General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres

06/17/2026

Board Spotlight Spotlight: Meet our 1st Vice Chair of GCWCC Christa Boulton

Christa serves as 1st Vice Chair on the GCWCC Board of Directors, recently elected at the AGM in April.

Since 2011, when Christa volunteered for her first Community Centre board, she has committed herself to offering support wherever needed. Currently, Christa serves as President of the Robert A. Steen Community Centre, a role she has held for 7 years, and as Secretary of the District 1 City Centre Community Board, as well as their representative on the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres.

Christa is the owner and trainer at I.C.E. Safety Training, where she shares her knowledge to build a culture of safety across all aspects of business. Whether it be teaching First Aid, Fall Protection, Confined Space or licensing heavy equipment operators, her caring nature and sense of humour further her company's mission of making sure everyone has the tools they need to get home in one piece, happy and healthy at the end of the day.

06/15/2026

🏈 NEW PROGRAM ALERT!

The Corydon Community Centre is offering an Intro to Flag Football program for kids ages 7–12. Sessions will run on Tuesdays from June 30 to August 11 on the River Heights field, giving kids a fun and active way to learn the basics of flag football, build skills, and enjoy a team environment.

Registration is now open and spots are limited! Visit https://corydoncc.com/ for more info!

📍 River Heights Field – 1370 Grosvenor Ave
🗓 Tuesdays | June 30 – August 11, 2026

06/12/2026

Many Community Centres offer free programming, listed here!

The Summer Priceless Fun brochure is out now! It lists free activities for children and youth across the city. Pre-registration is not required.

View the brochure at: winnipeg.ca/leisureguide
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La brochure Priceless Fun d’été vient d’être publiée! Elle propose des programmes gratuits pour les enfants et les jeunes aux quatre coins de la ville. Il n’est pas nécessaire de s’inscrire à l’avance.

Consultez la brochure à winnipeg.ca/guideloisirs.

06/12/2026

Volunteer Spotlight:

Breanna Sawatzky - Deer Lodge Community Centre

As the Manager of Campus Well-Being at RRC Polytech Breanna is "driven to create working and learning environments where everyone can thrive".

As the current board president at Deer Lodge Community Club, she does this as well. Since she joined the board in 2019, she has been instrumental in increasing our club membership , staff involvement, and overall guidance with implementation of so many new wonderful projects. We have built the Green Haven Community Garden, welcomed the Art City drop-in, Community Connect Baby and me, and the City of Winnipeg free drop in summer programming.

For the past two years, above all of this, she was part of the group working with GCWCC for "plan 2045" – A strategy to modernize the community centre model in Winnipeg which was passed at city council in July of this year.

Thank you, Breanna, for all you do.

06/11/2026

Congratulations to the 24 Community Centres receiving the 2026 Renovation Grant. Today we joined Councillors Sharma and Santos, Mayor Gillingham, and other guests to share the good news!

Thank you to Executive Director Lora Meseman for speaking at the event and for promoting the great work that Community Centres do. And thank you to the Executive Committee board members, Bill Jost, Christa Boulton and Tracy Ball for joining the celebration.

The recipients were announced this morning at an event at Garden City Community Centre.

The $1.96 million in grants will support renovations at these community centres:

• Archwood
• Bord-Aire
• Bronx Park
• East Elmwood
• Fort Garry
• Garden City
• Glenwood
• Greendell Park
• Heritage Victoria
• Notre Dame
• Lord Roberts
• Norwood
• Park City West
• River Osborne
• Riverview
• Robert A. Steen
• Roblin Park
• St. Norbert
• Transcona East End
• Valour
• Varsity View
• Vince Leah
• Westdale
• Whyte Ridge

The program helps City-owned, board-run community centres by providing financial support for essential repairs, upgrades, retrofits, safety improvements, and renovation projects. This funding addresses facility challenges and ensures these centres continue to serve their communities effectively.

Since its inception in 2012, the program has proudly invested over $21 million towards revitalizing community centres across Winnipeg, supporting a legacy of thriving spaces for residents to enjoy.

06/10/2026

Highlight from 2026 Annual General Meeting and Seminar

Ashley Seymour, Executive Director at Volunteer Manitoba, presented at GCWCC’s 2026 Annual General Meeting & Seminar. Ashley shared valuable insights on strengthening volunteerism across Manitoba. Her presentation highlighted key trends in volunteer participation and showcased the programs, training, and resources available to help organizations build capacity and support their communities.

Thanks Ashley and Volunteer Manitoba for your commitment to volunteers in Manitoba!

Visit Volunteer Manitoba to explore volunteer opportunities and ways to support your community.

06/08/2026

☀️ Mark your calendars for a day of summer fun at the 8th Annual Summer Jamboree!

The Champlain Community Centre is bringing the community together on Saturday, June 13 for an afternoon packed with family activities, local shopping, entertainment, and great summer vibes.

From browsing the vendor market and community yard sale to enjoying live performances, tasty food, and activities for the kids, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Kids can cool off at the splash pad, bounce around the inflatables, and stay busy with games and activities all afternoon long.

Why you’ll want to stop by:

• Free admission for everyone
• Local vendors, food, and entertainment
• Bouncy castles, games, and kids activities
• Splash pad fun and a 50/50 draw
• A great chance to connect with neighbours and support the community

Bring your friends, bring the family, and celebrate the start of summer with a fun-filled afternoon in the neighbourhood. 🌞

📍 Champlain CC – 282 Niverville Ave
🗓 Saturday, June 13, 2026
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

06/05/2026

Jay Downs, Past President - Norwood Community Centre

From 2020 to 2024, Jay Downs enthusiastically served as the president of Norwood. Despite these challenging years being impacted by the pandemic, through Jay’s leadership the community centre established a number of key community-building initiatives including the Norwood Active Living and Learning Program, the Norwood CC Spring Fling and BBQ (a day-long family, neighbours and friends' celebration), the summer Flood Bowl camp out and organizing evening ice rink making / maintenance.

Jay provided community-first leadership, his friendly and approachable demeanor lead to increased volunteerism at our centre.

Everyone loves Jay! Thank you for your dedication and service to Norwood CC.

06/03/2026

Board Spotlight: Meet Our New Chair, Bill Jost

Bill began volunteering at a young age at Wildwood Community Centre, inspired by his father’s leadership as president. Over the years, he has served on many boards and committees, including Juvenile Diabetes, Red River College daycare, and charity golf events—one raising over $1.1 million for Children’s Hospital.

After more than 22 years on the Wildwood Community Centre board, Bill now steps into his new role as our Chair of the Board of GCWCC, continuing his commitment to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for kids, families, and neighbours.

06/01/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to get involved in the community? 🤝

The Burton Cummings Community Centre is currently seeking volunteers to join its Board of Directors, including positions for a Youth Chairperson and Members at Large.

Whether you’re passionate about youth programming, community events, or simply want to help make a difference, this is a great opportunity to be part of a team focused on strengthening the neighbourhood and supporting local initiatives.

No previous experience is required — just an interest in giving back and getting involved.

Community members are invited to attend the upcoming AGM to learn more, meet the team, and explore how they can contribute.

📅 Saturday, June 20, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM
📍 960 Arlington St.

📞 204-783-5330
📧 [email protected]