Snowshoeing in Whiteshell Provincial Park

Recreation opportunities in Manitoba are supported through a network of volunteer governed and led organizations, ranging from large agencies with staff, to grassroots organizations in which volunteers carry out programs and services. These organizations include recreational trail associations and walking clubs, seniors clubs, youth serving organizations, community clubs, tourism organizations, and sports groups. The Recreation and Regional Services Branch works with, various organizations and initiatives to support the recreation delivery system in Manitoba.

• Recreation Connections Manitoba
• Recreation Conference for Community Volunteers
• Manitoba Fitness Council
• Manitoba Recreational Trails Association
• Canadian Red Cross - Manitoba Division
• Manitoba Camping Association
• Sunshine Fund
• Sun Fund For Kids
• Winnipeg Boys and Girls Clubs
• Manitoba Naturalists Society
• The Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg
• The Manitoba Voluntary Sector Initiative
• Northern Manitoba Recreation Association
• Lifestyle Information Network (LIN) and Recreation Database
• Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute
• Inter-provincial Sport and Recreation Council
• Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism

Recreation Connections Manitoba

Recreation Connections Manitoba exists to collectively share the passion and spirit of recreation and is dedicated to enhancing the health and wellness of all Manitoba through the development and support of recreation professionals, practitioners and volunteers.

Recreation Conference for Community Volunteers

The Recreation Conference for Community Volunteers targets community volunteers, elected officials and recreation practitioners from rural Manitoba. It provides an opportunity for interaction among volunteers and professionals around issues affecting each of our communities. The Conference provides a program that is in keeping with the ever-changing needs and concerns of the recreation delivery system throughout rural Manitoba. The goal is to deliver sessions that will help rural recreation leaders and community volunteers provide quality recreational opportunities throughout Manitoba.

Manitoba Fitness Council

The Manitoba Fitness Council (MFC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality fitness leadership training in order to provide Manitobans with safe, effective and enjoyable physical activity programs. The MFC was formed in 1986, in response to a need for standardized training and recognized accreditation within the growing fitness industry. Since that time, the organization has broadened its mandate to include public education and advocacy for physical activity.

Contact the Manitoba Fitness Council to find out how you can either become a leader in fitness, or find programs, services or resources that meet your current fitness needs.

Manitoba Recreational Trails Association

The Manitoba Recreational Trails Association is a non-profit provincial association, which assists local, volunteer trail associations to plan and build recreational trails in Manitoba. The MRTA is responsible for co-ordinating the development of the Trans Canada Trail in Manitoba and administers the Manitoba Millennium Trail Development Grant.

Contact the MRTA office for information and resources on building recreational trails and other related issues.

Canadian Red Cross - Manitoba Division

The Canadian Red Cross is involved in many programs and services of interest to those involved in recreation, sport and physical activity. Injury prevention and safety is very important and the Canadian Red Cross provides programs in first aid, water safety, abuse prevention and it also operates a medical equipment loan service. The Manitoba Region of the Canadian Red Cross is a core member of the Manitoba Coalition for Safer Waters.

Manitoba Camping Association

The Manitoba Camping Association is an association of camp providers and people and organizations interested in organized children's and family camps. The Manitoba Camping Association values the quality of children's experience at camp; high standards of safety; recognition of the value of diverse types of camping opportunities to meet the diversity of children in our community; and the promotion of active, healthy growth.

Sunshine Fund

The Winnipeg Free Press Sunshine Fund is a registered charitable organization that offers financial assistance to disadvantaged Manitoba families, to help their children to attend an accredited summer camp program. The Sunshine Fund relies on the generous support of thousands of donors each year and all monies received are used to send children to camp. The Manitoba Camping Association is responsible for the administration of the Sunshine Fund.

Sun Fund For Kids

The Sun Fund for Kids is a partnership between the Brandon Sun and Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba and has been in operation since the mid 1980's. It was established to raise funds to send disadvantaged children to camp. Funds are raised from the Westman area and children and families from the Westman area can apply for assistance.

Winnipeg Boys and Girls Clubs

The Winnipeg Boys and Girls Clubs offers children and youth of diverse social and cultural backgrounds a safe and challenging environment and the opportunities necessary to acquire skills which will enable them to realize their potential. The essence of Boys and Girls Clubs' work is to develop preventative and enriching programs tailor-made for the community they serve. Although the programs are developed to be attractive to all children and youth, there is a special concern for young people who need the services most.

Manitoba Naturalists Society

MNS is a non-profit organization made up of individuals who are interested in the outdoors share a common concern for the well being of Manitoba's nature. MNS was formed in 1920 to promote the popular and scientific study of nature. Today, in addition to research and data collection, MNS arranges educational and recreational programs and field trips to promote an understanding of our natural environment. Most of these events are free.

For information on membership, indoor and outdoor programs and workshops contact the Manitoba Naturalists Society.

The Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg

The Volunteer Centre of Winnipeg is to promote, encourage and support voluntarism through consultation, training and related services to the voluntary, private and public sectors of Manitoba. The goal of VCW is to build strong communities with working partners including governments, researchers, non-profit and charitable agencies, volunteers, funders, donors and businesses.

Contact:  Ph: (204) 477-5180  Fax:  (204) 284-5200
vcw@mts.net

The Manitoba Voluntary Sector Initiative

The Manitoba Voluntary Sector Initiative (MVSI) is an initiative to strengthen and improve the long-term sustainability of the sector through which thousands of citizens serve the public good in our province. MVSI recognizes the value of the people who contribute the time, money, and/or good will, which makes Manitoba a vibrant and wonderful place to live. These people may be working and volunteering in charities, nonprofit groups or informal grassroots groups in education, recreation, the arts, sport and fitness, health, housing, the environment, philanthropy and ethno-cultural groups, as well as aboriginal and francophone communities.

The VSI is driven by this idea that as the voluntary sector in Manitoba enters the 21st century, it faces a variety of challenges to its leadership, organizations and groups, and most importantly, its limitations in securing volunteers, staff and managerial talent and financial resources to meet long-term community needs.

Northern Manitoba Recreation Association

The Northern Manitoba Recreation Association (NORMRA) is a non-profit volunteer organization created in 1971 to increase and broaden the opportunities for citizens of Northern Manitoba to enjoy and participate in recreation sports, fitness, heritage, leisure, and cultural activity.

Lifestyle Information Network (LIN) and Recreation Database

LIN was launched on July 1, 1995. LIN's goal is to provide a focus and infrastructure for the collection, dissemination and exchange of information amongst leisure services professionals. Its services utilize various technologies to promote and facilitate the availability and use of timely, relevant and accurate information to its members. LIN firmly believes that improved accessibility to relevant information will greatly assist users in delivering better services to their respective clients.

Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute

Established in 1980, the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) is a national research agency concerned with advising, educating and informing Canadians and professionals about the importance of healthy, active lifestyles.

In addition to monitoring the physical activity levels of Canadians and the factors that influence participation, CFLRI produces the Research File, a regular series of research summaries, which target policy makers and program-delivery professionals. The Institute also creates Lifestyle Tips, a series, which offers helpful information on becoming more active and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Inter-provincial Sport and Recreation Council

Established in 1969, the Inter-provincial Sport and Recreation Council (ISRC) acts as a forum for provincial and territorial governments to share experience, knowledge, skills and resources. It also facilitates the coordination of cross-jurisdictional initiatives and serves as a point of contact with national sport, recreation and fitness bodies and the federal government. ISRC is a Director-level body that reports to the Provincial/Territorial Deputy Ministers Committee, which in turn reports to Provincial - Territorial Ministers responsible for Fitness, Recreation and Sport.

ISRC facilitates the process by which Federal - Provincial/Territorial Ministers responsible for Fitness, Recreation and Sport meet, receive reports on various policy issues and projects, and recommend action to their respective governments.

Contact:  Ph: (204) 945-4396   Fax:  (204) 945-1684

Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism

Recreation Opportunities - Partners in Leisure

Purpose is to encourage municipal corporations and school divisions to form partnerships aimed at providing a wide range of community recreation opportunities through qualified recreation leadership.