Located at the midpoint between East and West Coasts, Winnipeg is the capital of a province rich in agricultural and natural resources.  In the 21st Century, the city is pursuing economic growth by better connecting industry and education, while better equiping its large aboriginal population for opportunity.  

 

Employment Partnerships

Winnipeg has formed partnerships linking employers like Canadian Tire to the University of Winnipeg, an ICT association and other public-private groups to improve the supply of skilled employees.  The Composite Innovation Centre (CIC), a public-private R&D organization, has developed technologies and supply chains for high-performance composites based on agricultural materials such as hemp and flax, which reduces costs for employers like Boeing and Magellan Aerospace.  CIC’s success has led to the creation of a national consortium, Canadian Composites Manufacturing R&D, to conduct pre-competitive R&D for multiple companies.  CIC also has a training program that gives Winnipeg students on-the-job experience and supports skills development in companies.

 

Cultural Legacy

The Digital Voices Project originated at Winnipeg’s largest secondary school.  Oral storytelling is a vital part of aboriginal culture in Manitoba, and the Project provides students with digital skills training and supports them in building personal, familial and cultural stories across multiple media.   The University has established a drop-in facility for inner-city residents, the Wii Chiiwaakanak Learning Centre, where visitors benefit from free computer access as well as academic, traditional language and homework help programs.  This supplements the free Internet access and ICT workshops available throughout the Winnipeg library system.  Among Winnipeg’s most innovative developments for its First Nations residents is the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), the first national aboriginal TV network, for which more than 80% of programming originates in Canada.  A social media offshoot, APTN Digital Drum, allows aboriginal youth to express their cultural identity and connect with each other.  

 

Home to North America’s oldest ballet company, Winnipeg also has a thriving arts and culture scene.  An independent film from two Winnipegers, Indie Game: The Movie, won awards at the Sundance Festival and was a New York Times Critic’s Pick.  Funded on Kickstarter, it tells the inside story of the creation of a video game.  In its funding, development and ultimate success, the film is a symbol of Winnipeg’s ambitions and achievement. 

 

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