For Release
December 12, 2006
Winnipeg, Manitoba – Training and mentorship initiatives
for inner city residents are receiving $851,090 from the Winnipeg Partnership
Agreement (WPA) through 10 projects that focus on community renewal and
neighbourhood revitalization.
Steve Ashton, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Carol Skelton, Minister
of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification,
and Sam Katz, Mayor of Winnipeg, announced the funding today.
“This support is a great example of working cooperatively with
local groups on community-based goals that will boost the revitalization
of Winnipeg’s downtown and inner-city neighbourhoods,” said
Ashton. "Effective partnerships are key elements of building strong
and healthy communities.”
“Canada’s New Government believes in putting families first
and making communities stronger,” said Minister Skelton, Minister
of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
”These projects will strengthen Winnipeg’s economic development
and generate long-term benefits for residents.”
“The vision of Winnipeg as a strong and dynamic capital city is
enhanced by projects that will revitalize our neighbourhoods,” said
Mayor Katz. “Investing in local economies will promote commercial
development and strengthen neighbourhood renewal.”
Funding will enable community-based organizations including the Inner
City Development Inc. and North End Housing Project Inc. to take the next
steps toward revitalizing inner-city neighbourhoods. The Louis Riel Capital
Corporation and Ka Ni Kanichihk will increase their support for Aboriginal
entrepreneurship and outreach programs.
Other projects will strengthen Winnipeg’s community economic development
organizations, boost entrepreneurship and employment, and enhance the
comfort, safety and durability of housing stock for low-income households.
Funding for these projects comes from Component II of the Winnipeg Partnership
Agreement. Component II projects include those that promote community
capacity, physical renewal, safety and crime prevention, community development
and sustainable economic development.
The Winnipeg Partnership Agreement was signed in May 2004 and represents
a five year, $75-million commitment by the governments of Canada, Manitoba
and Winnipeg to strengthen neighbourhoods, promote economic development
and enable Aboriginal citizens to fully enjoy Winnipeg’s economic
and social opportunities. Interested parties are encouraged to visit www.winnipegpartnership.mb.ca for program details.
For additional information, contact:
Jacquie Sippola
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (204) 983-0280
Winnipeg, Manitoba
John Thorpe
Communications Coordinator
Communications Services
Manitoba
Tel: (204) 945-7123
Brad Salyn
Press Secretary
Office of the Mayor
City of Winnipeg
Tel: (204) 986-4003
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Web Site: WD is online at
www.wd-deo.gc.ca.
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Backgrounder
Winnipeg Partnership Agreement
Building Urban Industries for Local Development ($93,000)
Building Urban Industries for Local Development (BUILD) will work with
the Province and Manitoba Hydro to upgrade the insulation and weatherization
in up to 360 housing units in the Centennial neighbourhood. It is anticipated
that this pilot project will create up to nine jobs for inner-city residents
and include life skills and technical training.
Louis Riel Capital Corporation ($62,000)
The Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC), the lending arm of the Manitoba
Métis Federation, provides financing to Métis and Non-status
Indian controlled small businesses based in Manitoba. This project will
develop and implement a Business Development Program customized for Métis
people and train a Métis Business Counsellor in Winnipeg’s
inner city.
Inner City Development Inc. ($75,000)
Inner City Development is a social enterprise with three operating divisions
that employ low-income or formerly unemployed inner-city residents. This
project will support on the-job training costs in a variety of building
trades for employees of Inner City Development.
Ka Ni Kanichihk ($150,000)
Ka Ni Kanichihk, a community-based Aboriginal organization, provides a
range of cultural services and programs designed to build social, human
and physical capacity within Winnipeg’s rapidly growing urban Aboriginal
community. Funding supports the renovation costs of a recently purchased
building for the Ka Ni Kanichihk Centre, which will house training rooms,
resource area, storefront/gallery space to incubate social enterprises
and a sacred place.
North End Housing Project Inc. ($140,000)
North End Housing Project (NEHP) is a not-for-profit housing corporation
that supplies affordable, quality housing to low-to-moderate income residents
in the north end of Winnipeg. The project will employ two project managers
to complete the scale up of NEHP to a sustainable model able to cover
operating costs from project management fees.
West End BIZ ($100,000)
The West End BIZ is made up of 1,100 businesses located in Winnipeg’s
downtown business improvement zone. Funding will go towards establishing
a Portuguese Village. The project will include storefront improvements
along Sargent Avenue, transforming it into an exciting pedestrian-friendly
strip with a distinctive Portuguese flavour designed to add colour and
vibrancy to the street.
Fort Whyte Foundation ($25,000)
The Fort Whyte Foundation was created in 2003 to provide inner-city youth
with opportunities to develop basic business and life skills through hands-on
sustainable production, harvest and marketing of natural products, such
as honey and bison meat. Funding for its Growing Youth, Food & Community
program will include leadership and mentoring development, and developing
marketable job skills. An outreach program to sell products through satellite
market sales kiosks is also planned.
Graffiti Art Programming Inc. ($90,000)
Graffiti Art Programming is a not-for-profit community youth art centre
that offers the Urban Canvas Program for at-risk youth. The young adults
work with mentors and instructors to enhance their artistic ability and
improve their economic and social conditions. Funding will go towards
program support and hiring a consultant to develop a social enterprise
business plan.
Knox United Church ($66,900)
Knox United Church will build on its pilot project of 10 market stalls
in Central Park by developing the Central Market for Global Families.
This project will establish an eco agricultural market in Central Park
and assist in developing micro-businesses through which low-income inner
city residents can increase their economic security, with a focus on refugee
and new immigrant families.
Spence Neighbourhood Association ($49,190)
The Spence Neighbourhood Association will undertake a feasibility study,
business plan and development of community-based social enterprise called
Community Research Hub. The project will evaluate the potential for a
multi-neighbourhood based enterprise, develop instruction modules and
train residents to supply research services and prepare a case study on
developing a social enterprise in Winnipeg.
