $280M plan to replace 100 diesel buses with zero-emission alternatives by 2027. Transit is aiming to have the facility operational at its Osborne St. garage by the end of 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The federal and provincial governments are allocating $10M to workforce training efforts through the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant. Employers can receive up to $10,000 per employee and $100,000 per project to contract third-party training for their staff.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $2.1M to two Indigenous-led mental health and addictions projects. The funds will be split between the mobile crisis response teams of Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak and the Southern Chiefs’ Organization.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The University of Manitoba and the Manitoba Egg Farmers are opening a $4M research station in Glenlea, south of Winnipeg. The centre will provide educational tours to the general public beginning in May.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Salisbury House location in Winnipeg’s North End has closed after 60 years in business. Just six staff remained at the restaurant after it scaled back its hours during the pandemic, and all were offered jobs at other Salisbury House locations.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Thompson General Hospital is facing a shortage of laboratory staff, according to the Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals. Nine out of 12 laboratory technologist positions are currently unfilled, representing a 75% vacancy rate.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is re-opening a business loan program aimed at creating jobs and promoting economic growth in the province’s North. Loans of up to $2M are available, with a focus on natural resources projects and Indigenous economic development.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is providing a total $240,000 to 30 organizations through its Community Museum Project Support Program. This grant enables museums to promote reconciliation, accessibility, COVID-19 recovery, and collections management.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is redeveloping Air Canada Park, located on Portage Avenue downtown. The $2.5M rejuvenation project could include a performance stage, improved lighting, and added green space. Work begins in August and will wrap up next spring.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-04-17 to 2023-04-21

  • Rogers Communications Inc. will move 300 overseas call centre jobs to Western Canada following its acquisition of Shaw Communications Inc. The federal government’s approval of the merger requires that the company create 3,000 new jobs in the region. The call centre positions will relocate to Manitoba, Alberta, and B.C.

    cbc.ca

  • Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre has completed construction on 22 new supportive tiny homes for people experiencing homeless in Winnipeg. The project, which received $7.3M in federal funding, includes onsite services such as cultural mentors and nurse practitioners.

    cmhc-schl.gc.ca

  • The Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation is providing more than $10M to conservation organizations. The majority of the funding is earmarked for Manitoba’s Watershed Districts, while $2.79M will support projects by 15 conservation organizations across the province.

    mhhc.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is providing $400,000, through its Innovation Growth Program, to four Manitoba-based businesses developing new products or services. The companies plan to create a total of 94 new jobs over the next five years.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is allocating $3M to two seniors housing programs. The funds will allow the supportive housing program to increase its per diem rate for residents, while a new home modification grant program will fund renovations to help seniors who choose to remain in their homes.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Prairie Mountain Health Region is launching a travelling recruitment expo this spring, visiting seven southwestern Manitoba communities to promote careers in health care.

    730ckdm.com

  • Manitoba will need to recruit 4,800 construction workers by 2027 to keep up with anticipated retirements, according to BuildForce Canada. The Manitoba Construction Sector Council is holding a job fair in Winnipeg in April, with more than 40 companies participating.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The University of Manitoba is planning to increase enrolment in several of its health care programs. It aims to add 15 undergraduate seats to its medical degree and a total 55 seats to various master’s degree programs, including nursing and physical therapy.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $200,000 in additional funding to Candace House, a Winnipeg non-profit that supports victims and survivors of violence. The organization plans to expand the wraparound supports it provides to families affected by homicide.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Chilli Chutney, an East Indian restaurant in Brandon, is planning a location in Winnipeg. Chilli Chutney Street Food will open on Kenaston Blvd in the next few weeks.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The Original George’s Burgers & Subs chain is adding a new location in Winnipeg’s Tuxedo neighbourhood, moving into a space formerly occupied by Monstrosity Burger and Tuxedo Village Family Restaurant. The new location is expected to open this fall and employ 10-15 staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Manitoba’s lifeguard shortage continues as municipalities try to recruit staff for their seasonal pools. According to Lifesaving Society Manitoba, just 900 people were certified to be lifeguards in 2022, compared to nearly 1,100 prior to the pandemic.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Aveda Institute Winnipeg is spending $4M to relocate downtown from its current space in the Exchange District. The cosmetology school will increase enrollment by 30-35 students and add a café, yoga studio, and a rooftop patio to its new building. The Portage Avenue campus opens in early May.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Shared Health has issued a request for proposals for physician recruitment services. The provincial health care organization is seeking firms to recruit 150 doctors to Manitoba: 50 in each of Winnipeg, the Northern Health Region, and other rural areas.

    cbc.ca

  • Whiteout Parties are returning to Winnipeg now that the city’s NHL team has secured a playoff spot. Economic Development Winnipeg and True North Sports Entertainment will host the street parties, which bring about 5,000 fans downtown to watch the games on outdoor screens.

    ctvnews.ca
• Week of 2023-04-10 to 2023-04-14

  • River East Transcona School Division is eliminating 13 library technician positions due to a budgetary shortfall. In 2023-2024 the Winnipeg School Division will reduce its contingent of librarian technicians from 42 to 29 full-time equivalent positions.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Santa Summit, a Hallmark Christmas movie, is filming in Winnipeg’s Exchange District during the month of April.

    ctvnews.ca

  • Construction is underway on the second phase of upgrades to Portage la Prairie’s main street. The $40M project is a partnership between the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, and is expected to be completed in 2024.

    constructconnect.com

  • The Lifesaving Society of Manitoba is recruiting lifeguards to work in rural and northern Manitoba this summer. Its Northern Water Smart Program offers a 19-week paid training with job placements upon completion.

    chrisd.ca

  • The Bake Oven, a Dutch bakery and deli in Winnipeg, is closing permanently April 15th when its owner retires.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Chopped Leaf has opened a location in Winnipeg’s South Tuxedo neighbourhood. It is the restaurant chain’s second franchise in Manitoba and its sole location in Winnipeg.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Canadian dollar store chain Dollarama has added five new Manitoba stores in the past year, for a total of 47 in the province.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $5M to add 70 operating room assistants to surgical teams across the province. A free 12-week micro-certification is available to those with health care aide credentials seeking these new positions.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The federal and provincial governments are spending $221M on agricultural initiatives in Manitoba over the next five years. These include enhancements to business risk management programs and funding for greenhouse gas reduction projects on farms.

    canada.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is seeking a contractor to draft plans for a microgrid to supply solar power for its new electric buses. Winnipeg Transit will add 100 emission-free buses to its fleet by 2027, including 16 in 2024.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Winnipeg Indigenous Friendship Centre is building a new facility in the city's Lord Selkirk neighbourhood, replacing a centre that closed in 2018. The project will include elders’ housing, a 24/7 safe space for youth, and a new friendship centre.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-04-03 to 2023-04-07

  • Construction is underway on a $110M expansion to the Brandon Regional Health Centre. The work is expected to be complete in 2025, resulting in 30 additional beds, a new intensive care unit, and an expanded neonatal intensive care unit.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $1.3M to expand its sexual assault response program, adding 6-8 staff at two Winnipeg community organizations. The Province will place nurses and crisis workers at Klinic Community Health and a mobile response team at Ka Ni Kanichihk.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing more than $375,000 to a child care centre expansion project in Winnipeg’s Sage Creek neighbourhood. The expansion will create 60 new child care spaces at Living Prairie Childcare, in addition to the 74 it already offers.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Mobile Tech Lab, a mobile device repair and retail company, recently opened a location in Brandon’s Corral Centre.

    bdnmb.ca

  • Red River College Polytechnic is partnering with the CWB Welding Foundation to offer a tuition-free program for women hoping to pursue careers in welding. The Women of Steel program is 17 weeks and includes a two-week work placement.

    www.rrc.ca

  • The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is opening a Zellers store in Winnipeg’s St. Vital Centre in April. Most Zellers retail outlets closed in 2013, but HBC is reviving the discount brand through pop-up shops and online sales.

    chrisd.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering a second intake at its Practical Nursing program in Morden. The rural rotating site will accept 25 students in January 2025, with priority given to those living within 100km of Morden.

    assiniboine.net

  • Minnova Renewable Energy is researching the feasibility of large-scale green hydrogen production in Flin Flon. The company is partnering with the City of Flin Flon to study the area's potential as a northern trading hub for green hydrogen produced from renewable hydroelectric power.

    minnovacorp.ca

  • Beauty retailer Sephora is opening a location at the Brandon Shoppers Mall. The store is the company’s first in Brandon and its fifth in Manitoba.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $7.5M to the City of Winnipeg to assist with road repairs. These funds are in addition to the municipal infrastructure spending announced by the Province earlier this year.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $10.9M to the Keystone Centre, a Brandon facility that hosts sporting, recreational, cultural, and agricultural events. The funds include $3M for major renovations and $7.9M toward a multi-year sustainability plan.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Southern Chiefs Organization has assumed ownership of the former Hudson’s Bay building in downtown Winnipeg, and plans to reopen the space in 2026 as Wehwehneh Bahgahkinahgohn. The $130M project includes a museum, childcare facility, and 300 units of affordable housing.

    winnipegsun.com

  • The federal government has selected Winnipeg as the headquarters of its Canada Water Agency, bringing potentially hundreds of new jobs to the city. Budget 2023 dedicates $85.1M over five years to create the new federal entity, and $21M annually in operational funding.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Paul Albrechtsen Foundation is contributing $3.5M to the expansion of Brandon's Western Manitoba Cancer Centre. The $26M project is slated for completion next year, and includes a new "Centre for Hope" that will provide supportive care services to patients and families.

    cbc.ca

  • The Southern Chiefs Organization recently opened a new office in Brandon. It will be responsible for delivering programs and services to southern First Nations citizens in the city and in surrounding communities.

    scoinc.mb.ca
• Week of 2023-03-27 to 2023-03-31

  • Winnipeg film company Julijette Inc. is partnering with Los Angeles-based Volume Global to build a film and television production studio in Niverville. Construction will begin in June on Jette Studios, a $30M project that includes both pop-up and permanent soundstages.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Hanover School Division, which operates 19 schools in southeastern Manitoba, will cut 10.5 teaching positions in 2023-2024 due to a budgetary shortfall. The division has also shelved its plans to add 15 new positions that would account for increasing student enrollment.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $15.3M toward three water infrastructure projects in rural communities. These include water and wastewater treatment projects in the rural municipalities of Headingley, Macdonald, and West St. Paul.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The provincial government is spending $420M on transportation infrastructure in Northern Manitoba, part of a five-year plan first announced earlier this month. Projects include airport improvements, roadway repairs, and a $74M northern corridor through the Port of Churchill.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is establishing a stretcher service in Brandon, Selkirk, and Morden-Winkler to increase transportation options for low-acuity patients. The goal is to ease the demand on ambulances, freeing them up for emergencies and higher-need patients.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is planning to build nine new schools by 2027 through a public-private partnership with a single contractor, still to be selected. These include six schools in Winnipeg, one in Brandon, and one each in the southeast and southwest regions of the province.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Canadian Border Services Agency is returning to pre-pandemic operating hours at 42 ports of entry across Canada, including 14 in Manitoba.

    newswire.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is expanding its chronic pain health care program, opening a new clinic in Selkirk and adding 32 staff. The province will provide $4M annually to the restructured Manitoba Pain Care Program, which focuses on psychology as a pain management tool.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Steel Creek Developers will soon begin construction on Niverville’s first hotel. The $13M Blue Crescent Hotel will feature 73 rooms and an indoor water park. Construction is set to begin in June and is expected to create up to 25 jobs.

    steinbachonline.com

  • The provincial government is providing $7M to improve services for Manitobans experiencing homelessness. The bulk of the funding will go to supports for youth transitioning out of care. The rest will be divided among 19 organizations working to prevent homelessness.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Montreal-based jeweller Maison Birks is closing its downtown Winnipeg location after 120 years in the city.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Southern Chiefs Organization is launching a Traditional Healers Program. Traditional healers will respond to the health and wellness needs of southern First Nations citizens, facilitating healing services such as sweat lodges, sundances, and naming ceremonies.

    scoinc.mb.ca

  • The indoor pool at the City of Winnipeg’s Cindy Klassen Recreation Complex is reopening in April after a months-long closure. The city shut down the pool for maintenance last June, and extended the closure to allow time to recruit and train new lifeguards.

    cbc.ca

  • Manitoba needs to recruit 4,300 new transport truck drivers over five years to keep up with industry demand, according to the provincial government’s Labour Market Outlook for 2022-2026.

    trucknews.com

  • The City of Winnipeg is accepting applications for the summer intake of its temporary patio program, established in 2020 to allow businesses to offer outdoor service that complied with COVID-19 public health orders. The city is considering making the program permanent.

    winnipeg.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is adding $150,000 to its 2023 budget for lifeguard recruitment and retention efforts. Staff shortages caused the cancellation of some swim programs last year, prompting the city to offer free lifeguard training.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba will increase the minimum wage twice this year, to $14.15 in April and to $15.30 in October. The minimum wage in the province is currently $13.50 following a $1.55 increase in October 2022.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending more than $50M on road and highway projects in Western Manitoba. The majority of the funds are dedicated to paving and resurfacing sections of the Trans-Canada Highway and connecting roads in and around Brandon.

    news.gov.mb.ca
• Week of 2023-03-20 to 2023-03-24

  • The provincial government is providing $4.5M in support for Manitoba seniors. The majority of the funds will be split among the five regional health authorities. Seniors groups will also receive funds for professional development, elder abuse prevention, and other programs and services.

    cbc.ca

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation recently opened a 20-unit transitional housing complex in downtown Winnipeg. The project, Fre Maachi, cost nearly $5M to build and will include ongoing supports such as employment training and addictions services.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The provincial government is spending $2.1M to create a co-ordinated inter-agency missing persons unit. The Winnipeg Police Service will lead the unit, hiring four new coordinators to work on missing persons cases across the province.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Staff shortages contributed to long wait times last year at the City of Winnipeg’s 311 contact centre. The city set a target of 74 full-time positions in 2022, but just 55.5 were filled at year's end. A group of 24 new staff are set to begin work at 311 next month, some full-time and some part-time.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is adding $50M to a venture capital fund it established last spring. The province has now committed $100M to the Manitoba First Fund, which is intended to help businesses access the capital needed to expand operations and hire new staff.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Manitoba Métis Federation will begin construction this spring on a transitional housing project in Winnipeg. The $7M Mazoun project, which is expected to be completed in summer of 2024, includes 12 suites for youth ages 16-24 leaving care with Métis Child, Family and Community Services.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba’s Budget 2023 allocates $50M to be disbursed to more than 400 arts, culture, and sports projects across the province. This includes funding for special projects, facility upgrades, and community events.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering a second intake at its Practical Nursing program in Otterburne. The rural rotating site will accept 25 students when it opens in 2024, with priority given to those living within 100km of Otterburne.

    assiniboine.net

  • The City of Flin Flon is moving ahead with its plans to replace the Flin Flon Aqua Centre, despite rising project costs. The revised cost of the facility is $17M, a substantial increase over the original $9M estimate.

    thereminder.ca

  • The Government of Canada is providing $2M to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for the expansion and modernization of its campus in downtown Winnipeg.

    newswire.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $12M to increase addictions treatment capacity in the province. It will create seven new medical withdrawal management beds in rural communities, and fund service providers to expand their treatment options.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $1.5M to Ka Ni Kanichihk, an Indigenous-led non-profit in Winnipeg. The funds will support the operation of Velma’s House, a 24/7 safe space for women who have been sexually exploited.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is granting $35M to the City of Portage la Prairie for the expansion of its water treatment plant. Construction could begin in about a year and will take about two years to complete.

    portageonline.com

  • The Downtown Winnipeg Business Improvement Zone is offering grants of up to $20,000 to organizers hosting events that occur downtown between May 1, 2023 and April 1, 2024. The funds are available to non-profits, businesses, or individuals and to new or expanded events.

    downtownwinnipegbiz.com

  • The Canadian Football League selected Winnipeg to host the 2025 Grey Cup. The Province of Manitoba anticipates the championship game will generate $90M in economic activity, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.

    ctvnews.ca

  • The provincial government is spending nearly $5M to increase wages for conservation officers, hoping to bolster numbers as the vacancy rate surpasses 20%. The goal is to add 37 new officers by 2025.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Prairie Mountain Health region recently launched a new mobile clinic pilot program together with Shared Health, and almost $900K in funding from Health Canada's Substance Use and Addictions Program. The Mobile Rapid Access to Addiction Medicine clinic will serve three communities in southwestern Manitoba. Physicians, nurses, and counsellors will visit Russell, Virden, and Wuskiwi Siphik First Nation on a rotating basis, offering care without the need for appointments or referrals.

    cbc.ca
• Week of 2023-03-13 to 2023-03-17

  • The Government of Canada is providing over $1M to five Indigenous tourism initiatives across Manitoba. Projects include launching new exhibits at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, reopening a fishing lodge in Norway House, and supporting the work of the Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Association.

    canada.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is spending $2.1M to create a province-wide child abuse investigation unit. It will begin work in June 2024 and will be located at the Toba Centre for Children and Youth’s new facility in Winnipeg.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • In its 2023 budget, the Government of Manitoba is allocating $81M to help disability services organizations raise wages for their support workers. The average hourly funding rate will increase to $19 from the current $15.11 per hour.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The provincial government released a $4.1B, five-year infrastructure plan that outlines more than 800 capital projects. Highway projects account for over $2.5B and include expanding the highway to Ontario to four lanes, and converting Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway to a freeway.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority recently launched a recruitment drive to address the shortage of home care workers in Manitoba. The health authority is offering a free, four-week training program with the goal of adding 300 new staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $450,000 to Indigenous Tourism Manitoba. The non-profit organization will use the funding to offer coaching and training to its members and host a Manitoba Indigenous Tourism Conference.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Assiniboine Community College is offering a second intake at its Practical Nursing program in Virden. The rural rotating site will accept 25 students in 2024, with priority given to those living within 100km of Virden.

    assiniboine.net

  • The Government of Manitoba is increasing the number of skilled immigrants that can come to the province in an effort to address labour shortages. As many as 9,500 people may be nominated through the provincial nominee program in 2023, a record high and an increase of 3,175 over last year.

    cbc.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is providing $12.6M to restore the Carnegie Library. The building was damaged by flooding in 2013, requiring the City of Winnipeg Archives to be temporarily housed elsewhere. The renovations will take about three years to complete.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing a total $323,000 to 67 community events across the province. These include winter festivals, sporting events, concerts, celebrations, and art exhibitions.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Construction has concluded on upgrades to the Wawanesa and District Recreation Centre. Federal funding of $832,000 allowed the Rural Municipality of Oakland-Wawanesa to replace the facility’s two ice plants and upgrade its HVAC system.

    canada.ca

  • Activate Games is opening a second Winnipeg location this month, in the Transcona neighbourhood. The Winnipeg-based interactive gaming company has 10 facilities across Canada and the U.S., and its newest will employ about a dozen staff.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Brandon School Division will increase staffing in 2023-2024, adding 27 full-time equivalent teaching positions and 23 educational assistants. The division also reinstated four previously-cut positions, including a psychologist and research and evaluation specialist.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The Manitoba Government is providing a total $2M to nine women’s resource centres across the province. The funding will help with operating costs and programming related to preventing family violence.

    cbc.ca

  • Winnipeg School Division is hiring 25 new educational assistants and six bilingual language teachers in 2023-2024. The division received a funding increase this year, but not enough to reinstate 130 teaching positions eliminated in previous years due to budget shortfalls.

    cbc.ca

  • The provincial government is budgeting $7.9B for health care in 2023, up $668M from the previous year. This includes the first stages of a $1.2B multi-year capital campaign that will add capacity to nine health care facilities across the province.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Winnipeg’s Health Sciences Centre is opening a new minor-treatment clinic to reduce stress on its emergency room. Staff will initially consist of one doctor and one nurse, and eventually social workers and nurse practitioners. The provincial government is providing $2.4M toward annual operating costs.

    winnipegfreepress.com
• Week of 2023-03-06 to 2023-03-10

  • The federal government is providing $10.7M to Main Street Project, a Winnipeg non-profit that serves people experiencing homelessness. The funds will enable the organization to upgrade its Martha Street facility, adding a withdrawal management space.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba will begin offering regulated child care at a maximum $10 a day for children under 12 in April 2023, three years ahead of schedule. The province is inviting post-secondary institutions to apply for funding to develop new training programs for early childhood educators and assistants.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • Manitoba health care officials extended nearly 350 job offers on a recent recruitment trip to the Philippines. Potential recruits include about 240 nurses and 110 health care aides.

    cbc.ca

  • The Keewatin Tribal Council and Four Arrows Regional Health Authority recently graduated 12 new emergency responders from seven northern First Nations under a specialized medical training and transportation program. Thirteen communities also received new transport vehicles, equipment, and supplies.

    thompsoncitizen.net

  • Alamo Gold received approval from the federal government for its Lynn Lake Gold Project. The company will extract gold from two Northern Manitoba mines over a 13-year period. The project is expected to create more than 400 jobs during both construction and operation.

    thompsoncitizen.net

  • The provincial government is allocating $3.6M from Budget 2023 to safety initiatives in downtown Winnipeg. The funds will go to the Downtown Community Safety Partnership, which works with community groups, government departments, and mental health providers to offer support services.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing a total $1.7M to five mineral exploration projects through its Manitoba Mineral Development Fund. The approved projects are in Northern Manitoba, near Lynn Lake, Snow Lake, and Flin Flon.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg has begun construction on the $52M St. Vital Bridge Rehabilitation Project. The first phase of construction is expected to be complete in November 2023, and the second phase in October 2024.

    constructconnect.com

  • The Government of Manitoba has finalized a health care deal with the federal government. The province will receive an additional $6.7B in health care funding over 10 years. This includes $1.2B for priority areas for which the province needs to account for its spending.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The St. James-Assiniboia School Division in Winnipeg will eliminate 12 full-time teaching positions in 2023-2024 due to declining enrolment, according to its draft budget. The school division will maintain class sizes and programs despite financial constraints.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • The Government of Manitoba is providing $780,660 to 21 projects aimed at protecting fish and wildlife in the province through the Fish and Wildlife Enhancement Fund. Non-profits, academic institutions, and community organizations may apply for funding that will cover eligible expenses that promote sustainability.

    news.gov.mb.ca

  • The City of Steinbach has begun construction on the $66.2M Southeast Event Centre and anticipates its completion by fall of 2024. The project includes an indoor rink, concert venue, walking track, and multi-use hall.

    constructconnect.com

  • Merit Functional Foods, a Winnipeg plant protein processor, recently closed. Its facility opened in 2021 to extract protein from peas and canola, but global market conditions have limited its success. The number of employees affected is not yet known.

    cbc.ca

  • Bahay Kubo, a tiki-themed Filipino restaurant, recently opened in Winnipeg’s Exchange District. The restaurant began as a pop-up but now operates out of the Royal Albert Arms Hotel.

    cbc.ca

  • The Government of Manitoba recently issued funding letters to personal care homes, indicating that they may begin hiring new direct care staff. The new jobs are part of a $16M funding increase that was announced in 2022 to increase the number of health-care aides, licensed practical nurses, and registered nurses.

    cbc.ca

  • Red River College Polytechnic is launching a series of free micro-credential programs; short courses that allow workers to upgrade their skills quickly without interrupting their careers. Three of the new microcredentials are in environmental technology and three focus on building relationships with Indigenous communities.

    winnipegfreepress.com

  • Vionell Holdings Partnership began Phase One of a new housing development in Brandon. The Edge, a seven-building, 252-suite complex at the southeast end of the city, is expected to be completed in fall 2023.

    bdnmb.ca

  • The City of Winnipeg is spending $5M to hire and train 24 transit security officers by the end of 2023. The team will patrol city buses and bus stops, focusing on five routes that have been found to have the most serious safety incidents.

    cbc.ca

  • Crampton’s Market, a Headingley grocer specializing in locally grown food, is closing permanently this month due to rising costs and low profitability.

    cbc.ca